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Ducati Panigale V4 S: power and controversy

With 209 horsepower, the latest version of the Ducati Panigale V4 S debuts with improved capabilities and a controversial shape change that improves functionality.

Por: Rubén Carrillo July 29, 2024

Ducati Panigale V4 S: Power and Controversy / Photo via Ducati

The new Ducati Panigale V4 S is a powerful superbike that generates divided opinions. With 209 horsepower, the latest version of the model debuts with improved capabilities and a controversial shape change that improves functionality.

The launch of a new Ducati superbike is an event expected every few years, and its arrival always puts the loyalty of fans to the test.

The presentation of the seventh generation of the Panigale V4 S at the Misano World Circuit, Italy, and the striking motorcycle ignited the enthusiast community with its fluid bodywork, updated hardware and software, and a critical element that breaks with 30 years of tradition: a double-sided swingarm.

This abandonment of Ducati convention is a more utilitarian engineering solution compared to the single-sided swingarm, which exposes one side of the rear wheel in an evocative display of minimalism and mechanical nakedness.

By revealing the full profile of the wheel and holding it with only one anchor, the single-sided swingarm allows for a more elemental visual presence that exudes a certain unmistakable style.

“It’s quite difficult, because from a purely stylistic point of view, something that is really impeccable, clean and seemingly simple, is actually quite complex in terms of the curvature of the surfaces and the management of the volumes,” Andrea Amato, Ducati’s head of design, told Robb Report. “The risk is to create something too simple.”

The wings help manage aerodynamics at the front and give the bike a more exotic look, although some also argue that it makes the 209-horsepower bike look like a catfish.

The bike undergoes a series of improvements designed to make it even faster on a racetrack, while being more accessible and easier to ride.

The 1,103 cc V-4 is lighter and produces more power than before, despite stricter Euro 5 emissions regulations. A new Ducati Vehicle Observer system leverages the equivalent of more than 70 sensor inputs to manage the bike’s electronic aids and thus ensure faster lap times. In addition, the new telemetry incorporates an accelerometer, power and torque meter, and lean angle information.

The controversial hollow design of the swingarm lightens the visual load of wrapping both sides of the rear wheel, while saving 3.75 kg of weight at the rear.

While this philosophical change has the potential to prevent some brand traditionalists from seeing the light, Ducati claims that the new rear end significantly improves the bike’s suspension and handling.

It is likely that these improvements will help the homologated racing versions of the Panigale maintain Ducati’s success on the track, but it is unlikely to quell the complaints of those who are attached to the brand’s traditional design iconography.

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Ducati Panigale V4 S: power and controversy

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