DUCATI

New V4 engines are under development for the brand
The historic shift that the Ducati made from the traditional two-cylinder V to a V4 configuration has been hugely successful thanks mainly to the leadership achieved by Desmosedici Stradale as it is considered by many to be the best bike currently on the market.In this sense, to capitalize on this success, Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicale has already stated that the Ducati is developing new, less powerful V4 configuration engines to adapt to other Ducati models and thus lower production costs.This development has been carried out by Ducati Corse, the same department in charge of Moto GP, and the V4 engines will become widely used with prospects also to be able to recover the title of World Champion of SBK. In this sense the Ducati is also developing a special engine with less than 1000cc, the R version, which will reach 14,000 rpm and give even more power.

The 90º V4 engine will have a configuration similar to that developed for the MotoGP, with the front cylinders placed at a rear angle of 42 degrees so that a larger radiator can be placed to ensure a more effective cooling.

The aim of the Ducati is to develop the engine in such a compact and sophisticated way in the class of 1 liter motorcycles that in the short term will not give any chance to the competition. In addition to the "R's" Ducati also intends to move forward with a more civilized V4 engine for the Multistrada range with engines with longer life expectancy and lower maintenance costs.

However the first prototypes will only be ready for presentation in 2020 because as Domenicali referred to Ducati wants to be absolutely sure that this is the way.

Pedro Rocha, de Portugal