Living La Vida Vespa

It’s mid-morning. Lights are twinkling all over the city as it gently shakes off sleep. The friendly neighbourhood grocer trots out, opening the store for the day. A couple zips over on a zooty, bright red Vespa; she shakes her hair out of a silk scarf as he shrugs off his leather jacket. It’s that classic,
quintessential Italian dream… right here in Umhlanga Rocks.

Vespa two-wheelers, with their trademark brightly coloured monocoque chassis, have been around for decades.
Established in 1946 as a single model manufactured by Piaggio, Vespa now has millions of riders worldwide. Legend has it that two Piaggio engineers: Renzo Spolti and Vittorio Casini, designed the first two-wheeler post World War II, which they called ‘Paperino’ – ‘Donald Duck’ in Italian. The prototype, officially named the MP5, later evolved to a slicker, more streamlined MP6, which was shown to owner Enrico Piaggio. When he saw it, he exclaimed: “sembra una vespa!” – “It looks like a wasp!”

In 2015, with rapid urban growth and endless traffic, Umhlanga Rocks finds itself in the same predicament the bustling Italian town of Florence faced in the 1940s. And what better way to escape congestion than on a twowheeler that epitomises the idea of chic? Vespa’s new showroom on the trendy Meridian Drive in Umhlanga Rocks is nestled between the exclusive Porsche and Ferrari dealerships. It embodies the brand: quirky, stylish and original.

Vespa South Africa managing director Andy Reid says Vespa is the perfect companion for inner city living and urban commuting. “Especially with the year-round sunny weather,” he adds. “You can now fully embrace and experience the Vespa brand in our new facilities, designed to meet the growing interest for the two-wheeled lifestyle in the area.” Andy goes on to explain how more and more commuters are switching from four wheels to two to save time, money and frustration. “A Vespa incurs lower running costs, giving you the freedom to zip through traffic and spend time doing the things you love.”

Vespa is a perfect fit for Meridian Drive, with the über trendy – and increasingly popular – Old Town Italy just a few doors down, offering an authentic Italian vibe. “The showroom is a total one stop Vespa experience, a space to immerse yourself in the Vespa lifestyle and hopefully, your very own set of wheels,” he says. “We truly value time with customers. Whether you’re just an admirer or already living la Vespa vida, our doors are always open for a chat, a ride and some great coffee!”