A VESPA will always stand out in a crowd and, in a market crowded with very good scooters, arguably that's its main attraction.

But now there's another reason to buy a Vespa -- speed. For the 250 GTS is the most powerful Vespa ever built.

While sports bike owners might scoff at 22bhp, that much power in a little scooter translates into a hefty punch.

The GTS comes into its own in dense city traffic. It's light, manoeuvrable and with instant throttle response. Automatic transmission means you're always in the right gear.

And you won't be embarrassed at the traffic lights, either. Snap the throttle back and you'll find it has enough poke to leave your

four-wheeled rivals stationary.

On the motorway, too, you'll enjoy the shock on drivers' faces as you move into the middle lane to overtake slower-moving vans. Of course, you're never going to be in danger of reaching warp speed but there's enough top end to get you out of trouble even if you're already running at 70mph.

Despite feeling quite light at the front, the Vespa 250 is actually very stable, especially on the motorway. The front brake is a bit of a disappointment and it's essential to use both front and rear brakes together when you want to lose speed fast.

The excellent steering lock allows real flexibility - executing U-turns or negotiating supermarket car parks is a breeze.

The Vespa wears its shiny chrome like a fashion model wears her jewellery. Round sweeping bars make up a stylish luggage rack, the bar ends are polished and there's even a chrome shark's fin sticking up from the front mudguard.

Vespa is Italian for wasp. And with that extra turn of speed, you'll not only look cool, you'll get a real buzz, too.