(Here we see the modern “Game of Death” and the neo-classic paint schemes)
The details are scant, as is often the case with images picked up amongst the ether, but it looks like Lambretta fan Robledo has put together what he thinks the new CMSI Lammys should look like.
The images have found their way onto the Lambretta Club of Great Britain forum and has kicked up a firestorm of debate. Robledo’s design has left no room for fence sitters, the LCGB members seem to either be in LOVE with the modernized lines or they wanna chase Robledo outta town with pitchforks and torches. Well, maybe it’s not THAT extreme, but it’s definitely got people’s attention.
After staring at these for a while I have to say… I can’t sit on the fence either. I’m sold! Heck! I wouldn’t care if it was made by CMSI, Genuine, Kymco or Sym. The lines are very sleek and clean. Robledo has done nicely with the choice of colors seen here AND there is one other (which you can see by clicking on the title link.)
Are you out there Robledo? Can you give us some more details? Oh, HERE they are.
***UPDATE***
If you’re curious what the Italians think, keep an eye on the comments over Here.
29. December 2006 at 6:46 pm
Robeldo = Robotribe, and he posted this on the Modern Vespa forum. (You can also add the red picture to your post)
http://www.modernvespa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7429
Purists will probably dislike it, just like hardcore vintage Vespa faithful often don’t have a lot of love for the ET, LX, and GT/GTS. However, it’s 30 some years on and if Lambretta ever comes to market again, why should it be an exact replica of something else? Moreover, why should it be the same body as an older Lammie but with an automatic engine shoehorned into it?
I’m not knocking Lambretta Innovation, they do cool work, and overall I liked my brief ride on the Phase 0 prototype that CMSI has been showing. However, it doesn’t strike me as really being a new Lambretta. Robeldo’s renderings certainly have the right look. They are clean, contemporary, and interpretively capture the essence of Lambretta style without coming off as a Frankenstein copy.
29. December 2006 at 9:57 pm
Thanks inspector Bryce!
I’m hoping to get a ride on the new prototype Lammy in February.
30. December 2006 at 2:26 am
If you get a ride on it, you will be riding a much newer (and hopefully improved) version than I got to ride in July of 2005 at Mile High Mayhem 8.
31. December 2006 at 9:02 am
this is what the new Lammy SHOULD be like. As an age old purist and sad ol;d Lambretta fan, I’d buy one tomorrow if available.
The “official” new one is a design nightmare- this one works.
Happy New Year from the UK
31. December 2006 at 11:37 am
Its a Vespa ET4
31. December 2006 at 6:22 pm
I love it! I have a GP but if I wanted a modern, safe, reliable daily runner, this would be the bees knees!
2. January 2007 at 11:54 am
Where’s the spare tyre?
2. January 2007 at 4:10 pm
I think CMSI is smart to stay as close to the original design as possible, that’s what people are clamoring for and it’s a good design. Robeldo’s design is nice, but it’s basically modern-vespafying the Lambretta (right down to the cowl vents and thick legshield), why bother, Vespa’s already done that. If you’re gonna modernize it, do something more original. And it’s my opinion that if you’re gonna make a truly modern scooter, why try to make it look like an old scooter. It has merit, but I’m sticking to my vintage=good, modern=good, retro=bad argument.
2. January 2007 at 7:12 pm
Illinoise, I normally agree with your vintage = good, modern = good, but retro = something much less good stance. However, I don’t think that what CMSI is doing really falls in any of those three categories.
They’re altering the proportions, stance, and critical details of the GP200, and then shoehorning a Piaggio automatic engine into it. That’s not going to appeal to people who want the real deal. Nor will it appeal to those wanting something truly modern but evocative of something vintage. In the end, I’m not sure to whom the CMSI bike is intended to appeal. I kind of like it, but I kind of like a lot of bikes I am unlikely to actually spring for.
However, if CMSI made something with a potent 125-300cc engine and a 5 or 6 speed manual transmission in a traditional Lambretta body I would be really excited. If they got a contract with Honda, Yamaha, or Suzuki to get a small supermoto engine I would be in heaven. Give it a modern suspension and top notch brakes and I would be saving my money for one (assuming it’s solidly engineered and built).
26. January 2007 at 2:02 am
Hey Steve. I’m the Robledo (Ted Robledo, http://www.robotribe.com) you’re looking for (if you still are). HOLY SH!T I had no idea my drawings had gotten attention across the pond. Surreal.
Thanks, I guess to Bryce for turning your attention to my little “experiment” with Adobe Illustrator. Funny. Thanks to you as well for gracing your pages with my work.
Too funny. I’m gonna go see what all the hubbub is about on the boards you mentioned.
-t.
26. January 2007 at 6:42 pm
Hey Ted!
Thanks for visiting. I’ll be asking CMSI if they’ve seen your designs floating about… maybe get their opinion on them (and maybe get them to scratch their chin and say “hrm… iiiinteresting.”)
I’m pretty sure it would be too hard to turn THAT boat around mid-stream… have them hammering out new body forms for the release… but who knows, we might see some adjustments to future L’s.
15. January 2010 at 3:18 pm
us here in the UK are starting to go through another boom in lambretta's. and if someone produced a real GP or SX they would clean up. lambretta prices are rocketing off the scale. weather these images are right or as most think a hoax, they are not what people want. GP200s that 3 year back were 1000gbp are now 3000gbp that shows the demand for the "real" thing. i thought maybe a Chinese manufacturer would have stepped in and filled the gap in the market. thing is, it is just as easy to make a cheap product and sell it, like say a sym than make a lambretta and have a smaller profit margin, profit can be made with a GP or SX run but more can be made with cheap plastic and stamped out frames like a sym or any of the other far eastern scooters and mopeds.
15. January 2010 at 3:27 pm
fact is people who want a lambretta want a real lambretta. these will not sell in volume and will vanish. what is needed is for a run of GPs with modern manufacturing methods and materials they would actually be very reliable now, no need to service every 1500 miles etc. i know of people looking for GPs & SXs now that will not buy lamby polos so this stands no chance with the lambretta enthusiast. maybe the less disconcerting consumer looking for a commute will buy, but no one else will