Want to cruise in style around the city? Take your pick from this two-wheel Italian classic’s latest models

Clothes make the man, and if he has enough cash, his choice of vehicle defines him too. Diminutive men picking road monsters isn’t just a hilarious stereotype.

Those who choose Vespas also inevitably reveal their personalities whenever they zoom around the city atop these sleek Italian scooters: they’re fun, they have taste, and yes, they have money. As the brand’s tagline goes, it’s “not for everyone.”

It’s almost a bit surprising to learn that the Piaggio-made Vespa has been around for 70 years, because it continues to appeal to younger generations, much like how Audrey Hepburn caught and kept the attention of the movie-watching world from the moment she appeared in Roman Holiday. The 1953 romcom won Hepburn her first Academy Award for acting and had her dashing around atop a Vespa, at one point solo and others in tandem with co-star Gregory Peck. The William Wyler-directed and Dalton Trumbo-written movie was the actress’ first major film and it also cemented Vespa’s romantic, carefree, and cosmopolitan appeal.

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The Italian scooter is able to keep up with the times with innovations that keep the two-wheel lifestyle highly attractive. This year’s new models are no different: featuring the i-Get (Italian Green Experience Technology) powertrain and an Antilock Braking System, the Vespa Primavera, Sprint, and Vespa S have riders safely cruising with more power down Manila’s streets, but with less impact on the environment, from noise to emission levels (the i-Get complies with the Euro 3 standards for emission).

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Primavera
Designed to be an iconic vehicle, the Primavera captured the spirit of Italy in the ‘60s with its sleek and elegant form. Forty-something years later, it’s latest model combines old-school features (an analogic speedometer) with more contemporary technology (an LCD display that shows the time, fuel level, odometer, and trip measurement, plus a USB port). Php175,000 per unit and comes in Blue Midnight, Monteblanco, Nero Vulcano, Rosso Dragon, and Grigio Titanio (silk gray).

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Sprint
The Sprint has a sporty appeal, with features that fit in best with the fast urban lifestyle: LEDS are used for the front positioning lights and the rear lamp to make the scooter highly visible in traffic. The rectangular headlamp is a callback to the classic 1963 Vespa GL. Php195,000 per unit and comes in Rosso Dragon (red), Grigio Titanio (silk gray), and Montebianco (white).

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Vespa S
This is the best way to get acquainted with driving a Vespa. Aside from the entry-level price, its sleek lines and redesigned saddle speak of comfort and a youthful appeal that any Vespa newbie can appreciate. The new rims and a rectangular headlamp keep it looking trendy, too. Php125,000 per unit and comes in Verde Matt (matte green), Grigio Titanio (silk gray), and Rosso Matt (matte red).