Can Electric Scooters Still Have Soul? The Lambretta Elettra S Sure Thinks So

If Vespa [1] was Italy's sweetheart in the scooter world, Lambretta [2] was the rebel kid down the street. Both were born out of post-war necessity, helping an entire generation get moving again. Vespa built its empire on soft curves and romance; Lambretta, on sharp lines and mechanical grit.

Over time, one became a global lifestyle brand while the other turned sort of fell off the radar.. Today, Lambretta lives on as an "if you know, you know" kind of name. It's still European at heart, though much of its assembly now happens in Taiwan, and it caters to riders who appreciate craftsmanship, nostalgia, and that unmistakable metal-bodied look.

It may not match Vespa's global fame anymore, but its identity has never wavered. This is where the Elettra S enters the picture, revealed at EICMA 2025 [3], and Lambretta's most forward-looking model yet. The name might sound suspiciously familiar to anyone who's heard of Vespa's Elettrica, but this scooter stands apart in one crucial way: it doesn't try to be futuristic for the sake of it.

It's a true Lambretta, wrapped in steel and styled like the classics, only now powered by a battery instead of gasoline.

Photo by: Lambretta

Underneath that sculpted body sits a four kilowatt permanent magnet synchronous motor, peaking at six kilowatts and producing 74 pound-feet of torque. That may not sound like much, but it's plenty for urban life. Lambretta says that the Elettra S sprints from 0 to 25 miles per hour in around 10 seconds, topping out at 56 miles per hour.

So no, it's by no means fast. But for city streets, it might just fit the bill perfectly. The motor draws power from a 4.5 kilowatt-hour NMC lithium battery, which delivers up to 75 miles of range on a full charge.

Plug it into a standard wall socket, and it takes about six hours to fill up. If you use a fast charger, it'll jump from 20 to 80 percent in a little over three hours. Sure, these numbers may seem slow when compared to the fast charging tech of modern-day EVs.

But hey, the essence of a vintage Italian scooter has always been about taking your time. And speaking about styling, Lambretta also kept the classic steel frame, a signature that gives the scooter its solid feel and vintage weight balance. And indeed, at 291 pounds, it's packing quite a lot of heft for a scooter.

It rides on a front tie-rod fork and a rear monoshock, keeping things stable and comfortable on unpredictable urban roads.

Photo by: Lambretta

Photos by: Lambretta

The front end is sharp and modern, the rear smooth and rounded, recalling the company's 1960s icons. It's finished off with full LED lighting, a TFT display, and just enough polished metal to make you look back as you're walking away. As for tech [4], there's a decent amount.

Riders can switch between Eco, Ride, and Sport modes, each adjusting throttle response and power delivery to match the day's mood. In Eco, it's calm and efficient. In Sport, it feels eager, with enough punch to outpace traffic from the lights.

The Elettra S is set to launch in late 2026, priced around 6,500 Euros, or roughly £7,000 USD (if it ever makes its way to the US). That puts it squarely between budget commuters and premium lifestyle scooters.

7 Source: Lambretta

But what makes it special isn't just the specs or the speed.

It's the fact that Lambretta is still here, still making metal-bodied scooters that wear their history proudly while quietly adapting to the future.

The Elettra S might not be the start of an electric revolution, but for the faithful few who still believe scooters should have soul, it could be exactly what they've been waiting for.

Source: Lambretta

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References

^ Vespa (www.rideapart.com)
^ Lambretta (www.rideapart.com)
^ EICMA 2025 (www.rideapart.com)
^ tech (www.rideapart.com)
^ Take our 3 minute survey. (www.rideapart.com)