Vespa GTS
The Vespa GTS 250ie is a scooter currently manufactured by Piaggio under the Vespa brand.
GTS stands for Granturismo Sport, while the 250ie is the displacement and electronic fuel injection.
The GTS 250ie is a development of the design direction, and restyled, from the Vespa GT200. Along with the engine changes are digital gauges, a tachometer, chrome fender-crest, chrome horn grill, restyled rear fairings/taillight, chrome foldable rack, redesigned centerstand, non-painted front suspension cover, and a restyled seat.
Where the GT200 used the Piaggio 'Leader' engine, the GTS models use variations of the new architecture of the 'Quasar' engine.
The engine has a displacement of 244 cc. Along with electronic fuel injection, the water-cooled motor also has four valves and a single overhead camshaft. The increased engine capacity, combined with reduced emissions, gives a top speed of 118 km/h (73 mph).
In 2008, Piaggio released a 278 cc special edition of the GTS, named the Vespa GTS300ie Super. Its larger engine gave 22 bhp (16 kW) and 16.5 lb·ft (22.4 N·m) of torque, enhancing the performance of the Vespa GTS.
Comparison of the specifications and performance on paper, between the GTS250ie and the GTS300ie Super does not show significant differences, in either power of top speed. The GTS300ie does have an advantage with acceleration and with torque, which peaks lower down the rev range.
The GTS300ie Super was restyled over the original GT and GTS models to give a mildly more sporty look, and was originally available only in either black or white.
The restyling of the GTS300ie saw the replacement of the GTS250's fold down tail rack, with a simple grab-handle / loop. However, the fold down tailrack is still available as an optional extra, to allow the fitment of the tail-mounted storage box.
Additional changes included: The small front running light was deleted, with cosmetic detail changes to the 'horn' panel. The headlight had a black detailing. The instrumentation on the dash returned to analogue dials (as opposed to the part-digital display with the GTS250). The front (suspension) spring is coloured red. The right-hand body panel features (cosmetic) vents, to reflect earlier (air-cooled) Vespa designs.
It is considered to have been designed in reply to the Honda SH300i, which was designed and built by Honda as an upmarket, high-powered scooter aimed at outselling the original Vespa GTS in Europe.