New Ducati V4 Granturismo engine: epochal turning point with the abandonment of the Desmo! [Photo and video]

It was 1956 when the engineer Fabio Taglioni, two years after his arrival in Ducati, presented what would become a true trademark of the Borgo Panigale manufacturer: we are talking about the desmodromic distribution, the “Desmo”, which used a mechanical rocker arm system instead of traditional springs to return the valves to the closed position. A system adopted to this day on the most famous "red" bikes in the two-wheel world, advantageous from a performance point of view, but more expensive due to the need for more frequent maintenance (due to the greater complexity of the mechanism). But today the story changes. Ducati has, in fact, just presented V4 Grandtourism, an engine that abandons the Desmo, compact, light and high-performance and which will equip the long-awaited Multistrada V4, to be presented next November 4th.

V4 Granturismo engine: power, fluidity, reliability

The latest engine from Borgo Panigale uses the latest technologies and the best materials available to ensure durability and reliability never seen before on such a high performance motorcycle engine. The primary objective of the project, as revealed by CEO Claudio Domenicali, was to guarantee maximum fluidity of operation and further extend the intervals of maintenance: the adoption of a spring valve return system instead of the historic Desmo it allowed, in fact, to extend them to 60.000 km. An exceptional result obtained thanks also to the use of materials, treatments and technical choices derived from the world of racing (As counter-rotating crankshaft and “Twin Pulse” technology).

Ducati V4 Granturismo: performance and technical specifications

Speaking of performance, V4 Granturismo, a 1.158 cm³ approved Euro 5, it delivers a power of 170 HP (125kW) at 10.500 rpm, and a maximum torque of 125 Nm (12,7 Kgm) at 8.750 rpm, with a full-bodied, but manageable delivery at all rpm. Great work also from the point of view weight: with his 66,7 kg, in fact, the new engine appears 1,2 kg lighter than the twin-cylinder Testastretta than the previous Multistrada 1260. it is also shorter (-85 mm) and lower (-95 mm), and only 20 mm wider, with incredible benefits to driving dynamics thanks to the new position of the bike's center of gravity. Finally, improvements also regarding thermal comfort: to avoid excessive heat transmission from the two rear cylinders, the V4 Granturismo is equipped with a rear bank deactivation system when idling. Basically, with the motorcycle stopped and the engine running, the rear bank (the two vertical cylinders, placed right under the saddle) is deactivated, stopping the combustion process and lowering temperatures and fuel consumption.