Vespa Vaulting Back To the United States

VESPA VAULTING BACK TO THE UNITED STATES

VESPA IS RETURNING TO the United States around year's end, with two models and a total of 1000 scooters, says Scott Chain, president of Vespa USA.

The classic PX200E and the more contemporary Cosa II 200 will be imported from Italy under an agreement Chain reached with Piaggio, the company that owns Vespa.

“It’s important that we have a P-series model, which is the scooter that comes to mind when people think of Vespa,” says Chain. “The Cosa has a newer look, but it still has that European styling people want.”

Vespa left the U.S. market in 1985 after emission laws became too strict for its twostroke engines. Chain says Vespa’s current two-strokes can pass emissions tests in Switzerland, where standards are more stringent than in the U.S.

Both models will be priced around $3200, Chain says. Four-stroke models are expected in 1996. Robert Hough