Ducati delivers first Panigale V4 to European dealers

“A new era begins,” claims Ducati as it delivers its new MotoGP-inspired superbike to Europe.

The Panigale V4, the brand’s first ever mass-produced four-cylinder bike, is a “big step up” for road-legal motorcycles, it says.

Production began on the firm’s newest instalment on November 15, 10 days after the Panigale was officially revealed for the first time in Milan.

The firm says manufacturing teams are working at full capacity to get as many made as they can.

Already, 500 have been delivered to European showrooms – with demand for the bike expected to be very high, according to Ducati.

Other international markets will receive the bike in the coming months.

But the biggest thing about Ducati’s new superbike is its monstrous engine. The Panigale is fitted with a 211bhp V4, which is derived from the Desmosedici MotoGP bike. It also has a power-to-weight ratio of 1.1bhp per kg.

And if that’s not enough, power can be boosted to almost 220bhp with the optional titanium Akrapovic race exhaust.

No other information has been released so far, but it is expected to be earth-shatteringly fast.

Ducati says its newest addition “sets a whole new standard in the supersport production bike segment”.

Developed in close collaboration with the firm’s racing division – Ducati Corse, this road bike is the closest thing possible to its MotoGP counterpart.

Customers will be able to choose from the base Panigale V4 (priced at £19,250), the Panigale V4 S (£23,895) with Öhlins semi-active suspension, forged aluminium wheels and a lithium ion battery, and a Panigale V4 Speciale (£34,995) which is a numbered, limited-edition (of 1500) bike with a dedicated livery, titanium exhaust and a host of carbon and billet upgrades.

Ducati says: “The Panigale V4 is the first production Ducati motorcycle to mount a 4-cylinder engine, derived directly from the MotoGP Desmosedici.

“It’s a concentrate of Ducati technology, style and performance.”