Ducati is attending the IAA 2019 exhibition, the Frankfurt Motor Show scheduled from 11 to 22 September, with its Panigale V4 R, a sports model that is the highest expression of Ducati racing engineering expertise, approved for road use. 

The Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer has decided to showcase this gem of technology, style, aerodynamics and performance in a dedicated space in the Audi show booth (Hall 3.0), confirming the focus on and synergies with Ducati within the Volkswagen Group. 

The Panigale V4 R is the most powerful and top performing production Ducati ever. An extraordinary, technology-packed machine derived directly from the MotoGP world. The innovative features added by Ducati to this exclusive version of its top-of-the-range supersport model are not limited to the engine and suspension, but also include the fairing, developed and designed by Ducati Corse in collaboration with Centro Stile Ducati, which improves the aerodynamic performance of the vehicle.

The fairing also integrates the aero attachments developed for Ducati’s MotoGP prototypes. Made of carbon fibre, they are based on the wing design developed for the MotoGP motorcycles and increase stability in all riding phases, improving the rider’s confidence for even more efficient, high-performance riding.

The Panigale V4 R is, in all respects, a road-legal WSBK racing motorcycle, and the technical baseline for Ducati factory Superbikes currently competing in the 2019 World Championship, where they have already won 16 of the 30 rounds raced to date.

The 998cc Desmosedici Stradale R engine has an extreme character, with its highly responsive, “sharp” delivery designed for top track performance. It features lighter internal components, which help reduce the weight of the vehicle by 2 kg compared to the Panigale V4 S, down to a kerb weight of just 193 kg. The superior intake efficiency provides faster crankshaft speed, raising the “red zone” of the rev-counter and enabling later gear shifts. The result is 221hp (162kW) delivered at 15,250 rpm (values referring to EU homologation), 2,250 rpm more than the peak power of the 1,103cc V4 engine. Staggering figures, which become even more impressive by fitting the Ducati Performance by Akrapovič full-racing exhaust, which raises the top power to 234 HP (172 kW) at 15,500 rpm.

In other words: the Panigale V4 R is the most powerful and top-performing production Ducati of all time!

Words and Photos: Ducati Media House