Vespa Scooters

01/29/2010 Interview: Kristen and Josh's Love Recipe
	TeenHollywood.com The movie "When in Rome," starring Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel, opens in movie theatres today. Josh Duhamel was thrilled to have a chance to ride a Vespa while filming in Italy, the birthplace of the Vespa scooter! Read Full Article

01/21/2010 Scooter Task Force Wants Special Parking
	Gothamist.com A group of motorcycle and scooter enthusiasts in New York City are fighting to get the designated two-wheel parking they deserve. Read Full Article

01/19/2010 The New York Times: Why We Travel
	SAN MIGUEL DEL MONTE, ARGENTINA, APRIL 18, 2009 I came to Argentina with a one-way ticket on Jan.6, 2009, with no plan of what to do next or when to return. I met Mauro (pictured) in El Calafate, Argentina, and spent the next eight months taking weekend road trips with a South American Vespa club. This was taken in San Miguel del Monte, a small Argentinian town 140 kilometers outside the city of Buenos Aires. I would never have had the sheer pleasure of meeting this village, off the pages of the Rough Guide, had it not been for Mauro and his passion for Vespas. — Leah Concannon, New York City Read Full Article

01/15/2010 Someone call for the heavy mob? James Gandolfini gives his scooter a tough time on a ride through New York
	UK Daily Mail Online He plays the head of a mafia mob in the TV series The Sopranos, but this is not the way you'd expect a don to travel. James Gandolfini, who plays Tony Soprano, looked a little too big for his Vespa scooter as he went for a ride through New York this week. Read Full Article

12/10/2009 'Glee' gift guide: What's the best present for Sue?
	EW.com EW asked some of Glee’s writers to think of the best gifts for their characters. Here are their ideas — many of which you can buy online for yourself or the Gleek in your life. Read Full Article

12/04/2009 Vespa Culture Continues the Cred-Factor of Cool Found In the Cult of Transportation
	Label Networks November 24, 2009 What’s interesting when you think about riding a Vespa and getting from Point A to Point B at an altogether different pace is that the goal of many passionate transportation fans lies in the details of their ride and in the art of utilitarian. At 80 miles to the gallon, a Vespa can get you far and in style. Read Full Article

12/01/2009 Your Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide: Gear + Gadgets
	GQ.com When you're running errands in the suburbs or commuting on congested city streets, there's nothing better than a Vespa. This S 150 has the lines of the classic models from the 1970s, enough zip to shoot the gaps in moving traffic, and room under the seat for a six-pack. Your commute will never be the same. Read Full Article

10/23/2009 A Vespa in the Classroom
	By Daniel McDermon The New York Times At Eastchester Middle School in Eastchester, N.Y., where Tom Boissonnault teaches technology classes, the curriculum has evolved in recent years. In addition to learning about design and engineering, Mr. Boissonnault’s students are getting hands-on experience by restoring a vintage Vespa motor scooter. Read Full Article

10/20/2009 Finding Ease, Efficiency and Fun on a Scooter
	By Dexter Ford The New York Times American city dwellers, from Miami to Seattle, are being lured into Vespa and other scooter dealerships by the prospect of 70-plus miles per gallon efficiency, traffic-dodging agility and leave-it-anywhere parkability. Read Full Article

10/19/2009 Alumni Offering Free Giveaways at OSU Events
	OKState.com Oklahoma State University (OSU) alumni are offering students the chance to win customized Vespas at every home match this winter in Gallagher-Iba Arena. Between basketball and wrestling, that is up to 43 Vespas which may soon be cruising around campus! Read Full Article

10/14/2009 Red carpet report: 'Where the Wild Things Are'
	By Bronwyn Barnes USA Today There were plenty of shenanigans on the set of Where the Wild Things Are, and a Vespa got involved too! "Still, 12-year-old Max Records, who makes his feature film debut as Max, insisted there were plenty of PG-13 antics on set. 'We hoisted [Spike's] Vespa to the ceiling then covered him with yogurt and rice,' Records remembered. 'That was fun.'" Read Full Article

08/26/2009 Excursion: Blue Highways
	Photographer Clay Enos is riding a Vespa 300 GTS Super from New York to Vancouver on the small, forgotten, out-of-the-way roads that connect rural America. Along the way he's documenting the people and places he sees from those roads. Read Full Article

