You might not have heard of Lambretta, and we have Vespa to thank for that. The brand’s heyday was in the 1950s and 1960s, and it was essentially neck-and-neck with its other Italian rival. After a revival in 2017, the company has been slowly winning back its popularity, and this new lineup of scooters could help in that endeavor.
Vintage collectors and aficionados will know that Lambrettas are quite desirable. A bit of a break from the myriad of vintage Vespas, a Lambretta is its own version of unique in the scooter market. Modern incarnations use a steel monocoque for the frame and body, which incorporates some modern technologies and designs with some very classic styling. Lambretta uses steel plates to reduce weight and maintain rigidity even if it features a step-through design.
Speaking of modernity, the new V Special lineup of Lambretta gets a few notable additions that modernize the riding experience while keeping the retro styling that many have come to love in Italian scooters. Models that receive these updates include the V200 Special, the V125 Special, and an ever-so-tiny V50 Special.
Starting out with the largest of the bunch, the V200 comes with a four-stroke single-cylinder engine that has 169ccs of displacement and makes about 12 horses. Other features include a new LCD monitor accompanied by retro-styled gauges, and there is even a USB charger in the storage compartment for device charging and the lighting system is also an all-LED affair. The orange colorway is a V200 exclusive option as well.
The same updates can be had for the V125 and V50. The smaller of the two is powered by a minuscule four-stroke 49cc engine that produces 2.8 horsepower, while the larger 125cc model has up to 11.2 horses. A new color was also added for the V125 Special called Striped Gray.
For me, the Lambrettas in the range are similar yet different enough to warrant a look at the lineup. It’s not like a Vespa in every way, but there are key similarities that still give it a very Italian look. Price-wise, these models will set you back about $4,000, give or take and depending on what model you opt for. It seems like a good place to start if you want to get a city-slicking scooter with a good sense of style to boot.
