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    Ola Electric Scooter Scam Busted – More Than 1,000 People Duped

    Even with increased awareness about online scams, criminals are winning by finding newer ways to target unsuspecting usersOla Electric ScooterFrom email frauds to social media crimes, banking frauds, lottery scams, gift card frauds, fake government website frauds, job frauds, KYC frauds and various other scams, cyber criminals never miss an opportunity to dupe people. They continue to evolve their modus operandi, which makes it harder for people to avoid them.In yet another example of how ingenious cyber criminals can be, more than 1,000 people have been duped via a fake website of Ola Electric. The scam came to light after an FIR was filed with the cybercrime police. Around 20 people have been held and further investigations are underway. It’s not certain if the people who were duped will be getting back all their money. Cyber criminals usually siphon off the loot through cash transactions and other hard-to-trace channels.Ola electric scooter scamAs per initial investigation, it has been revealed that the scam was initiated by two individuals in Bengaluru. The alleged scamsters had created a fake website of Ola Electric to dupe people who were looking to book their Ola electric scooter. The person who has filed an FIR said that he got duped while looking to book his scooter. He had used Ola app, but since it did not have a finance option, he started searching for other options on the internet.This is when he came across the fake website and entered his details like name and mobile number. It is alleged that as soon as the personal details were made available, it was shared with other gang members operating from Bihar and Telangana. Subsequently, the victim received a call and was asked to pay Rs 499 for booking the scooter. Assuming it was genuine, the victim paid the amount via PayU app.Ola Electric Scooter Payment OptionsNext day, he received an email that listed all available finance options. The complainant chose Ola Money, whereupon a payment link was generated on WhatsApp. As per the finance plan, the complainant paid Rs 30,000 as down payment. His sanctioned loan amount was displayed as Rs 72,000. This was apparently a ruse to make everything look genuine.Further, the complainant was asked to pay Rs 13,000 in delivery charges. He was promised that the scooter will be dispatched on the same day if he paid Rs 13,000. Eventually, things started to look suspicious. After realizing what had happened, the complainant approached the cybercrime cell to register the FIR.More than 1000 people dupedIt is estimated that more than 1000 people have been duped of various amounts. The scam could be easily running into several hundred crores. Acting on the complaint, the cybercrime cell raided the call centre that was operating from Patna. More than 60 mobile phones, 114 SIM cards and 7 laptops have been seized. Cops have also traced 25 bank accounts with transactions of more than Rs 5 crore.This scam yet again highlights the need to be cautious when making online transactions. Users should always make payments on the company’s official website or app. Companies don’t usually ask customers to make payments via other channels. We hope the victims will be able to get their money back soon. More

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    Top 10 Two Wheelers Oct 2022 – Splendor, Activa, Pulsar, Jupiter, Apache

