Vespa GTV 250ie - Vespa's 60th homage

The original Vespa of 1946 was a product of technical genius in the aeronautics sector, where design was indissolubly linked to function. Now, more than 60 years on, the Vespa continues to be an innovative product and an example of industrial design par excellence in terms of styling and production technology.
The Vespa turned 60 in 2006 and Piaggio celebrated the close of this milestone year with the launch of a new Vespa: the GTV250ie. Since then, it has gained popularity in Australia as a living link to the past. Cleverly re-interpreting some of the typical design and technical elements of vintage Vespas, the Vespa GTV 250ie pays homage to this iconic product. Based on the Vespa GTS, the changes made to come up with the GTV are acombination of details that have been modified over the years to keep up with technological trends and classic styling influences.
On the very first prototype in 1946, the headlamp was positioned on the front mudguard, moving to the handlebar in the mid-1950s. By placing the headlamp on the front mudguard once again, the GTV references the original Vespa, while the size and the lamp surface resemble the modern styling of the Vespa GTS. A similar change has been made to the handlebar. The GTV uses a 'naked' handlebar, inspired by the visible metal tube on the very first Vespa prototype.
The round analogue speedometer has relatively retro graphics, plus a digital ride information display. The saddle, another feature that has changed considerably over the years, has been comprehensively redesigned. As on the earliest Vespas, the GTV saddle is split into two distinct parts for rider and passenger.
It's not entirely a retro-fest, though. Dual rear shock absorbers, disk brakes and big 12" wheels are as per the Vespa GTS's technical equipment.
The GTV engine is an avant-garde Quasar 250 with electronic fuel injection that meets Euro 3 emissions standards. This engine delivers 22 bhp power and 20.2 Nm torque at 8,250 and 6,500 rpm respectively — performance that takes the Vespa GTV to a claimed maximum speed of 122 km/h - one of the top accelerators of the current 250cc range on the market. In a world full of plastic replicas, where a product's life is often measured in just a couple of years instead of decades, Vespa has retained traditional steel-bodied values and blended them with modern engineering to create a true modern classic.

Vespa GTV 250ie - Tech Specs
Engine: Single-cyl 4-stroke 4-valve with two-way catalytic converter and SAS. Euro 3 compliant
Displacement: 244cc
Bore/Stroke: 72/60 mm
Max power: 16.2 kW / 22 bhp at 8,250 rpm
Max torque: 20.2 Nm at 6,500 rpm
Gearbox: 'Twist and go' automatic CVT with torque server
Front suspension: Single arm, dual-chamber hydraulic shock absorber with co-axial spring
Rear suspension: Two dual-effect shocks with adjustable preload
Wheels: 12" die-cast aluminium alloy
Front tyre: Tubeless 120/70-12"
Rear tyre: Tubeless 130/70-12"
Front/Rear brakes: 220mm Discs