Flagship Ducati rolls into India with SP moniker and Winter Test livery, targeted at track-day aficionados.
18 Nov 2021 | 3062 Views | By Autocar Pro News Desk
Ducati today launched the Panigale V4 SP in India. The ‘SP’ moniker certifies the return of Sport Production on the fairing of a Ducati super sports bike after many years. ‘SP’ is used to recognise a production bike with specific technical equipment that makes it faster on the track.
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Ducati today launched the Panigale V4 SP in India. The ‘SP’ moniker certifies the return of Sport Production on the fairing of a Ducati super sports bike after many years. ‘SP’ is used to recognise a production bike with specific technical equipment that makes it faster on the track.
The Panigale V4 SP is priced at Rs 36.07 lakh (ex-showroom India). Bookings have opened across all Ducati dealerships in Delhi – NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, Kolkata & Chennai, with deliveries starting immediately.
The Panigale V4 SP differs from the Panigale V4 S with a dedicated livery, steering head machined from billet which shows the progressive number of the bike, equipment enriched with chassis contents and the engine designed to increase its dynamic performance when used on the racetrack.
Bipul Chandra, Managing Director of Ducati India, said: “We’re glad to be expanding the Panigale family in India with the introduction of the all-new Panigale V4 SP, the top-of-the-range Panigale model, which now comes marked with the revered SP moniker. The Panigale V4 SP is a distinct machine thanks to its dedicated and exclusive ‘Winter Test’ livery, dry clutch, forged magnesium wheels and the Stylema brake calipers, and is built for those who want the absolute best on the racetrack. It’s exciting that something as fast and involving as the Panigale V4 SP is now available for the track-day enthusiasts in India and we look forward to seeing it at the BIC, and the MMRT soon!”
The Winter Test livery is inspired by the Ducati Corse bikes used in the pre-season tests of the MotoGP and SBK Championships. The matt black of the fairings, combined with the Marchesini forged magnesium wheels, contrasts with the bright red accents and the shine of the exposed brushed aluminium tank.
The Panigale V4 SP is powered by the 1103 cc Desmosedici Stradale engine, a 90deg V4 with Desmodromic distribution derived from MotoGP, unique in its kind for the counter-rotating crankshaft and ‘Twin Pulse’ firing order. The engine is capable of delivering 214 hp of power at 13,000 rpm, and 12.6 Kgm of torque at 9,500 rpm.
In terms of chassis, the Panigale V4 SP is equipped with state-of-the-art technical content such as Brembo Stylema Callipers and Brembo brake pump with MCS system. Added to these are the adjustable aluminium rider foot pegs with carbon heel guards and the billet steering head with the progressive number of the bike.
Like the Panigale V4 S, the SP version is also equipped with an Ohlins NIX-30 fork, Ohlins TTX36 rear shock absorber and Ohlins steering damper controlled by the second-generation Ohlins Smart EC 2.0 system. The main advantage of this system is the possibility offered to the rider to customise the intensity of intervention on the suspension according to individual riding phases (braking, cornering, and acceleration). In addition, it allows the rider to have a softer basic setting and therefore easier and less demanding than that of a traditional suspension, stiffening instantly only when necessary.
The Panigale V4 SP is equipped with a state-of-the-art electronic package, based on the use of the 6-axis Bosch inertial platform which includes controls for managing all phases of riding.
This tech-laden Ducati is heavy on electronics and includes
Bosch EVO Cornering ABS
Ducati Traction Control EVO 3 (DTC EVO 3)
Ducati Slide Control (DSC)
Ducati Wheelie Control EVO (DWC EVO)
Ducati Power Launch (DPL)
Ducati Quick Shift up / down EVO 2 (DQS EVO 2)
Engine Brake Control EVO (EBC EVO)
Ducati Electronic Suspension EVO (DES EVO)
Auto Tyre Calibration
The operating parameters of each are managed through the new Riding Mode strategy introduced on the Panigale V4 MY2021 range which allows the rider to make quick comparisons on the track between two different configurations to define the best set-up. The Race Riding Mode has been split into two specific mappings for track use (Race A and Race B), now freely comparable in the individual parameters, alongside the already existing Sport and Street.
All the information necessary for riding is displayed on the high-resolution 5-inch full-TFT colour dashboard which through an intuitive interface also allows the rider to adjust the settings of the individual controls.
The Panigale V4 SP is equipped with the Ducati Data Analyzer+ (DDA+) kit with a GPS module. The Ducati Data Analyzer+ (DDA+) is a telemetry system, comparable to those used in racing competitions, which consists of a device for data acquisition via CAN line, and an analysis software for Windows and Mac PCs inspired by the professional applications.