08/10/2009 Omega Helps Michael Phelps And Massimiliano Rosolino Go On A Roman Holiday
	By Ariel Adams (RSS feed) Aug 9th 2009 at 8:01AM Ah, summer in Rome and two championship athletes there for training and competition can't seem to stay focused on the pool. Famous American Olympian Michael Phelps and star Italian swimmer Massimiliano Rosolino have a lot in common both being good swimmers and both Omega watch ambassadors. In what seemed like a friendly move, Omega got them together on a Vespa (of course) and the gents couldn't look happier. See them both wearing new 2009 Omega Seamaster Ploprof dive watches. Read Full Article

08/03/2009 Bikers & the City
	By Wes Siler \| NEWSWEEK Published Aug 1, 2009 On July 8, 2005, I overslept, as usual, grabbed a quick gulp of orange juice on the way out the door, and arrived at my office on the other side of London in 20 minutes. For hours that day, I was the only person in the office and one of the few Londoners to arrive at work on time, if at all. You see, the day before, the city's public--transportation infrastructure was crippled by a terrorist attack. But I commuted by scooter. Read Full Article

08/03/2009 Sales Slump but Vespa Marketing Scooters On
	By: Hoag Levins, AdAge.com August 03, 2009 NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- In 2008, as gasoline prices topped $4, sales of 75 mpg Vespa scooters spiked to record levels. But in the first two quarters of this year, sales have dropped just as dramatically for the Piaggio subsidiary. But Vespa marketing campaigns continue at full throttle. Read Full Article

04/30/2009 Newark International Airport Hosts Vespa Scooter Demonstration
	The Star Ledger, April 25 2009 To promote the virtues of “green” commuting, Continental invited representatives of the Piaggio/Vespa scooter company to give demonstration rides on the Italian firm’s various models. “It’s the best way to get around over there,” DiCicco [Sandro, a Continental employee] said. “To get around the city, I don’t think there’s anything better – driving in traffic, they’re easy to park and they’re great on gas mileage.” Read Full Article

04/30/2009 Born To Be Wild: On Vespa's Two Wheels for the Green of It
	Mother Nature Network, April 27 2009 These 50-cc bikes are simplicity itself, with a fuel-efficient continuously variable automatic transmission and only an accelerator and brakes to worry about. The Fly 50, weighing 220 pounds, has only one cylinder. With an encouraging “Go!” Lee pushed me off and I made my wobbly way through the cones… by the third time around, I was confident and imagining a two-wheeled commute. Read Full Article

04/30/2009 Small Victories: Sales Up 60 Percent at Vespa Maker Piaggio
	BNET, April 27 2009 Last week, Piaggio took Vespanomics to the Newark International Airport, where it has entered into an agreement with Continental Airlines. The airline has 3,000 regional employees and the deal offers them 10 percent purchase discounts and preferred parking. The first step was getting employees acclimated to two wheels. [Vespa Brand Manager Kevin] Andrews said 150 airline workers were guided through training in a parking lot adjacent to the airport, and that most had had never been on any kind of motorcycle before. For most (including me as a journalist guest), it was a real confidence builder. Read Full Article

04/30/2009 Continental Airlines Employees Become Vespa Scooter “Pilots”
	Examiner.com, April 28 2009 Last week, in a first-of-its-kind pilot event, Vespa, the world’s most recognizable scooter brand, teamed with Continental Airlines at Newark Liberty International Airport to launch an alternative personal transportation program for the airline’s Liberty-based employees. On April 24, more than 3,000 regional employees had the opportunity to discover how scooters can help reduce their personal carbon footprints while saving an owner up to $6000 per year in every day transportation costs. With soaring public transportation prices in the tri-state area, Vespa’s ‘nickle a mile’ operating cost is an especially timely alternative for commuters. In addition to pocketing more person

04/10/2009 Vespa GTS 300 Super lives up to its name
	LATimes.com by SUE CARPENTER With its new GTS 300 Super, Vespa has come up with a bike that doubles as a can of whoop ass. Read Full Article

