Ducati Unveils 2025 Panigale V4

We can hear you thinking: “The seventh generation? But hey, wait a minute. Hasn’t Ducati released a lot more than 7 models since the 851?” That’s right, from a model point of view we indeed arrive at 11 (count them: 851, 888, 916, 996, 998, 999, 1098, 1198, Panigale 1199, Panigale 1299 and Panigale V4), but when you look at it from a design point of view there are only 6: the 851/888, the 916/996/998, the 999, the 1098/1198, the Panigale 1199/1299 and finally the Panigale V4.

The now announced seventh generation may bear the same name as its predecessor (which is already unique in Ducati’s history), but is completely different in terms of styling. It is the first Ducati Superbike since the 999 to be equipped with a double-sided swingarm. The reason for this is simple: a double-sided swingarm is lighter and cheaper. In terms of design, it is 10 steps back if you ask us, but in terms of handling – and then especially at racing level – it is a considerable step forward.

The new swingarm reduces lateral stiffness (-37% compared to the previous single-sided swingarm) and weight thanks to the two large lightening slots, improving traction when exiting corners and the rider’s feeling during acceleration. The forged rear rim with swingarm weighs 2.7 kg less than the previous one and transfers power to the ground more effectively. On the Panigale V4 S, the forged aluminium rims with five tangential spokes, inspired by those of the Desmosedici GP, weigh just 2.95 and 4.15 kg.

The Frontfame is lighter (3.47 kg compared to the previous 4.2) and has a new stiffness compared to the previous model (-40% lateral). This should give it even more confidence when leaning and make it more effective when taking the apex and rounding the corner.

The third-generation electronically controlled Öhlins NPX/TTX suspension of the Panigale V4 S has a wider adjustment range, offering more comfortable settings for road use and more effective when riding between the curbs on a circuit. At the same time, the increased speed of the hydraulic valves ensures a more precise and accurate response in every riding situation.

The new Ducati Panigale V4 is the first bike in the world to be equipped with Brembo HypureTM front brake calipers. Lighter (-60 grams per pair), Brembo HypureTM brake calipers deliver improved performance. They dissipate heat generated during braking more effectively and offer more consistent performance, allowing the rider to push his own limits more effectively.

Another important world premiere is the Race eCBS system, developed by Bosch in collaboration with Ducati. In the levels for track use, the latter can activate the rear brake according to strategies that imitate the techniques of professional riders and therefore experiment with the possibility of delaying the braking point on the track compared to the absence of the system. In particular, the system continues to activate the rear brake even after releasing the front brake when entering and taking corners, as professionals do with the handlebar controls.

The chassis is not the only thing that Ducati has thoroughly tackled on the 2025 Panigale V4, the styling of the fairing has also been completely renewed, according to the Italians. From the previous approach, based on an aerodynamic package applied to a bike with an already complete design, Ducati says it has switched to a method of aerodynamic design work and integrated design, through a global vision in which the aerodynamic profiles seamlessly blend with the lines of the bike.

As a result, the new fairing has reduced aerodynamic drag by 4% and protects you more effectively in a straight line, keeping you in a sort of “bubble” of calm air. The highly efficient double-profile winglets are perfectly integrated into the shapes of the front end, keeping their downforce contribution unchanged compared to the previous model.

Moving the front edge of the fairing rearward in relation to the front wheel makes the bike more agile when changing direction at speed, while improving the shape of the mudguard and the conveyor belt upstream of the radiators increases the effectiveness of the cooling system, particularly the oil cooler.

For the design of the new Panigale V4, Centro Stile Ducati took inspiration from the legendary Ducati 916. The designers’ aim was to draw inspiration from the iconic bike of the Borgo Panigale company and integrate the ergonomic and aerodynamic solutions of the Desmosedici GP, necessary to meet today’s riding styles on the track.

The side view of the new Panigale V4 finds the balance between front and rear typical of the 916, with a more horizontal overall layout more reminiscent of the MotoGP bikes of recent years. The unmistakable line of the 916 has also inspired the design of the headlights, with the assertive look underlined by the double V-shaped DRL typical of Borgo Panigale sports bikes. Finally, the air intake is now single and central, hidden under the fairing, while the tail, wider and longer, has increased the space available to the rider.

