Tag Archives: Vespa Concepts

The classic Vespa Piaggio bike from 1946 goes electric with modern, angular design aesthetics!

Posted on by

Vespa is a brand name that immediately brings an exact image to mind. All it takes is the word and we see Audrey Hepburn smiling from behind the handlebars of an original Vespa, cruising through the streets of Rome. Patented on April 23, 1946, the original Piaggio Vespa has sold over 18 million units in various editions and models up to the present day. Originally designed by aeronautical engineer Corradino D’Ascanio, MA-DE, an international award-winning design studio turned to the classics for inspiration in creating Vespa ELETTRA, a concept design for an electric version of the reimagined iconic scooter.

Based in Como, Italy, the makers at MA-DE are no strangers to giving Italian classics modern revamps. Looking to 1972’s Fiat 126 for inspiration, MA-DE contemporized the iconic three-door city car and designed their own modern-day Fiat 126, giving Fiat’s 1972 model a generally more refined look. Now, taking Vespa on, the co-founder of MA-DE, Andrea Della Vecchia, says, “I strongly believe in the movement towards electric mobility. It is only a matter of time, not only for cars but especially for scooters and small tools for urban mobility.” With electric means for transportation taking over cities across the globe, zero-emission buses in the works for Los Angeles, and electric subways in New York, it makes sense that MA-DE designed one of Italy’s more popular modes of transportation with electric power.

Vespa ELETTRA would operate on a fully-integrated 7kw electric motor with a torque of 240 Nm that would allow each scooter to reach a speed of up to 95 km/hr or 59 mph, an impressive maximum speed for Vespa. As a concept, Vespa ELETTRA runs on a 5.6 kw/h battery that, when fully charged, gives ELETTRA 140 kilometers of uninterrupted travel time. MA-DE also kept ELETTRA’s main electrical components hidden by keeping the dashboard clean of any digital displays, opting instead for a compartment where riders can store their phones. This virtual dashboard showcases navigation panels and other control software, such as the scooter’s app, which serves as an authentication key accessible through the rider’s smartphone. The Vespa ELETTRA subtly incorporates the conveniences of today’s technology while maintaining the classic style that Piaggio Vespa was once known for, I can still see Audrey Hepburn riding the ELETTRA, only now her smile’s brightened from her smartphone guiding the way.

Designer: MA-DE Studio

This article was sent to us using the ‘Submit A Design’ feature.
We encourage designers/students/studios to send in their projects to be featured on Yanko Design!

Vespa’s conceptual electric scooter combines its WWII history with modern design

Posted on by

I am a Vespa fan, I love the minimal design and smooth lines because it makes you feel like you can ride it easily. It isn’t bulky or too masculine, it actually is a gender-neutral scooter in my opinion and therefore loved by everyone. Fun fact: Vespa’s original design was inspired by the Cushman scooters used by the American military during WWII, but its name “Vespa” which means “wasp” in Italian was given to it by iconic aircraft manufacturer Enrico Piaggio because the scooter really looked like a wasp! In an attempt to blend a piece of history with modern design, Mightyseed has created Vespa 98 – a conceptual electric scooter that fits with the needs of today’s world.

Vespa is known to have kept it’s retro aesthetic while still being modern. “We believe looking back to history will give more insight into the future. The Vespa 98 electric concept version is a reincarnation of the original design. The concept is much more like a modern incarnation with sleek styling cues with streamlining features,” says the design team. This electric scooter showcases a bolder look compared to the original one with modern design details like the handles. The mudguard is still placed like it was in the original scooter but now it holds the LED headlight instead. One major difference is this single-seat scooter uses lidar sensors placed at the rear end to notify the rider instead of having rearview mirrors.

The Vespa 98 is powered by a 30 Ah lithium-ion battery pack located in the belly of the scooter which also includes a spacious storage compartment. The hub motor wheel features a sporty look while the sloping tail lamp strip at the rear indicator unit adds a futuristic touch to the concept. The design respects the history while still tailoring it to the preferences that the current audience will have. Vespas just make you happy, and electric ones make the planet happy too!

Designer: Mightyseed Co

The Wasp Has a New Sting

Posted on by

vespa_concept_01

The past month has seen the many, many unveilings of the world’s largest car brands, sharing with us their sights into the future. With this, we’ve been fortunate enough to see a few kick-ass two-wheelers thrown in for good measure too. One collection of kick-ass two-
wheelers that caught our eyes here in Yanko is the Transferred Vespa Design Range by Jennings Harvey-Davidson – a project poking fun at what a full-on Vespa motorcycle would look like, but they didn’t stop there, they explored a whole range of different bikes.

Those at Jennings redesigned the Vespa as six alternative styles of bikes; Vespa Chopper, Vespa Sports Bike, Vespa Touring Bike, Vespa Off-Road/Dirt Bike, Vespa Cafe Racer and even the rather hilarious Vespa Light Cycle (Tron Motorcycle)! The team at Jennings have done a great job here, keeping the subtleties that make Vespa the little Italian wonder it is but equally evoking a strong sense that these concepts could look pretty damn cool out there ripping up the streets.

Designer: Jennings Harley-Davidson

vespa_concept_02

vespa_concept_03

vespa_concept_04

vespa_concept_05

vespa_concept_06