03/18/2009 Get a tax deduction when you buy a Vespa!
	You could deduct up to $520 if you bought a Vespa GTS 300 Super in the NYC-area. (deduction based on sales tax of 8.375% on the price of a new GTS 300 Super, MSRP $6199. Other Tax Deduction Examples Vespa S 50 = save $270 Vespa LX 150 = save $370 The U.S. Government’s recently approved stimulus package includes tax breaks for consumers who purchase new on-road two or three wheeled motorcycles or scooters in 2009. The law, officially designated as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, allows buyers of "qualified motor vehicles" to take a tax deduction for state or local sales or excise tax imposed on the purchase, up to $49,500 of the purchase price. The deduction applies to NEW purchases made between Februa

03/06/2009 The Buzz on Scooters
	Piaggio Group Americas CEO Paolo Timoni talks about his company’s success. Products, including Vespa S 50, Vespa GTS 300 Super, and Piaggio MP3, are discussed, as well as six-wheel messages. Read Full Article

03/04/2009 Piaggio Opens National Technical Center in Southern California
	New product testing and technical training facility supports continued expansion of company’s Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Piaggio and Vespa brand dealer network NEW YORK, March 4, 2009 – Piaggio Group Americas, importer and distributor of Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Piaggio and Vespa brands, announces the opening of its new national Technical Center in Costa Mesa, CA. The 12,000 square foot facility houses the company’s product testing and technical training operations, including factory product training and classroom instruction for service technicians from all U.S. and Canadian dealerships, as well as Latin American importers. Piaggio, which had all-time record-setting U.S. sales in 2008, continues to expand both its model line and dealer network with over 500 dealers serving customer

02/11/2009 Piaggio Group Americas Awarded Top Honors by ScooterMaxi.com
	Piaggio Group Americas’ maxi-scooter lineup, which features a diverse array of machines, from the three-wheeled Piaggio MP3 to powerful Aprilia Scarabeo 500 i.e. and the stylish Vespa GTS 300 Super, has been awarded the 2008 ScooterMaxi Award of Distinction for Lineup of the Year. ScooterMaxi.com offers practical news, information and reviews of scooters in the 250cc class and higher. Site founder and editor, Jim Robins, writes of Piaggio Group Americas’ maxi-scooter product line, “Piaggio Group presents a comprehensive long-range vision that successfully brings together the Vespa, Piaggio and Aprilia brands (as well as Moto Guzzi on the motorcycle side of it). Yet, these Italian marques still succeed in conveying their own compellingly distinctive brand images.” The Piaggio MP3 50

12/22/2008 Last Exit wins Best In Class for Vespa USA website design
	On Monday, December 15, 2008, Last Exit was awarded Best in Class for excellence in the design, development and implementation of the Vespa USAWebsite. The honor, granted by the Interactive Media Awards, recognizes that the project met and surpassed the standards of excellence that comprise the web's most professional work. The judging consisted of various criteria, including design, usability, innovation in technical features, standards compliance and content. In order to win this award level, the site had to meet strict guidelines in each area - an achievement only a fraction of sites in the IMA competition earn each year. To view the online award(s) for this site, please visit:<

12/11/2008 Vespa USA has been awarded by Design Licks as "Site of the day"
	Vespa USA has been awarded by Design Licks as "Site of the day"and will be displayed on 10 December 2008. Use the link below to go to Design Licks. Site designed by Last Exit. Read Full Article

12/03/2008 Piaggio Group Showcases Newest Scooters and Motorcycles at Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows
	Piaggio Group Showcases Newest Scooters and Motorcycles at Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Piaggio and Vespa Offer Enthusiasts a World of Reasons to Ride December 1, 2008 – Fuel-efficient scooters, high-tech sport bikes, award winning three-wheelers and long-distance tourers are just some of the tempting options Italy’s Piaggio Group, manufacturer of Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Piaggio, and Vespa brands, will showcase at six stops on the 28th Annual Cycle World International Motorcycle Show® (IMS) tour. Visitors to the IMS shows in Long Beach, CA., Seattle, WA., San Mateo, CA., New York, NY., Cleveland, OH., and Chicago, IL, will have a chance to evaluate at their leisure which ride is a

