KIWI RIDER 03 2019 VOL.1 | Page 18

BIGGER BETTER VESPA iaggio has announced the most powerful Vespa ever with the 2019 Vespa GTS. The new Vespa GTS range now comprises five versions globally, with the Vespa GTS, GTS Touring, GTS Super, GTS SuperSport and the brand-new, tech-heavy Vespa GTS SuperTech. Based around Vespa’s new Euro-4 compliant 300cc HPE powertrain – the HPE standing for High Performance Engine – the new engine has been designed to ensure the Vespa attains maximum performance while minimising the impact on the environment. Everything from the combustion chamber to the transmission – itself a CVT unit which has been recalibrated to improve low-speed response – has been redesigned. That means not only does the 300HPE powerplant produce 12% more power and 18 KIWI RIDER 18% more torque - with a claimed output of 23.5hp and 26Nm – it is also quieter running and smoother. But the real crown in the new GTS fleet is, of course, the new wiz-bang SuperTech. This is the first Vespa to run a 4.3-inch TFT display instead of the traditional analogue speedo. The SuperTech is filled to the brim with connectivity thanks to Vespa’s smartphone linking system dubbed the VESPA MIA system. Once a smartphone is connected via Bluetooth to the SuperTech, the TFT will show all notifications regarding incoming calls and messages in the centre of the screen. The system also allows for the management of calls, thanks to the practical joystick located on the left-hand control block. The Vespa SuperTech is due to arrive in New Zealand in August 2019.