Ducati reveal updated Panigale V4 with fresh look, double sided swingarm and 224bhp with race pipe

Ducati have upped the superbike stakes once again, revealing a new Panigale V4 range on the eve of their biennial World Ducati Week festival in Misano.

The seventh generation of sportsbike to use the Panigale name, the new models immediately stand out thanks to their revised styling and swingarm – with the fresh look said to combine the modern aero ethos (reducing drag by 4%) and the looks of the Ducati 916 and Ducati 1098 V-twins.

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Gone is the single sided swingarm, which has been a staple of the Panigale V4 since its inception in 2018. It’s now been replaced with a shell-cast aluminium double-sided option featuring large cut outs to expose the 17in rear wheel, which actually reduces lateral stiffness by a whopping 37% to improve traction and rider feel when getting on the gas out of a turn.

Combined with the suspension and rear wheel assembly, the back end is now a claimed 3.8kg lighter than the outgoing bike.

Part of this also comes from the newly designed single-rod shock linkage, inspired Ducati’s MotoGP bikes. This maintains the same progressiveness as before, while reducing the length of the shock absorber – thus reducing weight.

Moving back to the styling, you’ll notice the angry front lights have gone too – switching to a narrower, almost Desmosedici RR-like design, with the mirrors now also mounted within the front fairing to remove the need for blanking plates when you take them off for a trackday.

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This style change is likely to divide opinion, but then so did the BMW S1000RR when it switched from its traditional winky faced look to a more symmetrical design for 2019, and yet sales continue to be at the upper end of the sportsbike sector in Europe.

The Ducati’s front end has also been raised by 25mm, with the rear bodywork dropped slightly. The tail piece has been extended further from the rear of the bike to reduce the need for a lengthy numberplate bracket. The added benefit of this is also more room for the rider to move around the bike – making life easier on changes of direction on track.

Elsewhere, the new front mudguard has also been based on research into the brand’s V21L prototype – the forerunner to this year’s MotoE race bike – and is designed to maximise aerodynamic efficiency.

Fuel capacity remains at 17-litres, with pronounced shoulders above the riders’ knees added for security within a turn.

It’s not all about looks though, and powering the Panigale is a Euro5+ compliant 1103cc Desmosedici Stradale V4 engine that’s actually 1kg lighter than before.

Fitted with a counter rotating crankshaft to reduce inertia, capacity is unchanged however peak power is now achieved at 500rpm higher. Torque is also now slightly decreased and achieved higher in the revs, down from 91.2lb.ft at 9500rpm on the outgoing machine.

Oomph is then upped to a claimed 224.9bhp with the optional track only Akrapovič exhaust system, which also sheds 6.6kg from the overall weight.

This motor is housed as a stressed member as before, using Ducati’s trademark ‘front frame’ that bolts to the front of the engine to attach the front end of the motorcycle.

On the V4S model, this is then all suspended by electronic Öhlins finery, with a set of NPX-30 forks and a TTX 36 shock absorber, plus a steering damper to prevent any unwanted wobbles.

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This can be adjusted through the new 6.9in full colour TFT dash, with both the fork and shock now benefitting from new hydraulic spool valves to offer a greater range of adjustment between the optional road and track riding modes.   

These lead down to forged aluminium rims, shod with Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP V4 tyres. Up front, you’ll also find new four-piston Brembo Hypure calipers, which bite onto 330mm discs and are 30g lighter on either side than the brand’s existing top-notch Stylemas.

Reducing unsprung mass, it should help the Panigale to change direction faster – as will the suite of top notch electronics – all controlled by a new six-axis IMU.

As you’d expect, there’s traction control, wheelie control, slide control, launch control, an up/down quickshifter and more. Also included is a clever new ‘Race eCBS’ combined braking system developed in collaboration with Bosch to encourage the use of some rear brake on circuit – a tactic which helps steady the motorcycle and suck it down into a corner.

There are seven levels of intervention available, with the rider still able to add manual rear brake inputs if they wish. Up to 15.5% rear brake pressure can be applied, with the system working harder depending on the aggressiveness of the front brake application.

Dealer availability remains unknown at this time, however, expect a full launch review and group test in the coming months.