10/30/2008 Jay Leno Takes Aprilia Mana and Piaggio MP3 for a Spin
	Moto enthusiast Jay Leno surprised an appreciative audience at the 2009 national Piaggio Group Americas dealer meeting in Palm Springs, CA. A long-time and outspoken ambassador of motorcycling and a fan of the Piaggio brands, Leno took the opportunity to put on his test rider helmet. He personally evaluated the Aprilia Mana 850 as well as the three-wheel Piaggio MP3 250 scooter, and also got the inside scoop on several future products that the Italian manufacturer previewed for attending dealers. Leno's video test impressions of the Aprilia and Piaggio can be found at JayLenosGarage.com, or click here for the Mana review and h

10/23/2008 Jay Leno Revs Up 2009 Piaggio National Dealer Meeting
	Moto enthusiast Jay Leno surprised an appreciative audience at the 2009 national Piaggio Group Americas dealer meeting in Palm Springs, CA, introducing dealers to 11 of the latest Vespa, Piaggio, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi products, including the all-new Vespa S 50 and Aprilia SMV 750 Dorsoduro. A long-time and outspoken ambassador of motorcycling and a fan of the Piaggio brands, Leno took the opportunity to put on his test rider helmet. He personally evaluated the Aprilia Mana 850 as well as the three-wheel Piaggio MP3 250 scooter, and also got the inside scoop on several future products that the Italian manufacturer previewed for attending dealers. Leno's video test impressions of the Aprilia and Piaggio can be found at JayLenosGarage.com, or click here for the Mana review and here for

06/22/2008 Boston Globe: Ciao car, hello Vespa
	Boston Globe writer takes a Vespa for a spin around town "That`s what I need, a Vespa," said one of them, Garry Rizzuto, as he watched from a sidewalk in the North End. Indeed it's a sentiment being felt by many these days. With gas prices at record highs and the weather transformed to glorious summer, many are parking their guzzlers in favor of transportation less petrol-hungry. Subway ridership is up. Bicycles are out in greater numbers. This reporter's choice was a Vespa, the sleek Italian-made scooter that seems to exemplify the phrase "Ciao bella! Read Full Article

06/20/2008 Motogiro America
	Vespa USA is proud to be a sponsor of the first ever Motogiro America. This event is a part of the Meet at Monterey in California, a week long celebration of motorcycling. Motogiro America is based upon the Italian road race which began in 1914. The competitive and well-attended event reached its heyday in the mid-century, but it ended in 1957 when road racing became prohibited in Italy. In 2001 they resurrected the Italian Motogiro and this year it will also take place in the United States. Motogiro America will honor Italian motor vehicle history with a ride up the Monterey Peninsula, July 12-17. This ride guarantees to be an exciting celebration of vintage motorcycles and scooters. The departure from Monterey o

06/11/2008 Philadelphia Inquirer: Sales of Vespas Rise with Gas Prices
	Scooter chic aside, recent buyers in the Philadelphia region said they bought Vespas because they were practical, relatively inexpensive, and cheap to run. When Bill Schwab comes to a stop at a traffic light on his Vespa, car drivers chuckle and motorcycle riders snicker. "They just laugh at me," the Peco Energy Co. lineman said of his daily work commute to Port Richmond. "I'm a big guy. I got a bunch of tattoos. When people see me on my little scooter, they smirk." Read Full Article

05/20/2008 New York Times: Riding the Vespa S
	The S, which is closely related to Vespa's LX, is powered by a 150cc air-cooled four-stroke. Indeed, the two scooters share many of the same specs. (S specs here; LX specs here.) The most significant differences between the S and the LX are stylistic - the S is a bit leaner, intended to recall 1960s models such as the Vespa Special and the Vespa Primavera. Read Full Article

05/09/2008 Fox News: Fueling Scooter Sales
	See Paolo Timoni, President & CEO of Piaggio Group Americas, discuss the savings from using a scooter rather than a car. If you can't view the video, click here to view the video from Fox Business News.

05/01/2008 NBC Atlanta: Imagine - 100MPG!
	Atlanta NBC affiliate features Atlanta Vespa dealer Scooter Superstore on 11 o'clock news. If you have difficulty viewing the video, click here.

