The Evolution of Ducati Never Stops: New Panigale V4
With the 2022 version, the Panigale V4 project takes the most significant evolutionary step since its original unveiling, becoming even faster on the racetrack as well as more intuitive and less tiring for a wide range of sport riders
The Panigale family is the maximum expression of the continuous exchange of information and technology from the world of racing to production bikes and, with the latest version, it continues its evolution year after year just as with Ducati Corse prototypes
The new 2022 Panigale V4 has been improved in all areas, including aerodynamics, ergonomics, engine, chassis and electronics
Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), November 25, 2021 – In the fifth episode of the Ducati World Première 2022, the Borgo Panigale-based motorcycle manufacturer revealed the new 2022 Panigale V4 to fans and motorcycling enthusiasts worldwide.
The 2022 Panigale V4 represents the next step in the characteristic path of Borgo Panigale sport bikes, taking life from Ducati Corse’s long-time experience using continuous knowledge and technology-sharing from the world of racing, applied directly to production bikes. This new project expresses the uniqueness of a brand capable of winning the MotoGP constructors’ championship for the second consecutive time, while ensuring that every single element designed for competition can be transferred to motorcycles built for enthusiasts. The Panigale V4 is constantly refreshed and improved, just as it is in MotoGP and WorldSBK.
With the 2022 version, the Panigale V4 project completes the most significant evolution since its birth . The improvements involve all areas: aerodynamics, ergonomics, engine, chassis and electronics. The result is an even faster bike on the racetrack and at the same time a more intuitive and less tiring bike for a wide range of riders. In short, it offers rewarding excitement for professional and amateur alike.
These exclusive features have been confirmed though special testing on the Vallelunga race track in Italy. The 2021 Panigale V4 S and the 2022 version, both equipped with Pirelli SC1 tires, ridden by two testers, were joined by the pro-rider Michele Pirro (Ducati Official Tester). At the end of the day, it turned out that the first tester improved his best lap on the new 2022 Panigale V4 S by 0.9 seconds, and the second by 1.2 second, while Michele Pirro was faster by half a second, lapping just three seconds from his best time in Race 1 at Vallelunga during last year’s Italian Superbike Championship where he raced on the high-performing SCX compound.
The first new feature of the new 2022 Panigale V4 has to do with aerodynamics. Ducati engineers concentrated their hard work on the fairing, which now integrates more compact and thinner double-profile design wings with increased efficiency: this update guarantees the same vertical load, up to 81 lbs at 186 mph (37 kg at 300 km/h). Furthermore, the lower part of the fairing features redesigned extraction sockets to improve the cooling system and, as a result, the performance of the engine, particularly on track days.
Ergonomics has also been a core focus of in-depth development with the aim of improving the control of the bike during track sessions to allow the rider to get the most out of the Panigale V4’s performance, both on a single lap and heavy use on the track.
The seat has a flatter shape with different coating, to further support the rider when braking and allow easier movement of the body. Compared to the 2021 version, the tank has a new shape in the rear portion to allow the rider to better anchor when braking and allowing the rider to drive faster and longer. Thanks to these new ergonomics, the rider is also completely integrated into the bike and therefore more comfortable when riding in general; even the contact area of the arms when leaning completely outside the curves has been enhanced.
The heart of the bike is represented by 1,103 cc Desmosedici Stradale MotoGP-derived engine which has undergone a series of updates. The Desmosedici Stradale completes a further evolution for 2022, thanks to the introduction of dedicated technical elements that allow superior performance on track with an instant response to throttle requests.
The new SBK gearbox has been updated with lengthened first, second and sixth gear to be faster on track with a new torque management strategy that guarantees the rider the possibility of always having the optimal thrust when opening the throttle. Thanks to these interventions and a new dedicated mapping, the Desmosedici Stradale delivers 210 hp at 12,500 rpm. The engine also delivers torque of 90.6 lb-ft at 11,000 rpm.
A notable detail about the evolution of the new 2022 engine is the adoption of a new gearbox that provides for a lengthening of the ratio for first, second and sixth gears. This new SBK gear ratio is more “racing-oriented” and more suitable for use on track. The first gear has been lengthened by 11.6%, while the second by 5.6%. Thanks to this new gearbox, it is now easier to tackle the tightest corners in first gear, enjoying greater engine braking and better acceleration out of corners. The smaller jump in speed between the first two ratios allows the DQS, equipped with new calibration, to work more effectively, offering better performance. Lastly, sixth gear has been lengthened by 1.8% allowing a superior top speed than the 2021 Panigale V4.
A new Power Modes logic has been implemented on the 2022 Panigale V4 which provides for four engine configurations: Full, High, Medium, and Low. The Full and Low configurations are newly designed while the High and Medium configurations use a new strategy. The Full Power Mode is the sportiest ever adopted by a Panigale V4 and allows the engine to express its full potential with torque curves without electronic filters, except for first gear. A new Ride by Wire map management system has been developed for the High and Medium Power Modes; now dedicated to each of the six gears, which guarantees the rider the possibility of always having optimal thrust when opening the throttle. The Low Power Mode has been conceived to make road riding even more enjoyable, limiting maximum power of the bike to 150 hp and offering a particularly manageable throttle response.
