Ducati Panigale V4, Andrea Ferraresi: “We gave shape to its character”

Ducati – As the weeks go by, new details related to the splendid girl are always discovered Ducati Panigale V4, the first mass-produced motorcycle from the Bolognese company to be equipped with a 4-cylinder engine, strictly derived from the Desmosedics of MotoGP.

In particular, two intriguing renderings have been published on the Rossa's Facebook profile which show the V4 in the design phase, with a vaguely futuristic look, but still elegant and with a distinctly sporty character, even on paper. Andrea Ferrarese, Design Director of Ducati, explains the two designs thus: “The first thing we did was give shape to the character the bike would have. And so we created proportions that immediately communicated that we were looking at a racing animal: an exciting motorcycle, which was the materialization of the idea of ​​power“. The V4 is a motorcycle that is a concentration of technology, style and performance in true Ducati style, with a displacement of 1.103 cm3, 214 HP of power and a power/weight ratio of 1,1 HP/kg, destined to become the new reference in the production super sports bike segment. The Panigale V4 replaces the iconic 1299 Panigale and does so by increasing its performance and ease of riding, to offer every rider, from the less experienced to the top rider, great emotions and fun. Developed in close collaboration with Ducati Corse, it uses know-how and technology from the racing world to be the road bike closest to a MotoGP. Its performance is underlined by a design which, although in continuity with that of the super sports bikes that preceded it, transmits in an even more marked way the sense of power and essentiality typical of Ducati racing bikes. The name Panigale V4 combines the name "Panigale", and the charm it evokes among enthusiasts, with the acronym "V4", identifying the engine that opens the new era of the Italian motorcycle manufacturer.

The Desmosedici Stradale engine is a 4° V90 with Desmodromic distribution like the Desmosedici GP, from which it also takes the bore value of 81 mm (the maximum allowed by the MotoGP technical regulations). This has been associated with a longer stroke (which leads to a total displacement of 1.103 cm3) to increase torque at low and medium speeds and reduce the maximum rotation speed in order to make power delivery more manageable. The new Ducati engine has a power of 214 HP, at 13.000 rpm, which makes the Panigale V4 the best performing motorcycle in the segment, but still enjoyable on the road thanks to a torque of 12,6 Kgm at 10.000 rpm. Ducati has also developed a new frame called "Front Frame", more compact and lighter than a perimeter frame and uses the engine as a stressed element of the chassis. This solution guarantees the right torsional rigidity when driving at the limit, always offering great feeling to the rider. By taking advantage of this chassis choice, the designers were able to create a slim motorcycle in the connection area between the tank and the saddle to guarantee great freedom of movement for the rider in sporty riding. Careful design and the use of lightweight materials have made it possible to keep the kerb weight for the “S” and Speciale versions down to 195 kg.