Exclusive interview with MV boss reveals bold new model plans
MV Agusta boss Timur Sardarov promises 950 adventure triple for 2023
‘A new platform, with an engine that is already in testing’
MV Agusta CEO Timur Sardarov has confirmed the Varese brand are developing a new 950cc triple for 2023, ready to power a new adventure machine.
“Our closest [to market] product is a 950,” Sardarov told MCN in an exclusive interview last week. “It’s a brand-new platform, with a brand-new engine that is already in testing and will arrive in the last quarter of next year, with a model year of 2023.”
The platform, which would currently sit between the firm’s smallest 798cc triples and largest four-cylinder 998cc super nakeds, is set to be housed within a number of genres, also including nakeds and sportsbikes. Development is said to already be underway on the adventure model ahead of an official release towards the middle of 2023. “It will represent all of the knowledge of MV Agusta and the pinnacle of our engineering capabilities,” he continued. “It will have a lot of smart features in terms of the way the engine performs, delivers power and its torque curve. “For us, it’s quite a big milestone. There’s nothing like this available on the market. It will come in two variants: more power, less torque and less power, more torque.” What if you don’t want a triple? Well, for those craving more power, Sardarov also promised a new addition to the Brutale 1000 super naked line-up in the coming months, but wouldn’t be drawn on the details at this stage.
“We started manufacturing the Brutale 1000 RR 18 months ago as a brand-new product. We will see an expansion of the line-up and the presentation will happen in May.
“From this month I think all of our products are Euro5, including the 1000,” he added. “We’re introducing another variant for the 1000cc naked bikes that you will see very soon. This platform is going to be evolved further going forward.” Although there are no details at this stage, with prices currently starting at just shy of £30,000, we’d hope the next one is slightly more affordable, to bring it in line with its mainstream rivals.
It’s not all about bigger bikes though and after pulling the plug on their 675 machines earlier this year, due to production costs, the CEO alluded to the development of yet more new models.
“We’re working on a smaller engine platform and working on one engine in particular that has a very different propulsion approach. We have three working technological platforms currently in development.”
But how is a relatively small Italian company like MV managing to devise so many new models in the midst of a global pandemic? Sardarov explains.
“MV Agusta is a company used to crisis management, so for us one crisis, another crisis is not a problem. That’s actually one of the advantages of MV Agusta because it’s quite flexible in terms of adjusting to the reality.” He continued: “The pandemic actually played in favour of MV Agusta because it put everyone else in crisis and the bigger the company, the less flexible it is in what it can and cannot do. So, for a small company it’s a small problem and for a big company there are big problems.
“We basically grew close to 80% from 2019 to 2020 with very good retail numbers. This year, we’re going to grow another 60%.”