Specialized Reveals 2027 Turbo Vado SL with 1.3 Motor and 50% Battery Density Improvement

Specialized today unveiled the 2027 Turbo Vado SL, the company's most ambitious update to the SL platform since the original 2020 release. The new bike claims a complete-bike weight of 38 lbs — roughly 8 lbs less than the previous generation — and a range of 100 miles when paired with the optional integrated range extender.

The headline change is the new 1.3 motor: a redesigned mid-drive unit that delivers 240 watts of nominal assist and a peak of 50 Nm of torque, while weighing 1.3 kg (hence the name). Combined with a new 425 Wh primary battery and 250 Wh range-extender bottle, the total useable energy is 675 Wh — packed into a bike under 40 lbs.

Specialized said the new battery uses a proprietary cell chemistry developed in partnership with a Korean cell supplier, with a claimed 50% energy-density improvement over the cells used in the 2023 Vado SL. Independent verification will be required to confirm those numbers, but if accurate it represents a leap that would put the company a generation ahead of its DTC competition.

Pricing starts at $5,750 for the base trim, climbing to $7,800 for the EQ commuter-equipped variant with lights, fenders, and rear rack.