IN BRIEF
Specialized has unveiled three new Turbo Vado 3 IGH electric city bikes that drop the derailleur in favour of a Gates Carbon Drive belt and a continuously variable Enviolo hub. The flagship, the 6.0 IGH, even changes gear by itself. All three versions share the same Specialized 3.1 mid-drive motor (105 Nm, 810 W peak) and an 840 Wh battery, for a claimed range of up to 150 km. Prices are €4,999 for the 4.0 IGH, €5,999 for the 5.0 IGH and €7,899 for the 6.0 IGH with its automatic gearbox.
| Manufacturer | Specialized |
| Models | Turbo Vado 3 4.0 IGH, 5.0 IGH and 6.0 IGH |
| Motor | Specialized 3.1 (mid-drive motor), 105 Nm of torque, 810 W peak power |
| Drivetrain | Gates Carbon Drive belt + continuously variable Enviolo hub, 380% range |
| Gear shifting | Manual twist grip (4.0 and 5.0 IGH) or automatic Enviolo Automatiq (6.0 IGH) |
| Battery | 840 Wh, integrated and removable |
| Claimed range | up to 150 km |
| Equipment | long mudguards, suspension fork, suspension seatpost, MIK HD rear rack (27 kg load) |
| Display | colour touchscreen (6.0 IGH) or colour display built into the stem (5.0 and 4.0 IGH) |
| Price | €4,999 (4.0 IGH) / €5,999 (5.0 IGH) / €7,899 (6.0 IGH) |
Changing gear without ever touching a derailleur: that is the promise of the new Turbo Vado 3 IGH, the “Internal Gear Hub” version of Specialized’s urban electric bike. The brand replaces the conventional chain and derailleur with a Gates Carbon Drive belt paired with a continuously variable Enviolo hub, a stepless drivetrain that adjusts continuously rather than in fixed increments.
A derailleur-free drivetrain, with or without a shifter
All three models share the same base: a Gates Carbon Drive belt, clean and maintenance-free, paired with an Enviolo hub whose gear range covers 380%. On the 4.0 IGH and 5.0 IGH, shifting is done manually with a twist grip on the handlebar. The top-of-the-range model, the 6.0 IGH, goes further with the Enviolo Automatiq: the drivetrain adjusts the ratio by itself according to pedalling cadence, with no input from the rider.
This drivetrain relies on the new mid-drive motor, the Specialized 3.1, which delivers 105 Nm of torque and 810 W of peak power. The 840 Wh battery, integrated into the frame and removable, allows a claimed range of up to 150 km — a maximum figure that will depend, as always, on the assistance mode selected, the profile of the route and the rider’s weight.
Three equipment levels
The 6.0 IGH, the most expensive model at €7,899, stands out with its large colour touchscreen and its automatic gear shifting. The 5.0 IGH (€5,999) and 4.0 IGH (€4,999) use the same underlying mechanics with a more compact colour display built into the stem, and manual gear selection. All three bikes share long mudguards, a suspension fork, a suspension seatpost and a MIK HD-compatible rear rack able to take up to 27 kg.
With this IGH range, Specialized is targeting urban and suburban use, where ease of maintenance matters more than light weight or outright performance: no more chain lubing, no more derailleur adjustment and, on the 6.0 IGH, no shifter to operate at all.
