Piaggio has established itself as one of the premier manufacturers of scooters, and one of the most iconic scooter brands it owns is Vespa. In an effort to continue to improve upon the Vespa line, Piaggio recently replaced its Vespa LX and S models with the upgraded Primavera and Sprint, both of which now get the company's i-Get engine introduced in the Piaggio Medley in 2015.
The Primavera and Sprint come equipped with either the new 125 cc power plant or a larger 150 cc engine. Both are single-cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke engines featuring 3-valve timing and electronic ignition.
The i-Get engines also incorporate a barometric sensor that automatically adjusts the air-fuel mixture when it senses changes in altitude or other factors that can hinder performance. This is meant to ensure greater reliability and less stalling in heavy stop-and-go riding conditions, which most of these scooters will find themselves in throughout the world.
The 125 cc has a claimed maximum power of 7.9 kW (10.6 hp) and 10.4 Nm (7.7 lb. ft.) of torque, while the 150 cc produces 9.5 kW (12.7 hp) of power and 12.8 Nm (9.4 lb. ft.) of torque. Those aren't break neck power curves, but they are about a 10 percent increase over the previous models, and plenty to get you and even a passenger or a small load around Rome, Sydney or even Madison, Wisconsin.
Other improvements include the use of improved friction-resistant materials in the drive train to create greater fuel efficiency with gas-stingy numbers like a claimed 45.5 km/l (2.2 l/100km or 107 mpg) and 41 km/l (2.4 l/100km or 96 mpg) for the 125 and 150 cc respectively. With an 8-liter (2.1 gallon) tank on both models, owners will go some distance between fill ups with an expected 364 km (226 miles) range for the smaller engine and 328 km (204 miles) for the larger.
Piaggio said it has also made both models quieter by changing up the crankshaft configuration to reduce vibration, incorporating a new starter motor, utilizing a new gear box cover, and developing a new exhaust system.
Accessories are available for both scooters to improve safety, overall carrying capacity and different levels of personalization. For instance, a touring version of the Primavera features a front and rear luggage rack to increase cargo capacity, and ABS, which is standard on both versions of the Sprint.
Vespa afficionadoes may remember the Primavera model name that dated from the 1960s until it was discontinued in the 1980s. The Sprint is said to be influenced by past Vespa models that were designed to convey a sportier and edgier image.
Both models are in showrooms throughout most of the world, except in the US where you'll only find those with the 150cc engine. Retail price for the Primavera 150 in the US is US$4,999 and the Sprint 150 starts at $5,299. In Europe, pricing depends on the country, but is roughly at €4,100 Euros for the 125 Primavera and €4,290 for the 125 Sprint.
Source: Vespa
