Piglet wrote:
Can anybody explain how or why Vespa went from the GT200 to the GTS/GTV 250 to the GTS/GTV 300 so quickly? It seems like a rapid fire evolution for Vespa if you consider models like the PX that stayed more or less the same for decades. Just a curiosity for me to which I am sure a lot of you would have an answer or at least an opinion.
The way I understand it the GT200L was the outer limits performace-wise of the LEADER series motors, and was introduced for and used exclusively in the GT200L. That same LEADER series originally started as a 149cc ET4 motor.
As the "natural" evolution of machines, particularly vehicles tends to ask for more and more power, the following Quasar series engine was developed as a springboard for the GTS 250 and variants, and later the 278cc GTS300 and its variants.
Perhaps the Quasar engine has been pushed as far as it can at 278cc, and Vespa hasn't taken it any further displacement-wise, and hence the development of a new engine currently used in the BV350.
Its my uneducated opinion that the Quasar engine is heading into the sunset soon, and the new 330cc "BV350" engine will be the next bread and butter engine in its class going forward. I hope so anyway.
Like it or not, vehicles continually evolve and the change from 200cc, to 244cc, to 278cc, to ??? is just a natural product progression.
Also, shorter product development times (computer aided design?) coupled with a more fickle consumerist mentality then even 20 years ago adds to the mix.