    Top 10 Two Wheelers Oct 2022 witnessed a decline in sales in both YoY and MoM analysisHero Splendor Black EditionAfter a very successful festive month, Two Wheelers sales have registered a slight negative growth in the month of October 2022 as compared to September 2022. That said, total YoY sales for these top sellers have seen a decline in contrast to October 2021 which is really interesting.Like clockwork, Hero Splendor takes the top spot with a massive figure of 2,61,721 last month. It wasn’t as massive as 2,67,821 units sold a year before and hence Splendor saw a 2.28% decline YoY in sales.Top 10 Two Wheelers sales October 2022Compared to 2,90,649 units sold during the festive season, Splendor’s numbers declined 9.95% MoM. Volume loss for Splendor stood at 6,100 and 28,928 units YoY and MoM respectively. Despite that, Splendor still holds 24.58% of top 10 Two Wheelers sales for the month of October 2022.Taking 2nd spot, we have Honda Activa with 19.78% of market share on this list. It sold 2,10,623 units last month over 1,96,699 sold a year ago and gained 7.08% YoY with volume growth of 13,924 units. MoM analysis wasn’t in Activa’s favour as it saw a 9.95% MoM decline with 34,984 units lost in volume.Top 10 Two Wheelers Oct 2022 vs Oct 2021 – YoYCB Shine stands in 3rd place with 1,30,916 units sold and registered a YoY growth of 15.29% over 1,13,554 units sold a year ago and a decline of 9.83% MoM with 14,277 units lost in volume MoM. Bajaj Pulsar is the first among this lot to register positive growth in both YoY and MoM analysis. Pulsar sales stood at 1,13,870 units, up by 86,500 units sold a year before and registered 31.64% YoY growth. MoM figures are positive too, with 8.44% MoM growth with 8,867 units gained in volume.Top 10 2WheelersOct-22Oct-21Growth % YoY1. Hero Splendor2,61,7212,67,821-2.282. Honda Activa2,10,6231,96,6997.083. Honda CB Shine1,30,9161,13,55415.294. Bajaj Pulsar1,13,87086,50031.645. Hero HF Deluxe78,0761,64,311-52.486. TVS Jupiter77,04272,1616.767. Bajaj Platina57,84284,019-31.168. Suzuki Access49,19246,4605.889. TVS XL 10044,63855,356-19.3610. TVS Apache40,98839,7992.99Total10,64,90811,26,680-5.48Hero’s second product to fare on this list is HF Deluxe which fell into the red completely, bleeding numbers. With 78,076 units sold as compared to 1,64,311 vehicles sold a year before and 93,596 units sold a month before, HF Deluxe registered a 52.48% YoY decline and a 16.58% MoM decline in sales.TVS enters the list of top 10 Two Wheelers sales for the month of October with its Jupiter scooter. It sold 77,042 units a month ago. While it registered 6.76% YoY growth over 72,161 units sold a year ago, Jupiter’s numbers dropped by 6.5% MoM when compared to 82,394 units sold a month before. It holds 7.23% of the market share on this list.Top 10 Two Wheelers Oct 2022 vs Sep 2022 – MoMAccess Registered Positive GrowthAfter Pulsar, Platina makes it to the list from Bajaj’s stables with 57,842 vehicles sold. That said, it bleeds red completely and registered a 31.16% YoY decline and a 21.15% MoM decline in sales. Suzuki Access is the 2nd product on this list after Pulsar to register positive growth in both YoY and MoM analysis. With 49,192 units sold, Access witnessed 5.88% YoY and 5% MoM growth.9th and 10th spots are taken up by TVS products, XL 100 and Apache series. XL 100 registered 44,638 units and Apache registered 40,988 units. While XL 100 saw declining sales in both YoY and MoM analysis, Apache series of motorcycles saw 2.99% YoY growth. In total, pushing 10,64,908 vehicles, top 10 Two Wheelers sales for October 2022 declined 5.48% YoY and 9.23% MoM. More

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    Hero Vida Electric Scooter Test Ride Starts – First Experience Center Opens

    The first Hero Vida Experience Center is now open in Bengaluru – Next ones will open in Jaipur and DelhiFirst Hero Vida Electric Scooter Experience CenterHero MotoCorp created quite a buzz when they launched its Vida V1 electric scooters. Coming from India’s largest motorcycle manufacturer, it was set to push the EV envelope further than what it currently packs. Now, the company has opened its first experience center in Bengaluru and has commenced test rides as well.The first Hero Vida Electric Scooter Experience Center is located in Bengaluru at prominent Vittal Mallya Road. Here customers will be able to familiarize themselves with the brand, experience the product and immerse themselves in a ‘Worry-free EV Ecosystem’ of VIDA. To mark this occasion, VIDA has also commenced customer test rides of VIDA V1 from today.Hero Vida Electric Scooter Experience CenterSpread over 8500 sq. ft., this Experience Center will display the VIDA V1 scooters, charging stations, an interactive wall that illustrates the brand vision, and product configurations to help customers visualize their VIDA V1. It has an in-house coffee bar and a library as well. Hero MotoCorp is pitching it as a hub for VIDA communities, hosting events, brand meets and cohort activities in the future. After the first Hero Vida Experience Center in Bengaluru, Jaipur and Delhi are next.Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Swadesh Srivastava, Head – Emerging Mobility Business Unit (EMBU), Hero MotoCorp said: “Expanding our vision to shape the EV category and grow its scale, we are excited to open the first VIDA Experience Center. This Experience Center is a manifestation of our vision to build experiences that create curiosity, and meaningfulness and that people connect with.First Hero Vida Electric Scooter Experience CenterThe Experience Center will provide the community insight into the ‘Worry-free EV ecosystem’ that we have created with VIDA. This center is one of the many physical assets of our omnichannel approach. Our tech stack and physical assets are built to uplift the customer experience from just entering into a space of retail to a space where they can be part of a larger story. It’s a one-of-its-kind experience that we are providing in the segment.”Pricing & DeliveriesVIDA V1 comes with a performance that can take it from 0-40 in 3.2 secs. With up to a 3.94 kWh battery, it boasts a range of 163 km (IDC) and a top speed of 80 km/h. Features include a Custom Mode (100+ combinations), Cruise Control, Boost Mode, Two-way throttle, Key-less access and an OTA-enabled 7” TFT Touch-Screen.Along with Vida V1 electric scooter range, Hero is also offering services like Green EMI and efficient interest rates. Buy-Back scheme assures vehicle buy-back at 70% of purchase value between the 16th to 18th months of vehicle ownership. Hero MotoCorp offers a test ride for up to three days. Along with these, Repair On-Site service is offered too, where customer executives are available to provide service anywhere, anytime.First Hero Vida Electric Scooter Experience CenterMost of these are new to the EV segment in India and reception for this approach is yet to be seen. VIDA V1 is available in two variants – VIDA V1 Plus at Rs. 1,45,000 and VIDA V1 Pro at Rs. 159,000 (both prices ex-sh). Customer deliveries of VIDA V1 commencing from the second week of December 2022. More

