Love these design concept renderings for the new Lambretta Vendetta by Kiska, Europe’s largest independent design agency, who had the task of creating a modern version of the world’s finest motor scooter. They had a tough brief… they were told:
- NOT to ‘go retro’… but instead find out the core Lambretta DNA and develop that.
- Appeal to new generation of Lambrettisti
- Less is more – but use simplicity in design to extend functionality
- Use premium materials – more metal, less plastic*
Well, I think they’ve nailed that brief. Initial feedback from the launch of the Vendetta has been generally excellent. There have been grumblings from some of the ‘old school’, but even they have admitted ‘it wasn’t designed for them’.
There will always be a place for the classic Lambretta, and there are innovations today than ever to keep our magnificent machines on the road. But the Vendetta is a Lambretta for the 21st century, to take on the likes of the Vespa 946. I think it meets that niche admirably!
Now… back to the pics 🙂
Lights; LED lights feature all round, including the indicators.
Brakes; The V50 has a front disk brake, and a rear drum. The V125 disks front and rear with a combined braking system (CBS), and the V200 disks front and Rear with a Bosch ABS System.
Metal, NOT Plastic. The chassis is STEEL bodywork, on a tubular frame. The side-panels are double-layered, with a 1.2mm steel middle beam that stretches to the sides in a ‘airplane profile architecture’. Make no mistake, this is a solid, premium METAL scooter.
Attention to detail. The new Lambretta appears to have been finished to a very high standard. This is not a cheap and nasty scooter. Take the detailing on the seat, for example.
Just some (more) pics for the moment of the first, new, official model Lambretta since the 1970’s. (remember where you saw the first ‘unofficial’ pic folks!) I’m sure there are going to be lots of thoughts and opinions on this one… My initial reactions are that it’s obviously a modern scooter, not a slavish reproduction of a classic lambretta, but, like the reinventions of the Mini, and the Beetle for the 21st century, it includes enough ‘nods’ to the past to be clearly a Lambretta.
A sneak preview of the June issue of 
Got it! So proud to have the first ever pic of the New Lambretta – The Vendetta V200 Special – on the internet. This appears to be a clandestine “shot by the cleaner” type photo – in a photo studio set up. I just received this from a friend – and after making discrete enquiries – it is the genuine article. After assuring myself this IS the New Lambretta we’ve been waiting for so long, I couldn’t wait publish.
Further rumours (from a reliable source) have reached Lambrettista Towers concerning the new official Lambretta. The name, Vendetta, as suspected, refers to the ongoing family rivalry between Vespa and Lambretta. L70 is the code name referencing Lambretta’s 70th anniversary in 2017.
The new, official Lambretta has been announced… with little more than a silhouette and a new name “the Vendetta”. I’m liking both. The silhouette looks very traditional, and although it doesn’t reveal much, it looks very promising! The name? Lambretta Vendetta? Fantastic. Hinting maybe at rekindling the old rivalry with Vespa? Are we going to see a ‘wasp killer’? (yeah, good luck with that one, but it’s good to have ambition).
Personally, I think the LN was a decent stab at reinventing the Lambretta for the twenty-first century, but many disagreed. And, although it received decent enough reviews in the media, it was less than a resounding success amongst scooterists. Then, of course, it disappeared from the scene completely – no doubt leaving those purchasers that had bought one feeling rather abandoned.