The future of Ducati is the V4 Stradale

Panigales will soon have a 210+ bhp motor that traces its lineage to Ducati’s MotoGP bike

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NNOVEMBER 5, DUCATI will unveil the first ever Panigale V4. For the planet’s Ducatisti, this date can’t come soon enough for it will mark a paradigm shift in the way the Italian icon makes its legendary superbikes. For the first time ever, Panigales will be powered by a four-cylinder engine instead of the now trademark L-twin.

The Desmosedici Stradale, which is what the company is calling the new unit, is Ducati’s out-of-thecrate new liquid-cooled 1103cc 90-degree V4 derived straight from the company’s brilliant Desmosedici MotoGP motor that demolishes competition on straights. The new V4 Stradale is rumoured to put out more than 210bhp at 13,000rpm and 120Nm of max torque at 8750rpm. Not only does the V4 use the same 81mm bore as the MotoGP engine, it also uses near identical valves, throttle bodies and intake ducts. The crankshaft is of a counter rotating type to offset the gyroscopic effects of its rotation, with the crankpins set at a 70 degrees. The engine’s ‘big bang’ firing order – a twin pulse sequence – has been specifically created to optimise drive out of corners. Who else but Ducati would have paid attention to such little details?

Weighing in at 64.9kg, the V4 Stradale is just 2.2kg heavier than the 1285cc Superquadro and is one of the lightest race derived engines around. The second ever Ducati production four-cylinder motor, it will be mounted such that the front cylinders are banked 42 degrees backwards from horiztonal.

This will not only optimise weight distribution but will also allow the use of the largest possible radiator and as well as move the swingarm pivot point forward. The latter will allow the use of a longer swingarm without increasing the motorcycle’s wheelbase.

Rumour has it that there will be a higher revving R version with a less than 1000cc motor as well for motorsport homologation purposes. Bravo Ducati!