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    Raptee Electric Motorcycle Spied In Production Guise – 2023 Launch?

    2020 Auto Expo is where Raptee electric motorcycle was first showcased – The bike promises 150 km of real-world rangeUpcoming Raptee Electric Motorcycle SpiedElectric 2W segment is witnessing unprecedented growth with majority of the numbers being pushed by startups. Industry experts predict that the Indian EV market is likely to expand at a CAGR of 77% by value. A value so tempting, it attracts a lot of electric 2W companies.One such company that is set to foray into this segment is Raptee Motors. The startup company showcased a concept vehicle at 2020 Auto Expo (Ah! Good times). Unlike many 2W EV makers that are going heavy into electric scooters, Raptee has set its priorities straight. Electric motorcycles.Raptee Electric Motorcycle SpiedThe company created a buzz recently by launching a teaser of what is to come. Now we have a prototype on the road. Thanks to automotive enthusiast Siva, we now have a glimpse of what to expect from the production-spec model.Most of its bodywork is still under wraps. But the form factor is visible. Just like the upcoming F77 electric motorcycle by Ultraviolette, this is a hybrid between a naked and a faired motorcycle. Most of the underbelly is covered except its front section which fares its forks like flexing its triceps.Upcoming Raptee Electric Motorcycle TeaserApart from its fairing, we can also spot an aluminium swingarm that is not coated in the test mule. Production-spec will have surface finishing treatments. Concept vehicle looked like it had a belt drive, while the test mule dons a chain drive with a large sprocket that could mean quick acceleration.Upcoming Raptee electric motorcycle looks like it is sprung on telescopic front forks and a rear mono-shock unit. One can spot diamond-cut finish alloy wheels, split seats and split grab rails for pillion to hold on to.Specs & FeaturesRider triangle is likely to be slightly committed. Front foot pegs are slightly rear set and the handlebar commands a slight lean. Features include a TFT screen that should offer Bluetooth connectivity as demonstrated on the company website. Raptee electric motorcycle boasts a trellis frame on which battery, motor and other components are mounted.Company website further reveals that it has a CCS2 charging socket and traction control along with blind spot warning. Headline figures include a top speed of 135 km/h, 150 km real-world range, 0 to 60 km/h in 3.5 seconds and 0 to 85% charge time in 45 minutes. As of now, looking at everything this Raptee electric motorcycle promises, Ultraviolette F77 seems to be the most logical rival. Other potential rivals include Tork Kratos R, upcoming Oben Rorr and the likes. Launch is likely to take place in 2023. More

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    Honda Benly e Electric Scooter Testing Continues – Launch Soon?

