New 240-hp Ducati Panigale V4 R brings racing know-how to the road

The brand new 2023 Ducati Panigale V4 R seems to be like a motorbike developed for racing, and it has the know-how to again it up. Offered as a street-legal superbike, it packs extra energy than a 2022 Subaru BRZ thanks partly to MotoGP-derived engineering options.

Energy comes from a 998-cubic-centimeter V4 engine that develops 207 horsepower at 13,500 rpm in its normal state of tune and that is able to revving to 16,500 rpm in sixth gear. Including what the corporate calls a racing exhaust will increase horsepower to 237, and the hike does not finish there. Ducati joined forces with Shell to develop a engine oil particularly for the Panigale V4 R. It reduces mechanical friction by 10% and will increase horsepower by 3.5. Match the racing exhaust and replenish with Shell’s particular oil, and also you’re sitting on over 240 horsepower.

Engineers leveraged many years of racing experience to unlock that output. The engine notably options “gun-drilled” titanium connecting rods, that are drilled longitudinally to create an oil passage, and pistons with a Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) floor remedy. This answer reduces friction between the pistons and the cylinders, and it is extra generally present in MotoGP and Components One engines.

Riders have 4 engine tunes to select from referred to as Full, Excessive, Mid, and Low, respectively. Low caps the V4’s output at 160 horsepower and tones down the throttle response for extra sure-footed driving on low-grip surfaces. Ducati additionally added the Engine Brake Management EVO 2 engine brake administration system with three selectable ranges and a Fast-Shift operate for the six-speed transmission.

The mechanically-adjustable suspension system contains an Öhlins pressurized fork, an Öhlins shock absorber, and a single-sided rear swingarm made with aluminum. Ducati notes that this setup offers the system the flexibility to “copy” the asphalt and intensify load transfers.

Many of the visible adjustments comply with a “operate over kind” strategy to design. The 4.5-gallon gas tank’s profile offers assist for the rider’s legs and arms when braking and cornering, the two-element wings are thinner and extra compact, and the fairing’s new design improves engine cooling whereas making the Panigale V4 R extra secure on the observe. The fairing complies with WorldSBK Championship rules; within the automotive world, that is like Ford constructing a Puma with a physique equipment that complies with the FIA’s World Rally Championship rules.

Pricing for the 2023 Ducati Panigale V4 R begins at $44,995, and deliveries are scheduled to begin within the spring of 2023. Consumers have a number of choices to select from, together with weight-saving carbon fiber elements and a Pit Cease package deal that provides tire heaters and a storage stand.