Words by Afzal Rawuther
Ducati has launched the Panigale V4 and V4 S in India at an attractive price of Rs. 20.53 lakh and Rs. 25.29 lakh(ex-showroom, India). The prices will be revised after an introductory period. Deliveries are slated to begin in July 2018. Only 20 units of the Panigale V4 and the V4 S are to be sold in India in 2018 and the first two customers will win an all-expenses paid Ducati Riding Experience racetrack course to the Sepang MotoGP circuit in Malaysia. The Ducati Panigale V4 is the firstDucati production motorcycle to feature the V4 from the MotoGP Desmosedici motorcycle. The 1103 cc Desmosedici Stradale engine produces 214bhp at 13,000rpm and 124Nm at 10,000rpm. That, added with the kerb weight of 198kg and 195kg for the V4 and the V4S respectively ensure that the motorcycle has a power to weight ratio of close to 1100bhp/tonne of weight, easily the best in its class. The V4 and the V4S will be the closest to the Ducati MotoGP bike that you can buy today.
Sergi Canovas, managing director of Ducati India said, “We have been overwhelmed with enquiries since the announcement at EICMA and as a result have opened bookings six months before the motorcycle even arrives in India”.
The Panigale V4 gets a host of tech for the added price premium. The electronics package includes ABS Cornering Bosch EVO, Ducati Traction Control EVO, Ducati Slide Control, Ducati Wheelie Control, Ducati Power Launch, Ducati Quick shift, Engine Brake Control EVO and Ducati Electronic Suspension EVO.
The V4 S crucially, also gets Öhlins semi-active suspension, Öhlins steering damper and Smart EC 2.0 along with forged aluminium wheels and a lithium-ion battery.