2024 Vespa Primavera and Sprint S First Look

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Vespa’s Primavera and Sprint S models get a refresh for 2024. (Vespa/)

Vespa remains a unique case in the world of motorized two-wheel vehicles and a success that keeps growing after 77 years. It is through competence and hard work by the Piaggio Group that in fact there have been times when Vespa was the main pillar of the company, compensating for the losses generated by poor performance of Aprilia and Moto Guzzi in the past.

In 2003, the advent of the completely renewed Vespa 200 GT marked the start of the uninterrupted climb of Vespa success that Piaggio continues to develop with strong investments to cyclically update and upgrade. Never major changes—Vespa is Vespa forever, but well-calibrated touches keep gratifying the immense crowd of Vespa enthusiasts and lovers. This time it’s the turn of the “small body” models: the Primavera and the Sprint.

Vespa’s small-body Primavera and Sprint S come in three displacements: 50, 125, and 150cc. (Vespa/)

In 1968, the 125cc Primavera was extracted from the tiny 50cc Vespa, and it was a big success. It was much more accessible than the regular Vespa 125 model, and it was young and zippy. The Sprint variation followed a few years later. The Vespa Primavera family was renewed in 2013 to become a lighter and more agile city commuter alternative to the larger GTS models. Ten years later, the Vespa Primavera and Sprint have now gotten their stamped steel sheet unibody structures revised. While still more compact and lighter than the upper-class Vespa GTS models, looks are stronger and richer with more refinement overall.

The handlebar now is fully enclosed with new grips and switch gear. New also is the inner side of the front shield, now a high-quality look and feel. The Primavera adopts a set of elegant five double-spoked cast aluminum wheels, while Sprint tries to be more aggressive with a set of elaborated six-spoked wheels.

Sprint shows its personality in a number of graphic touches in the “necktie” that splits the front shield, but in reality it is just a matter of well-placed color flashes. A major difference comes from the headlight, which is rounded on the Primavera and hexagonal on the Sprint. Both units are full LED technology.

Gasoline Power

Both the Primavera and Sprint S share the same range of power units: three “burning” and two “turning.” The four-stroke engines come in 50, 125, and 150cc sizing and are all SOHC three-valve air-cooled in design. All are fully Euro 5 emission compliant. The 150cc unit is particularly strong at more than 14 hp with a very solid torque curve that is smartly multiplied by the centrifugal clutch CVT transmission.

Two electric power options are available for both the Sprint (shown) and Primavera models. (Vespa/)

Electric Power

Electric motor models come in two levels of power. A moped version, good for speeds not exceeding 28 mph. The motorcycle version is expected to exceed 60 mph. The e-Primavera and e-Sprint S draw from the experience the Piaggio technicians gathered with the Vespa Elettrica of 2021. The technology has progressed and the “moped” power version is equipped with easily removable batteries that can be charged at home.

Vespa’s Primavera Tech 125 and 150 get a 5-inch TFT dash. (Vespa/)

Vespa Primavera comes in three executions: Primavera, Primavera Tech, and Elettrica, Vespa Sprint S comes as Sprint S and Sprint S Elettrica. The base version of both models come with a new 3-inch LCD instrumentation display while the Primavera Tech 125 and 150 feature a new and very elegant 5-inch TFT display. Both instrumentations offer connectivity functions, with the top model including the powerful Vespa MIA infotainment app.

Pricing has not been announced for the US market.

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