After launching the new Genius last month, Scott has now announced the Contessa version of the bike. The Contessa Genius adds a female specific option to the model line up with components that Scott think will suit female riders best. 

Scott says the new Contessa Genius has been designed to be able to tame anything that comes its way, may it be on steep rooty climbs or fast, flowy singletrack. The bike comes with exactly the same frame as any other new Genius model, which means that, compared to the previous iteration, this one is slacker, has a longer reach, shorter chainstays and a steeper seat angle.

As Scott has opted to go with the 'same frame, different parts' theme for the ladies, the differences between the 150mm Contessa Genius and a unisex bike lie in the touchpoints, which have been adapted to match female riders’ needs :

• Grips : smaller diameter and softer foam 
• Women’s saddle : special shape, curvature and padding for added support and comfort
• Shorter stem : 40mm on Contessa Genius S/M, 50mm for L 
• Narrower handlebar : 740mm
• FOX Contessa Custom Tune (Shock) : Light compression Tune
• Smaller chainring on 1-by : 30T

As detailed when Scott launched it's unisex Scott Genius last month, this bike also gets the following updates:

• The frame allows riders to choose between 27.5 and 29" wheels, up to widths of 2.8 and 2.6" respectively
• Twinloc remote reduces the rear travel to 110mm and increases the compression damping for improved pedalling efficiency
• New suspension layout with a rocker link driven Trunnion mount shock, Horst link, Scott say this promotes a superior leverage curve in comparison to the previous model
• There are both carbon and alloy frame options
   

The bike also features geometry that is pushing hard at the door of the long and slack brigade, here's the details for the medium size bike in the 'low' setting: 

• Reach - 439mm
• Head angle - 65 degrees
• Seat angle - 74.7 degrees
• Wheelbase - 1198.9mm
• Seat tube - 440mm
• Chainstays - 438mm
  
   

Specwise the white/blue bike you see above is the Genius 710 which will be £4,899, for which you get a carbon frame, Fox 34 Float Performace Elite Air forks, a Fox Nude Evol shock, SRAM GX Eagle and Shimano XT brakes.

Scott will also be producing two other spec levels, the 720 and the 730 at £3,899 and £24,99 respectively. The 720 will be adorned with Fox 34 Float Performace Air forks, a Fox Nude Evol shock, SRAM GX Eagle and Shimano SLX  brakes and we should mention some cool looking Maxxis Recon tan side wall tyres! Whilst the lowest specced 730 will get Rockshox Recon RL Solo Air Forks, an X-Fusion Nude shock, a 2 x 10 Shimano drivetrain and Shimano Deore brakes. 

Contessa Genius 730

We will be reviewing a Genius 720 in the near future and are pretty keen to see how it rides to say the last!
 

See more at www.scott-sports.com