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Why does this red Vespa 946 cost P777,000?

No, this scooter is not designed for Valentine’s Day

The Vespa 946 Red has a noble cause behind it. PHOTO FROM VESPA

What you see here is a very red (and quite expensive) Vespa 946 scooter. No, this is not in celebration of Valentine’s Day tomorrow, February 14, though it may as well be. Like any other 946, this two-wheeler is powered by a 125cc single-cylinder, four-stroke engine that allows it to hit a top speed of 93km/h.

Besides the paint job, the Vespa 946 Red has special parts that make it stand out from the regular version, including attractive aluminum components. Whether all of this justifies the motorbike’s P777,000 price tag is up for debate.

One look and you know this is not your ordinary Vespa. PHOTOS FROM VESPA

But before you rant or criticize, know that the 946 Red is a special-edition Vespa that serves a humanitarian cause. This variant is actually a collaboration with Product Red, a licensed brand that seeks to raise funds for the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. All consumer brands that partner with Red—Apple, Coca-Cola and Starbucks, among others—donate as much as 50% of their Product Red profits to The Global Fund.

In the case of Vespa, $150 goes directly to The Global Fund with every purchase of a 946 Red. According to the Red organization, the amount is good for “500 days of life-saving medication.”

The Italian scooter maker is even complementing the 946 Red with a range of lifestyle accessories that include an extremely visible red helmet (which should be great for road safety). Vespa Philippines is selling said accessories for an additional P104,000.

We'd wear this helmet even without the 946 Red scooter. PHOTOS FROM VESPA

We don’t know if we’ve satisfactorily answered the question about why the 946 Red is this expensive, but we hope you appreciate the noble cause it is supporting. Also, consider that the other edition Vespa Philippines is selling, the 946 Emporio Armani, is priced exactly the same. Might as well donate to a good cause than further fatten the wallet of a fashion mogul, right?



Vernon B. Sarne

Vernon is the founder and editor-in-chief of VISOR. He has been an automotive journalist since July 1995. He became one by serendipity, walking into the office of a small publishing company and applying for a position he had no idea was for a local car magazine. God has watched over him throughout his humble journey. He writes the ‘Spoiler’ column.



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