Ducati has relaunched its flagship superbike, the Panigale V4, in India. Prices start from Rs 23.50 lakh for the standard bike and go up to Rs 28.40 lakh for the ‘S’ variant (both prices, ex-showroom, India). This makes the standard variant around Rs 80,000 more expensive than before, while the ‘S’ variant has become dearer by Rs 1.90 lakh.
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1,103cc V4 engine produces the same 214hp and 124Nm, but is now BS6 compliant
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Last known BS4 prices started at Rs 22.7 lakh (ex-showroom)
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Updates include winglets, a revised chassis, tweaked suspension setup and updated electronics
Last month, Ducati brought us the manic Streetfighter V4, and now it has relaunched the Streetfighter’s fully-faired supersport sibling, the Panigale V4. This bike was on sale in India in the BS4 era, and now makes its return as a BS6 model.
2021 Ducati Panigale V4: engine and aero updates
But the new Panigale V4 features more than just emissions updates. Sure, the 1,103cc 90-degree V4 motor continues to produce 214hp and 124Nm, despite now meeting stricter emission norms, but in 2020, Ducati also threw winglets into the package. These were previously available only on the V4 R but have now trickled down to the standard V4 and V4 S models too.
2021 Ducati Panigale V4: chassis and suspension updates
In addition to this, in 2020, Ducati also tweaked the chassis and suspension setup, and made an attempt at friendlier power delivery to make the Panigale V4 slightly easier to ride. The 2021 update sees the bike run the latest generation of Ducati’s traction control system. Other small additions include self-bleeding clutch and brake master cylinders, and the provision for heated grips. While the 2020 Panigale V4 was never officially on sale in India, a few bikes were imported before the BS6 deadline last year for the strong-willed customers who asked for it.
2021 Ducati Panigale V4: variants
To justify its Rs 4.90 lakh premium, the ‘S’ variant differentiates itself by featuring electronically-controlled Ohlins suspension, a lithium-ion battery and forged-aluminium wheels. As a result, it tips the scales at 195kg. This makes it 3kg lighter than the standard V4, which features fully-adjustable Sachs suspension, a lead-acid battery and cast-alloy wheels.
2021 Ducati Panigale V4: competitors
The litre-class superbike market in India is rather small in the BS6 era, featuring only the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R (Rs 14.99 lakh) and BMW S 1000 RR (Rs 19.50 lakh onwards). Sure, the BMW M 1000 RR is on sale here, but it’s priced in a different league altogether. Bikes like the Suzuki Hayabusa (Rs 16.40 lakh) could also feature on the shopping list of someone looking for a Panigale V4.
Rishaad Mody
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
