#v-4

(UPDATE: Ducati has officially confirmed the new superbike will be called the Panigale V4)

Confirming our earlier suspicions, Ducati announced it would present its new V-4 engine Sept. 7 at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli ahead of MotoGP round in Rimini, Italy.

Few things give the MO staff collective chills like the sound of a V-4 engine at full song. When that V-4 is reputed to be emanating from the new Ducati V-4 as it rockets around the Misano circuit in Italy, then you’ve really got our attention. From the sound of this low-quality video showing little more than a black blob circulating through a familiar section of track, we surmise that this may be some early testing of the WSBK Ducati V-4. Clearly, no silencers are being run so the racy sound isn’t much of a surprise. Also, its gearbox seems to be extremely quick and well tuned. We’ve also noticed how much this bike sounds like a Ducati GP bike, but that shouldn’t really come as a surprise since Ducati said their new V-4 would be “derived from extensive experience in MotoGP.” So, we expect the family traits of the 90-degree vee angle and desmodromic valve actuation, both of which would contribute to the distinctive sound.

Ducati sent out a “save the date” notice alerting of an upcoming launch event and indications are it will be related to the company’s new V-4 superbike. The notice teases a Sept. 7 launch at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, promising “the sound of a new era is coming”. We’ve already seen spy photos of Ducati’s V-4 prototype undergoing testing and it appears we’ll see the first official signs of it soon.

We’re getting our first look at the sportbike that will mark the end of an era. This new V-4-powered Ducati will eventually elbow aside V-Twin Ducatis from the Superbike series.

Dear MOby,