2021 has seen a slew of new model launches from Ducati. Next in line is the popular Monster, which will be followed by the Hypermotard RVE. However, we have now discovered that Ducati will also be bringing the exotic Panigale V4 SP to India for the first time around November this year.
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Same power as standard V4
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Gets higher-spec brakes, carbon wheels and more
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Limited number of bikes for India
Ducati had launched the standard Panigale V4 and the Panigale V4 S in June.
The Panigale V4 SP from 2018 was just an exclusive colour option based on the V4 S, but for 2021, the V4 SP is a more exotic motorcycle. The big change comes in the form of carbon fibre wheels, which save an additional 1.4kg over the forged aluminium wheels on the V4 S. The Panigale’s already phenomenal brakes get further improvement with the use of Brembo’s new Stylema R calipers. The SP also gets a Brembo MCS radial master cylinder, although you will already find this on bikes like the Triumph Street RS and Speed Triple RS.
Further changes come in the form of a dry clutch, a lighter chain and a lithium-ion battery. The SP also gets adjustable billet aluminium foot pegs with carbon fibre heat shields, carbon fibre wings and a carbon fibre front mudguard. Each SP gets its own number stamped into the billet aluminium steering stem. The SP is available exclusively in Ducati’s Winter Test Livery with a brushed aluminium finish on the fuel tank.
The SP weighs 173kg dry, which is 1kg less than the V4 S. The rest of the motorcycle is mechanically identical to the Panigale V4 S, with Öhlins semi-active suspension and a 1,103cc V4 engine that produces 214hp.
The V4 SP is manufactured in Thailand like the rest of the range and we expect the bike to cost about Rs 35 lakh ex-showroom. A limited number of bikes will be brought in based on customer demand.
This will be the most exotic V4-engined Ducati sportbike to go on sale in India to date - the Superleggera V4 was never launched here since it did not meet Euro 5/BS6 emission norms.
In other news, Ducati is on course to meet its sales targets for 2021, says MD Bipul Chandra. Supply has been a challenge for a majority of the year, but this has improved in the recent months. If things stay the same, the company expects to meet its targets for this year and looks forward to modest growth in 2022. The company does not disclose its sales numbers, or what its sales targets are.
Vishal Venugopal
Ved Janve
Azaman Chothia