04/25/2008 WCNC - Charlotte Scooter sales skyrocket with rising gas prices.
	Sales at Vespa of Charlotte in South End are up a whopping 365 percent over last year. Owner Steve Speers says something popular in Europe for years is finally catching on here. Read Full Article

03/25/2008 Gwinnett Daily Post: Scooter riders invade Atlanta
	Monday was scooter day in Atlanta as more than 70 commuters who use the two-wheeled vehicles descended on the city, hoping to make drivers aware of their means of transportation. Bridget London, a Duluth resident who commutes via scooter to her job at the city's Scooter Superstore, said the event was a way to promote the fact that scooters are a viable way to travel. Read Full Article

03/11/2008 Piaggio Group USA Announces the New 2008 Vespa S
	Classic or customized, this Vespa celebrates the rebel in you NEW YORK, March 10, 2008 - Italian manufacturer Piaggio, renowned for revolutionary ideas in personal transportation, announces the debut of the 2008 Vespa S, a retro-forward 150cc interpretation of the iconic Vespino scooters that dominated the European street scene in the '60s and '70s. Combining advanced technology and iconic styling, the new Vespa S embraces the rebellious spirit that inspired an entire generation to change the world. With its pure, minimalist lines, sporty performance, inconspicuous carbon footprint and creative customization options, the Vespa S is now ready to empower a whole new generation of riders to challenge the conventions of our time. Vespa Heritage: Designed to Change the World<

11/11/2007 Vespa Partners with RVCA for the Mild Ride
	Professional skateboarders to ride Vespas from Los Angeles to San Francisco and back! Six professional skateboarders, including Leo Romeo, Austin Stephens, Josh Harmony, Keegan Sauder, Ethan Fowler, Nestor Judkins, and team manager Jimmy Arrighi, will ride Vespa scooters up the California coast, from Los Angeles to San Francisco, for RVCA's "Mild Ride." The "Mild Ride," a recent creation from Leo Romero and Adam Conway, is a new approach to connect the skateboard and scooter worlds. The "Mild Ride" showcases scooters from the current Vespa model range, including the Vespa GTV, Vespa GTS 250ie and the Vespa GT 200. Throughout the five-day "Mild Ride," the RVCA team will make several stops at skate parks and local Vespa dealerships. Skating and scooter enthusiasts are encourage

11/09/2007 Piaggio Group announces winners of user-generated video contest; Vespa scooters to be awarded
	Vespa scooter fans from San Diego, Washington, DC and Roseville, Calif. to be presented with new scooters in recognition of creative, original videos touting Vespanomics message Piaggio Group Americas, Inc. conducted a two-month contest, the "Go Green Vespa Video Challenge," in which Vespa scooter owners and fans of Vespa were encouraged to develop creative videos that demonstrate their devotion for Vespa scooters and brand. More than 100 original videos were created and submitted to promote the Vespanomics message: how Vespas help curb global warming, decrease traffic congestion and make a style statement. Today, the top three winners were announced. They will each receive one of three Vespa scooters. Finalists and the grand prize winner were determined by a Piaggio Group

03/21/2007 Global Warming Survey
	80% of Respondents Agree Urgent Government Action Is Needed to Improve Situation New York, NY, March 21, 2007 - An overwhelming majority of Americans - 70% - say they are concerned about global warming, according to results from a new national survey. In addition, 80% feel it is urgent for government officials to take immediate steps toward reducing America's use of fossil fuels and harmful emissions like carbon dioxide (CO2).The survey, commissioned by Piaggio Group Americas, was conducted by the International Communications Research firm on a representative sample of 1,000 U.S. consumers in February 2007. It produced these additional findings: Over 40% of respondents indicated that their concerns about global warming and climate change have escalated over the past 12 month

02/12/2007 Ride a Scooter: Save Time & Money
	New traffic model shows positive impact of motor scooters on New York City environment & congestion. Adding Scooters to Traffic Mix Could Save New Yorkers Time and Money Lost to Traffic Delays, and Reduce Emissions That Contribute to Global Warming. Data from a new traffic model released today demonstrates that the nation's largest city could significantly reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a key factor in the global warming debate, and reduce fuel consumption while saving a great deal of time lost to congestion by simply incorporating more motor scooters into the commuting vehicle mix. The results of this study directly respond to growing concerns about traffic congestion in New York City. In his December 2006 sustainability speech, Mayor Michael Bloomberg discussed the City's growing