Ducati’s most powerful motorcycle inches closer to production

- Ducati Panigale V4 Superleggera production to commence soon

- Most powerful production Ducati ever

- Priced at $100,000 (approximately Rs 71 lakh)

In February this year, Ducati had globally unveiled its most powerful production motorcycle ever, the Panigale V4 Superleggera. To be limited to 500 units only, the Italian bike maker had affirmed that all the ordered units will be ready by June. However, things couldn’t go as planned, courtesy of the Coronavirus gripping the globe. 

Now, with the operations getting back on track, Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali took to Twitter to reveal that the Superleggera is almost ready to hit the production line. The last pre-production model of the motorcycle will reach Nardo soon for the final quality check. For those not in the know, Ducati tests its motorcycles at the Nardo Ring in Italy which is a huge 12.6km circle test track. 

The Ducati Panigale V4 Superleggera is an engineering marvel, at least on paper. The higher-spec version of the homologation special V4R, the Superleggera is capable of producing as much as 224bhp and 115Nm from its 998cc, V4 Desmosedici Stradale engine. Combine this with the dry weight of 152kg and you have an incredible power-to-weight ratio of around 1.41bhp/kg. What’s more, the MotoGP-derived bi-plane wings integrated into its fairing provide a down force of 50kg at the speed of 270kmph. 

Of the 500 units to be built, expect a few of them to arrive on the Indian shores as well. Internationally, Ducati has priced the Panigale V4 Superleggera at $100,000 (approximately Rs 71 lakh).