    In the past couple of years, many new EV startups have registered their upcoming models in India which is set to boost electric mobilityHonda Benly e Electric scooter spied in BangaloreBack in 2019, Honda showcased the Benly e electric scooter at the 46th Tokyo Motor Show. This e-scoter has been solely developed for last-mile services. The electric scooter has now been spotted in India which might trigger speculations about its apparent launch. Hat tip to automotive enthusiast Lal Krishna for sharing these spy shots.Developed specifically for everyday pick-up/delivery services, Benly e adopts a utilitarian design language with a flat rear deck. Dimensions of the e-scooter stand at 1,840mm, 780mm and 1,050mm in length, width and height.Honda Benly e Electric Scooter SpiedThe e-scooter has been made available in four trims – Benly e I, Benly e I Pro, Benly e II and Benly e II Pro. Benly e I and I Pro are offered with a 2.8 kW (3.8 bhp) electric motor which returns a torque output of 13 Nm. Both electric scooters that have been spied, are wearingOn the other hand, Benly e II and II Pro are propelled by a 4.2 kW (5.7 bhp) electric motor that makes 15 Nm of peak torque. However, both motor configurations are fed energy by two 48V, 20.8 Ah lithium-ion batteries which Honda calls ‘Mobile Power Pack’ (MPP). Both of these battery units are detachable and swappable.Honda Benly e Electric scooter – Registered in the name of Honda Two Wheeler IndiaHonda claims a range of 87km on a single charge at 30kmph on a flat road for Benly e I and I Pro. Whereas for Benly e II and II Pro, the range drops to 43km at 60kmph on a flat road on a single charge. The e-scooter can climb an incline of 12 degrees with 30kg cargo for Benly e I and I Pro and 60kg for Benly e II and II Pro. It also benefits from a reverse assist feature as well.The scooter rides on 12-inch front and 10-inch rear alloy wheels that are shod by 90/90-section and 110/90-section rubber respectively. It tips the weighing scales at 125kg and 130kg for Benly e I and Benly e II respectively. In terms of features, it gets an LED headlight, a digital instrument cluster and an accessory power socket. Braking is taken care of by a combined braking system (CBS).Honda Swappable BatteryIn Dec 2021, Honda setup Honda Power Pack Energy India Private Limited in Bangalore. This is a 100% subsidiary of Honda Motor Japan. The aim of setting up this unit in India was to solve issues like limited range, reduce battery cost and reduce charging / wait time. Apart from two wheelers, they will also provide solutions to other EVs, like electric rickshaws, etc.Honda electric scooter with battery swap tech – Benly eThey will also be making batteries in India, called – Honda Mobile Power Pack (MPP) e:. These batteries will be available at various locations across the country in phase-wise manner. Owners of compatible EVs will be able to swap drained out batteries with fully charged batteries in no time. Interestingly, the Benly e electric scooter also uses the same battery pack MPP.Given the expansion of e-retail businesses in India over the last few years and the bright prospect of electric mobility, Honda might actually benefit if it seriously considers bringing the Benly e electric scooter here. It will only be used for commercial purposes while the Japanese company has some other plans for its regular consumers when it comes to electric mobility. More

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    QJ Motor To Launch 4 New Motorcycles – Rival Royal Enfield