The riding position of the new Panigale V4 has been developed with the dual aim of ensuring maximum integration of the rider into the bike’s aerodynamics and improving vehicle control in the key phases of track riding. The seat-tank combination, thanks to the increased space, offers greater freedom of movement in the longitudinal direction and facilitates positioning in the fairing, also thanks to a deep recess in the upper part of the tank that prevents interference with the helmet’s chin guard.

At the same time, the rear part of the tank, combined with the side fairings and the shape of the seat, supports the rider better during braking, turning and cornering, without restricting body movements in the other phases. The rider can anchor himself more easily with his knees to counteract deceleration and lean out of the seat as soon as the bike turns a corner, reducing the load on the arms and therefore overall fatigue.

The footpegs have been moved 10 mm inwards compared to the current Panigale V4, increasing ground clearance and improving aerodynamic penetration by allowing the rider to position his feet and legs further inwards.

The Panigale V4, more powerful and lighter than the previous model, is created to give enthusiasts unparalleled sensations. According to Ducati, the Desmosedici Stradale is strictly derived from the MotoGP machine, with which it shares many technical solutions, starting with the architecture. It is a 90° V4 with desmodromic distribution, counter-rotating crankshaft and Twin Pulse timing, which gives the Panigale V4 a sound that is completely similar to that of the Desmosedici GP.

On the Desmosedici Stradale of the new Panigale V4, the timing diagram has been revised, with cams with a different profile and higher lift. The alternator and oil pump are the same as those on the Panigale V4 R, while the gearbox drum is the same as on the Superleggera V4. The variable length of the intake manifolds has a greater throw, with a value of 25 mm in the short configuration (-10 mm) and 80 in the long one (+5 mm).

The Desmosedici Stradale engine, Euro5+ homologated, delivers 216 hp at 13,500 rpm and maximum torque of 12.3 Kgm at 11,250 rpm**. Values ​​that increase in track configuration: with the Ducati Performance racing exhaust by Akrapovič, maximum power rises to 228 hp.

Ducati Vehicle Observer

The constant commitment to electronic innovation has led Ducati to develop the Vehicle Observer (DVO). The Ducati Vehicle Observer simulates the inputs from over 70 sensors, refining electronic control strategies that can achieve unprecedented effectiveness in series production. The extreme precision of this functionality allows the control system to intervene in an almost predictive way, instantly responding to the rider’s requests in the search for maximum performance.

Developed by Ducati Corse in MotoGP, the DVO estimates the ground forces acting on the bike and the loads it can support in different riding conditions, integrating the information from the IMU inertial platform in an even more precise way.

The 2025 Panigale V4 is equipped with a complete package of electronic controls: Ducati Traction Control DVO, Ducati Slide Control, Ducati Wheelie Control DVO, Ducati Power Launch DVO, Engine Brake Control and Ducati Quick Shift 2.0. The DQS 2.0 system uses a strategy based exclusively on the gear lever angle position sensor, allowing the use of a shift rod without micro-switches, thus offering the rider a more direct feeling with less travel.

The display has also been completely renewed, it is 6.9″ wide with an 8:3 ratio. The protective glass uses so-called Optical Bonding Technology to optimize readability, even during the day in the sun. Also new is a Track display derived from the MotoGP racer. The interface for use on the track is in fact designed to support the rider in his quest for maximum performance. Thanks to the size and the “wide” form factor of the new dashboard, a series of new parameters can be displayed on one side of the screen:

– “g-Meter”, which displays the lateral acceleration value in real time when leaning, and longitudinal acceleration during acceleration and braking.
– “Power and torque”, which shows the percentage of power and torque being delivered at that moment compared to the maximum available values ​​in the gear engaged.
– “Lean angle”, which displays the current lean angle, together with the degree to which the throttle is opened and the pressure on the brake.

The Info Mode Track can display chronological performances in real time. The dashboard uses the GPS system to display lap times and can handle three split times, which can be set by the rider using the flash button during the first session. The dashboard displays the split times, with T1, T2 or T3 icons indicating the performance in that sector of the circuit with the same colour codes – white, grey, orange, red – used in MotoGP.

The 2025 Panigale V4, which comes as standard as a single-seater with a pillion kit available as an accessory, will be available from September 2024.