Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

In gear

Hop on for a test drive and keep up to speed with the latest motoring news

Text Richard Bence, Lisa Curtiss

TEST DRIVE

Vespa LX

Offering sporty performance and agility around town and on longer journeys, a Vespa scooter is the perfect combination of enjoyment and high performance.

Buying a scooter is one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. Zipping in an out of traffic cuts down journey time and also reclaims a sense of freedom that gets lost when you spend hours locked in traffic jams. It actually makes travelling fun again. And there’s no more stylish scooter to be seen on than the Vespa LX, which offers a blend of classic style and sharp-edge modern design with practicality, safety and agility.

The all-steel body sets the Vespa LX apart from any other scooters produced today, and offers unbeatable rigidity and steering precision. The classic Vespa outline is more sharply drawn than on the popular Vespa ET, which the LX replaces, and the round headlamp and rearview mirrors in chrome-plated steel are a style statement straight out of Vespa history.

The new Vespa S has the appeal of the original Vespino (meaning ‘small Vespa’), as its design is inspired by the iconic models from the 1970s.

Features on the Vespa S include a new rectangular headlight – which isn’t as cute as the LX’s round version – and an aggressive-looking air intake. Other design highlights include a mudguard that has been reduced in size to reveal the suspension, and a chrome trim to enhance the Vespa S’s sleek look.

The front shield of the Vespa S is characterised by its clean design recalling the pure lines of the 1970s, and Vespa’s trademark since its arrival on the scene in 1946. The rear of the Vespa S has an all-new look – it’s sleek and simple, with a new tail-light that has been designed to enhance the dynamism of this sporty model. It’s a beautiful piece of machinery.

Two seat options are available: the ‘sporty’ seat is fitted as standard on the 50cc Vespa S to enhance its dynamic character, while the ‘touring’ seat is fitted to the 125cc to maximise comfort and usability. vespa.com

Cup cutie

Like an ageing Papa, the Clio was beginning to look a bit tired. The new model is like a shot of Viagra

The hottest of all hatches – the Clio Renaultsport 197 Cup – is cute, yes, but certainly not cuddly. If you want a car that’s guaranteed to turn heads, this is it. On test, few cars have attracted more male attention, apart from its sizzling turbo sibling, the Mégane Renaultsport R26 230. This car is one mean, miniature racing machine and thus stripped of pretty much

anything not contributing to its performance. This includes air conditioning, but in just one breathtaking trip you’ll be so smitten, you’ll learn to love having the windows open again.

Developed from the multi award-winning, limited edition Clio Renaultsport 197 (which was snapped up in a heartbeat and now all sold), the Cup is designed for blistering track performance with super-stiff dampers, up-rated springs, lower ride height and Recaro lightweight seats. It’s also road friendly thanks to longer gearing than the 197. Options of striking red

Brembo brake callipers on 17in speedline alloy wheels in satin black add to its performance looks. The white version is also available with top rear spoiler, which gives the car an even more purposeful air.

In the news

Jaguar marked the 20th anniversary of its famous 1988 victory at the Le Mans 24-Hours race by leading a special parade before this year’s event. Jan Lammers drove the Silk Cut Jaguar XJR-9LM, owned today by the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust.

Lammers drove the XJR-9LM to victory from sixth place on the grid in the 1988 Le Mans 24-Hours. Jaguar entered five XJR-9 cars that year, all powered by the
7.0-litre, 750bhp Jaguar V12 engine based on the 5.3-litre V12 from the XJS. Three cars finished, coming a commendable first, fourth and 16th. Jaguar also won the 1988 world championship with wins in six out of 11 Group C races.

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