    After launching its sub-brands in India, QJ Motor plans to launch its core brand with 4 new products across various segmentsQJ Motor MotorcyclesAn average Indian might not have heard of the Chinese motorcycle manufacturer QJ Motor. That being said, we ain’t strangers to its products. Rather, we aren’t strangers to the brands that fall under the QJ Motor umbrella. Brands like Benelli, Keeway, Moto Morini and Zontes.QJ is regarded as one of the largest motorcycle manufacturers in China. The company has an arsenal of platforms on which they base its motorcycles. From a small-capacity scooter to a 1,200cc motorcycle, QJ Motor has a slew of platforms.Aadishwar Auto Ride India (AARI) is its distribution partner. QJ Motor is bringing 4 motorcycles to our shores. AARI is currently handling sales and service of brands that fall under QJ Motor. Now, it will expand its lineup by including 4 new products from QJ via Aadishwar Moto Vault showrooms.QJ Motor Plans To Bring 4 New BikesWith a presence in 130 different countries, QJ Motor has an extensive portfolio. QJ Motor Plans to introduce 4 new motorcycles that are set to be brought in via CKD route. These include SRC 250, SRC 500, SRV300 and SRK 400.QJ Motor SRK400Like the numbers in their respective names suggest, SRC 250 is powered by a 250cc engine. SRC500 with a 500cc engine. SRV300 with a 300cc and lastly SRK400 is powered by a 400cc engine. SRC series are QJ Motor’s classic motorcycles. These are likely to target Royal Enfield motorcycles by slotting above and below their popular 350cc bikes.QJ Motor SRC500Along with the Benelli Imperiale 400, QJ now has 250cc, 400cc and 500cc classic bike options. SRC500 is a textbook classic bike with a 480cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine making 25.5 PS and 36Nm. Wire spoke wheels, twin-pod analog instrumentation, telescopic front forks and rear disc brakes are on offer.SRC250 is a lot more modern, both in its appearance and tech. It has a neo-retro appeal rather than going straight-out classic. This 250cc engine makes 17.4 PS and 17Nm and gets modern tech like oil-cooling, rear disc brake, and a single pod off-set instrument cluster.QJ Motor SRV300Launch & PricingSRV300 is a neo-retro cruiser that has a 296cc V-Twin engine that is set to make 30.3 PS and 26 Nm. This is likely to be the same engine that also powers Keeway Benda V302 C that was launched in India some time ago. Kit on this includes liquid cooling, front and rear disc brakes, front USD forks, and a proper cruiser design that looks to be inspired by Harley-Davidson Roadster.Not to be confused with Shar Rukh Khan, QJ Motor plans to launch its SRK400 in India to possibly rival KTM 390. Keeway K300 series were underpowered to take on KTM 390s. With 40.9 PS and 37Nm, SRK400’s parallel-twin 400cc engine is up to the mark, at least on paper.QJ Motor SRC250With a weight of 186 kg, it packs USD forks, a front dual disc setup, a trellis frame, and an underbelly exhaust. Launch timeline is not yet revealed by the company or AARI. That said, these new motorcycles are likely to hit Aadishwar Moto Vault showrooms by the end of this year. Pricing is likely to be on par with the competition. More

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    Top 10 150cc To 200cc Motorcycles Sep 2022 – Pulsar, Apache, R15, MT15

    Honda X-Blade registered the highest YoY growth among 150cc-200cc motorcycle sales of 18433% as it had only sold 3 units a year beforeYamaha R15 S New Colour – Matte BlackSeptember 2022 month for 150cc-200cc motorcycle sales was booming with 1,82,344 units sold while sales doubled from 90,821 units sold in September 2021 with volume growth of 91,523 units YoY. In the midst of the festive season, Pulsar series takes the lead in sales with 45,464 units. In contrast, Pulsar series sold only 14,785 units a year ago and 30,679 units a month before.Pulsar numbers grew 207.5% YoY with 30,679 units gained in volume and holds a 24.93% market share of this segment. At 2nd place, we have Apache series from TVS that was found brooding at Bajaj’s neck with 42,954 units and registered a 5.64% YoY growth and 2,293 units of volume growth YoY. Apache series holds a 23.54% market share in this segment.150cc-200cc Motorcycle Sales Sep 2022Honda Unicorn 160 has surprisingly surpassed cumulative sales from FZ series lying within 150cc to 200cc and secured 3rd place on this list. From failing to cross 2,000 units in June 2022, to selling 36,161 units in September 2022, Unicorn has come a long way. Despite not getting any updates and a price hike of around Rs. 8,000. Impressive!Unicorn 160 registered a 2501% YoY growth as compared to 1,390 units sold a year ago and gained 34,771 units in volume. Yamaha FZ series sold 20,453 units and witnessed a growth of 349% YoY with 15,903 units gained in volume. FZ’s market share in 150cc-200cc motorcycle segment stood at 11.22%.150cc-200cc motorcycle sales September 2022Despite sharing platforms, R15 and MT 15 registered starkly different results in September 2022. R15 sold 9,550 units and when compared to 11,792 units sold a year ago, R15 figures declined by 19.01% YoY. MT 15 sold 8,102 units and with 2,514 units to beat, registered a 222.28% YoY growth. MT 15’s volume growth YoY stood at 5,588 units.Hero Xpulse 200 took 7th spot with 5,772 units and saw 71.02% YoY growth in sales when compared to 2,397 units sold a year ago and gained 2,397 units in volume along the way. One would think that being the less expensive product in this segment from Hero, Xtreme 160R would sell more than pricey XPulse 200. That is not the case, though.Xtreme 160R managed to sell 4,285 units and along the way, registered a 28.54% YoY decline when compared to 5,996 units sold a year before. 200cc products from KTM like 200 Duke and RC200 contributed 3,970 units in sales, up by 70.68% YoY when 2,326 units sold a year ago are taken into account.X-Blade Saw 18433% YoY GrowthSuzuki’s underrated Gixxer series lacks behind rivals. With only 2,348 units sold between Gixxer SF150 and Gixxer 150, sales growth stood at 75.22% YoY. Bajaj Avenger 160 managed to sell 1,675 units in September 2022 and growth stood at 319.8% YoY. Volume growth stood at 1,276 units YoY.Honda’s Hornet 2.0 and X-Blade sold 690 and 556 units each. Both machines registered positive growth. Hornet 2.0 grew 820% YoY from 75 units sold a year before and X-Blade grew 18433% YoY from just 3 units sold a year before. Honda’s CB200X pushed out 364 units and fell in the red with a decline of 73.76% YoY. More

