Ducati took its most powerful production bike ever, the Panigale V4, to even more extreme new heights with the limited-edition Superleggera V4.
Though the 998cc Desmosedici Stradale R V4 beneath its GP19-inspired red shell is smaller than the 1,103cc unit in the Panigale, it delivers 9 more horses to achieve a maximum output of a truly vicious 234 hp when equipped with the included Racing kit.
This engine, in conjunction with a plethora of weight saving-components like carbon fiber, titanium, and magnesium, gives the 335.5-pound Superleggera the highest power-to-weight ratio of any street-legal motorcycle on the market. Every load-bearing structure—the frame, subframe, swingarm and wheels—is made from composite materials.
As you can imagine, the Superleggera is a fantastic track day choice. The “biplane” aerofoils are inspired by the 2016 Ducati MotoGP and can create close to twice as much downforce compared to the Panigale, which improves acceleration and brake stability.
Riders can select from three pre-programmed Riding Modes— Race A, Race B and Sport—or create up to five personal Riding Modes. Lap times can be monitored via an upgraded timer, which can store info for finish line and split times coordinates on five famous tracks at a time. The default course details are for Laguna Seca, Mugello, Jerez, Sepang and Losail.
Only 500 serialized Superleggera V4s will be built in 2020 at a rate of five per day because of the complexity of the components. The first are due out in June.