The performance of the Desmosedici Stradale can be further improved thanks to the racing exhaust systems contained in the Ducati Performance catalog. In order to offer everyone the opportunity to ride with a full racing exhaust even on circuits with tighter noise limits, a new DP3 exhaust system is available, completely in titanium, developed in collaboration with Akrapovič, which falls within the 105 dB noise limit (102 dB with the dB killer fitted). The new exhaust is equipped with high silencers alongside the tail and ensures a power increase of 18 hp, bringing the maximum value to 228 hp, while the maximum torque value rises to 96.6 lb-ft (131 Nm), with an overall weight reduction of 11 lbs. (5 kg). This new exhaust is added to the more compact full racing version already available in the catalogue, that extends under the engine and is also made entirely from titanium by Akrapovič, which at the same performance levels reduces weight by 13.2 lbs. (6kg) and has a noise level of 109 dB which drops to 107 dB when the dB-killer is installed.
The Desmosedici Stradale is also a structural element of the chassis and directly connected with the aluminum front frame. The chassis is completed by the lightweight front frame made of magnesium and the seat post in cast aluminum.
The new Panigale V4 S is equipped with the new Öhlins NPX 25/30 electronically controlled pressurized fork that uses a pressurized cartridge damping system derived from that of Öhlins racing forks, minimizing the risk of oil cavitation compared to a traditional model. The result is improved braking support and at the same time better absorption of bumps, which translates into a better riding feeling for the rider.
The new fork has 5 inches (125 mm) travel, +0.2 inches (5 mm) compared to the 2021 Panigale V4, and it can adopt softer settings (the stiffness of the springs have gone from 10 to 9.5 N / mm) improving the smoothness of the response even on rough tarmac, and the grip in critical conditions, and it can also offer increased feeling in the most demanding braking sections.
The new fork works in combination with the Öhlins TTX36 rear shock absorber and the Öhlins steering damper, both with event-based control system. This system offers the rider the opportunity to customize the suspension intervention according to different riding situations (braking, cornering, acceleration), as well as changing the operating parameters of the hardware components. For the rider, this means a higher level of control over the dynamics of the bike for the benefit of road safety and lap times on the racetrack.
The pivot of the single-sided aluminum swingarm is positioned 0.2 inches (4 mm) higher than that of the 2021 version. This increases the anti-squat action, namely the reduction of the lowering of the rear, stabilizing the bike in acceleration.
The Panigale V4 S is equipped with 3-spoke forged aluminum alloy wheels and fitted with Pirelli Diablo™ Supercorsa SP tires (120/70 ZR17 front and 200/60 ZR 17 rear). The braking system is equipped with Brembo Stylema® monobloc calipers at the front with four 1.2-inch (30 mm) diameter pistons each working on 13-inch (330 mm) diameter discs, ensuring exceptional braking power, while at the rear, a single 10-inch (245 mm) disc with 2-piston caliper.
Even the standard Panigale V4 features a state-of-the-art chassis, which includes: 43mm fully-adjustable Showa Big Piston Fork (BPF), Sachs steering damper, Sachs monoshock (also fully adjustable) and cast aluminum rims with a 5-spoke design.
The 2022 Panigale V4 is equipped with latest-generation electronic package based on the use of a 6-axis inertial platform capable of instantly detecting roll, yaw and pitch angles of the motorcycle in space. The electronic package includes controls that manage all the riding phases, whose operating parameters are connected by default to the four Riding Modes available (Race A, Race B, Sport, Street).
These parameters can be viewed even more effectively thanks to the improved dashboard, which features a new distribution of the functions of the external lights. Also, Ducati technicians introduced an additional Info Mode, developed through MotoGP riders’ suggestions, named “Track Evo,” an option added to the existing Road and Track settings.
In the “Track Evo” screen, the tachometer moves on a horizontal scale positioned in the highest part of the instrument, which is the most visible, and the indication of the gear engaged is in the center of the screen. On the right area there are four sectors of different colors, each dedicated to an electronic control (DTC, DWC, DSC, EBC). These sectors light up individually when the electronics are working on a certain parameter, remaining on for the time necessary for the rider to identify which indicator is activated. This signaling mode facilitates the user’s task in understanding the control that has actually worked to allow him to intervene more precisely and punctually on the choice of the optimal level and to obtain better performance more quickly. The left sector completes the information with the stopwatch, the number of laps completed and the speed.
To make the gear change indication clearer a green LED positioned on the left side of the dashboard has been introduced. This solution is even more visible and precise in feedback.
Even the look of the bike has been revamped, with a further dose of aggressive flavor. The unprecedented graphic design conceived by the Ducati Centro Stile includes black color for the logos applied to the full red fairings, a double fabric saddle (two-tone on the S version) and, again for the S version, the red tag on the black rims.
The Panigale V4 and Panigale V4 S will be available in North America starting in February 2022 in the classic Ducati Red color. United States pricing for the Panigale V4 will start at $23,295, with the Panigale V4 S starting at $29,995. Canadian pricing will start at CAD $26,495 for the Panigale V4, and the Panigale V4 S pricing will start at CAD $33,895.
The Panigale V4 can be equipped with the accessories included in the Ducati Performance catalog. It includes both homologated components and pure racing elements designed for circuit riders. Ducati Performance accessories can be viewed via the online configurator on Ducati.com.
Among a wide range of accessories, Ducati offers leather suits (with airbag systems available), helmets, boots and gloves, all in the name of safety. Ducati meets all riders’ needs, from the racetrack to on-road adventures, with the perfect outfit to be an official Ducati rider.
The dynamic video of the new 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 is available on the Ducati YouTube channel.
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* Bike specifications and dealer availability may vary from market to market. Please refer to the tech specs contained in the press kit for further information
