When Enrico Piaggio filed a patent for his first Vespa scooter back in April 1946, little could he have known that the name would still be going strong 77 years later – or that 20 million examples of the marque would have been sold in the interim. And he would certainly never have guessed that Vespas would one day have keyless starting, smartphone connectivity, infotainment systems and top speeds of up to 80 mph.

All of the above apply to the latest versions of the GTS Super, which first appeared in 125 and 200cc versions in 2003, followed by the 250cc model in 2005 and the 300 HPE in 2019. The “GTS” nameplate refers to these bigger, beefier Vespas being designed as much for long-distance “grand touring” adventures as for their better-known role as nifty city commuters.

It’s true that some stoic enthusiasts have always been willing to cover huge distances on buzzing, two-stroke-engined models (in 2018, Greeks Alexandra Fefopoulou and Stergios Gogos set off around the world on Kitsos, a 20-year-old PX200 – and are still going), but the four-stroke GTS range is designed to make longer trips a whole lot more enjoyable.

The new GTS line-up comprises four models, each of which can be had with the super-economical 125 iGet motor or the 300 HPE which, at 23 horsepower, is the most powerful engine ever fitted to a production Vespa.

The range starts with the standard GTS, which gets new, metallic paint jobs in black, beige or green. Next comes the sportier GTS Super, instantly recognisable by its graphite-coloured wheels, specially upholstered seat and gloss pastel finishes in black, white or red. If that’s not racy enough, the GTS SuperSport gets blacked-out details, special graphics, carbon-look trim with orange highlights and a choice of five high-gloss colours (green, grey, black, white and orange).

The fourth and final model is the GTS SuperTech. It features a TFT display with pictogram navigation that works via the Vespa app and the maker’s MIA connectivity system – which also enables the scooter’s heated seat and handlebar grips to be set using a smartphone and can log everything from fuel consumption to travel statistics and “vehicle status”.

Enrico would never have believed it possible, would he?

From £5,450 for GTS Super 125 to £6,600 for GTS SuperTech 300; vespa.com