EICMA 2017: 2018 Lambretta V-Special

Evans Brasfield
by Evans Brasfield

The return of the Lambretta scooter

Almost 70 years after the creation of its first model, the Lambretta scooter has returned in the form of the 2018 Lambretta V-Special. Shown in public for the first time at EICMA on November 7, 2017, the scooter company, which is known for its cult following despite only being in production for 24 years, has teamed up with Austrian design studio KISKA (known to MO readers for the design of KTM and Husqvarna model lines) to produce a thoroughly modern Lambretta in three variations: V50 Special, V125 Special and V200 Special.

Tasty Italian style with an Austrian influence thanks to KISKA.

The V-Special features steel construction of its chassis with other forged aluminum parts. The side panels are replaceable and can even be had in carbon-fiber, if you so desire. Of course, all engine configurations are four-stroke, Euro 4 certified units. Stopping is handled by front and rear discs.

The V-Special’s frame is more than just a backbone surrounded by plastic.

In addition to the solid construction and modern styling, the V-Special receives a healthy dose of technology, too. All lighting is LED-based. Though the V-Special has an analog speedometer that is coupled to a digital display that delivers all the other necessary information to the rider. A smartphone app with Bluetooth connectivity is in the works.

Lambretta says that the V-Special will go into production at the end of 2017 with production models hitting Europe in March 2018. The company has plans for distributing the Lambrettas in 50 countries around the world, and we expect the U.S. to be one of them.

Modern instrumentation.

European pricing has already been set at EUR 2,799.00 ($3,246.00) for the V50 Special. The V125 checks in at EUR 3,399.00 ($3,942.00) and the V200 Special tops out at EUR 3,999.00 ($4,638.00).

The Lambretta V-Special features front and rear LED lighting.
It’s easy to see the KISKA influence in the V-Special’s headlight.
Evans Brasfield
Evans Brasfield

Like most of the best happenings in his life, Evans stumbled into his motojournalism career. While on his way to a planned life in academia, he applied for a job at a motorcycle magazine, thinking he’d get the opportunity to write some freelance articles. Instead, he was offered a full-time job in which he discovered he could actually get paid to ride other people’s motorcycles – and he’s never looked back. Over the 25 years he’s been in the motorcycle industry, Evans has written two books, 101 Sportbike Performance Projects and How to Modify Your Metric Cruiser, and has ridden just about every production motorcycle manufactured. Evans has a deep love of motorcycles and believes they are a force for good in the world.

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  • Michael Conchscooter Michael Conchscooter on Nov 09, 2017

    To me it looks like a Sym or a Kymco sold under a hot brand name. Scomadi is the modern Lambretta with a 200cc tested in England and found to be as fast as the bulkier Vespa GTS300.
    https://www.scooterlab.uk/s...
    The founders of Scomadi were Lambretta dealers and hot rodders in the day and after a lot of trouble have made a deal in Thailand to mass produce their 50/125/200 cc models and one day soon one hopes a 400. Wait for Scomadi and give this thing a pass, I say.

  • Confuciussay Confuciussay on Nov 17, 2017

    Actually, the journo doesn't know ANYTHING about traditional Lambretta design. The comment about the headset being just one bit of bollocks. This being more derived from the Lambretta Luna line rather than KISKA. The only KISKA signature piece being the absurdly high front mudguard, a characteristic on all ugly KTM bikes. Wot you gonna take it off road then. Hah! They gave the reimagining of an iconic scooter brand to a motorcycle design house by way of an Asian manufacturer. They squandered the opportunity to create a modern classic. 2/10 KISKA. Stick to designing ugly but functional off road bikes..,where they should be...out of site! Bah! You can KISKA my butt!

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