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    Aprilia Electrica, Piaggio 1 EV, Vespa GTS And GTV Showcased

    Aprilia Electrica concept showcased at 2022 EICMA show, looks like a promising EV for the massesAprilia Electrica ConceptEICMA is a spectacular platform for manufacturers to showcase their products to the world. Royal Enfield has used this platform to showcase Super Meteor 650 and a custom Scrambler based on Interceptor 650. Let’s take a look at what Piaggio has in its stalls that grabbed eyeballs.Piaggio Group has Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and Vespa under its umbrella. They showcased both ICE and electric 2-wheelers under Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and Vespa brands. Under Moto Guzzi brand, V100 Mandello was showcased which debuts with the company’s new ‘Compact Block’ engine and a host of electronic goodies along with it.Alongside V100 Mandello, the classic Moto Guzzi V7 was showcased in a Stone Special Edition with a new colour scheme and graphics. A Special Edition of Moto Guzzi V9 Bobber was also showcased. This gets dual-tone colour schemes and a lot of black finishes to provide a unique look.Aprilia Electrica, Piaggio 1 E-Scooter ShowcasedUnder Aprilia brand, Piaggio showcased Aprilia Electrica and Aprilia RS 660 Extrema. Former is an electric super-moto style motorcycle, while the latter is a lighter version of RS 660. The company has achieved this with extensive carbon fiber bodywork. The heavier exhaust on RS 660 is replaced with a lighter one which still adheres to legalities.Aprilia RS 660 ExtremaStandard RS 660 got a decent electronics package in the form of wheelie control, traction control and cornering ABS. Extrema adds to it a new software that enables riders to switch to a GP style shift pattern. Result, Aprilia RS 660 weighs only 166 kg and makes 100 bhp.Aprilia Electrica was the one that grabbed our attention the most. There’s a good reason too. For one, it doesn’t look like an exotic electric motorcycle. Instead, it looks like something that can be daily-used and be affordable for the masses. Secondly, the design approaches a supermoto motorcycle. Something in line with a Ducati Hypermotard.It gets a tall seat, enabling ample ground clearance. The twin-spar chassis incorporates its battery and motor. It gets USD forks at front and a mono-shock at the rear. Design is extremely minimalistic and clean. Swingarm design is attractive and it hides the chain drive behind it connecting a mid-mounted motor and rear wheel.Moto Guzzi V100 MondelloVespa GTS & GTVPiaggio has given a thorough update to its 1 electric scooter for MY2023. For starters, it is called Piaggio 1 Active and gets a performance bump as compared to its previous iteration. It now gets a peak power output of 3 kW. This is enough to reach a top speed of 60 km/h. Range promised by the company is 85 km. LED lighting and colour instrument panel are offered too.Both GTS and GTV come with a new look that is distinguishable from their previous models. Especially GTV, which goes to its historical roots and gets front fender-mounted headlights. Something that original Vespa scooter used to get. Modern features like LED lighting, ABS, traction control and modern instrumentation are positive additions.2023 Vespa GTVGTS gets 4 different versions and 14 colours to go with them. Vespa Primavera Color Vibe gets a two-tone finish and wheels painted in bright blue, which looks distinctive. More