Vespa 150cc VXL and SXL, first look

Two peppy Vespa 150's join the stylish Italian scooter-makers existing premium India lineup.

Published On Sep 01, 2015 06:11:00 PM

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Vespa continues to soldier on bravely in the Indian scooter market, carving its own premium niche. The Italians know a thing or two about style, and this is what the young in India company has focused on from day one – manufacturing pleasingly retro-looking scooters from their state-of-the-art factory in Baramati, maintaining a premium feel that’s unmatched. Vespa already has in India, the LX 125, the VX 125, which is the same basic scooter with a front disc brake, and the Vespa S, another 125cc scooter with more masculine lines.

Piaggio's India-savvy Managing Director, Stefano Pelle along with soccer star and Vespa brand ambassador, Alessandro Del Piero have introduced new 150cc scooters to the India line-up – the Vespa VXL 150 and SXL 150, offering refreshing new styling, attractive and Vespa typical funky colour schemes, along with a digital instrument console. This duo settle into the envious position of becoming the only 150cc scooters sold in India today.

The button-started new Vespa VXL and SXL scooters offer a four-stroke, 150cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled and carburettor-fed, 3-valve engine. Power output is 11.5bhp at 7,000rpm, while maximum torque is 1.17kgm at 5,500rpm. Both the VXL and SXL offer CVT transmission, allowing for hassle-free, gearless riding. In addition to these larger capacity powerplants, Vespa is also offering the VXL and SXL in 125cc, signature three-valve engines, as already offered in their existing model line-up.

The VXL and SXL are held together by Vespa trademark, monocoque steel frames, tailored to excel in urban India. Riders are seated in a comfortable, upright riding position. There are single-sided, hydraulic shock absorbers as on most Vespa scooters, with coiled-springs in front, that as we've experienced on earlier scooters work flawlessly, and scooter typical hydraulic monoshocks at the rear, with engines used as stressed members of the frame.

Tyres on the VXL and SXL are lower profile than offered on any Indian scooter, tubeless, made by Maxxis with exciting new tread patterns. The new 150s offer a larger diameter, 11-inch front rim for easy manoeuvrability. Both scooters are equipped with 200mm drilled front disc brakes, working together with 140mm drum brake units at rear.

The Vespa VXL is priced at Rs 84,641, while the SXL will retail for Rs 88,696. You can buy the 125cc variants of these scooters for Rs 77,308 for the VXL and Rs 81,967 for the SXL (All prices ex-showroom, Pune). In the words of Stefano Pelle, all these new Vespas are 'pakka' manufactured in India, with virtually 100 percent localisation achieved at the Baramati facility.

Specifications
Vespa VXL 150/ SXL 150

Price Rs 84,641-88,696 (ex-showroom, Pune)

On Sale Now

L/W/H 1770/690/1140mm

Wheelbase 1290mm

Engine layout Single-cylinder,

air-cooled, four-stroke

Displacement 150cc

Power 11.5bhp at 7000rpm

Torque 1.17kgm at 5500rpm

Power to weight 100.9bhp per tonne

Specific output 76.7bhp per litre

Gearbox CVT

Front suspension Single side

Rear suspension Monoshock, stressed engine

Front brake 200mm disc

Rear brake 140mm drum

Wheels 5-spoke alloy

Rim size (f-r) 11-10 inches

Tyre size (f-r) 110/70 x 11- 120/70 x 10 inche

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