Ducati has unveiled the Superleggera V4, codenamed ‘Project 1708’, the lightest, most powerful motorcycle ever produced by the Italian brand. The Ducati Superleggera V4 is based on the Ducati V4R Superbike and will be a limited production model with only 500 units sold worldwide. Ducati has painstakingly chased every single gram to save weight on the Superleggera V4. The dry weight of the bike is 159 kg and with a racing kit, the weight goes down further to 152.2 kgs.
The Superleggera V4 features a full Carbon Fibre Front Frame, that rides on a fully adjustable Titanium Nitride (TiN) coated 43mm Ohlins NPX25/30 pressurised fork on the front and a fully adjustable Ohlins TTX36 with GP valve and Titanium spring mounted to the Carbon Fibre single-sided swingarm on the rear. The Front and rear wheels on the Superleggera V4 are made of 17-inch 5-split fork Carbon Fibre.
The powerplant is a 998cc Liquid-Cooled Desmosedici Stradale 90-degree V4 engine with lightened counter-rotating crankshaft and a Desmodromic Valve system that generates 224 hp as standard and 234 hp when equipped with a type approved Akrapovic racing exhaust system. The torque generated is 116 Nm as standard and 119 Nm with the full racing exhaust system. The transmission on the Superleggera V4 is a 6-speed gearbox equipped with a Ducati Quick Shift EVO2 (DQS) up/down quickshifter and a hydraulically operated dry slipper clutch. The fuel delivery system consists of a full ride-by-wire electronic fuel injection system with elliptical throttle bodies, aerodynamic valves and variable-length intakes.
Stopping power comes from twin 330mm discs with Brembo calipers on the front and a single 245mm disc with Brembo callipers on the rear equipped with a cornering ABS system (ABS EVO).
The Ducati Superleggera features full LED headlights and tail lights with LED daytime running lights, Carbon Fibre fairings, Carbon Fibre mudguards, high-flow air filter, Lithium-Ion battery, Ohlins steering damper etc.
The Superleggera V4 features a Carbon Fibre bi-plane wing based on the Desmosedici GP16 MotoGP bike which provides 50kg of downforce at 270 kmph and an 11mm longer swing-arm that helps the rider to keep the front end down with less intrusion from the electronic system.
Speaking of which, the Superleggera V4 is equipped with three riding modes – Race A, Race B and Sport. Ducati Power Launch (DPL), Ducati QuickShifter EVO (DQS), Ducati Traction Control, Ducati Wheelie Control, Ducati Slide Control, Engine Braking Control, a GPS module, Lap Timer EVO 2, Pit Limiter, Ducati Data Acquisition DDA2 etc.
Ducati will start delivering the Superleggera V4 to customers from June 2020 and will possibly sell a few units in India as well. The Superleggera V4 in Europe is expected to cost around EUR 100,000 which converts to INR 77,89,336 (approximated at mid-market rates for informational purposes only), but speculations are that the Superleggera in India will cost more than the Ducati 1299 Superleggera that was priced at INR 1.12 Crore ex-showroom, Delhi.