Ducati Panigale V4 R: 240 hp in track setup and limiter at 16,500 rpm

Ducati has achieved something very special. The Borgo Panigale house has, in fact, presented the new Panigale V4 R 2023 with the aim of offering enthusiasts a unique product, with refined solutions that bring the road super sports car ever closer to the competition bikes used in the WorldSBK championship. The bike will be produced in a numbered series with progressive number and model name shown on the billet aluminum steering head. The Ducati riders collaborated in its development. The price of this jewel? It starts from 43,990 euros .
The Ducati Panigale V4 R can be recognized thanks to some specific details such as the carbon wings and the livery inspired by MotoGP. The beating heart of this super sports car is the new 998 cc Desmosedici Stradale R able to stretch up to 16,500 rpm in sixth gear (16,000 in other reports). In Euro 5 configuration, this unit is capable of delivering 218 hp at 15,500 rpm with 111.3 Nm of torque. By fitting a racing exhaust, the power rises to 237 hp with 118 Nm of torque. The dry weight is 172 kg which drops to 167 kg with the racing exhaust.
In the development of the engine of the new Panigale V4 R, a special oil was also developed, developed by Shell in collaboration with Ducati Corse. The new performance oil guarantees a 10% reduction in mechanical friction and leads to an increase in maximum power by an additional 3.5 HP, which rises to +4.5 HP at the limiter. The formulation of this oil is based on the use of racing-type additives, specific for high-rpm engines equipped with a dry clutch. In fact, it is the dry clutch, as in MotoGP and SBK engines, that allows the use of additives, which would make the transmission of torque in the oil bath clutch problematic. These chemicals are added to the base oil in dedicated amounts and percentages to ensure the right balance between performance and engine protection.
In track set-upusing the racing exhaust and the new oil, the maximum power of the Panigale V4 R can therefore reach 240.5 hp. To achieve these results, Ducati has exploited its racing skills, using the best technologies developed for competitions.
For example, “gun drilled” titanium connecting rods were used, ie drilled longitudinally along the shaft. This solution, allowing the passage of oil from the head to the small end, improves the lubrication of the pin and therefore the reliability in extreme conditions. Furthermore, the pistons of the Desmosedici Stradale R have a skirt characterized by the DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) surface treatment which reduces friction between piston and jacket.
The Panigale V4 R then adopts the same gear ratio used by the bikes competing in the Superbike World Championship, with the first (+ 11.6%), second (+ 5.6%) and sixth gear (+ 1.8%) lengthening compared to the previous model. When driving on the track, first gear therefore becomes more usable.