2018 Ducati Panigale V4 S. Photos courtesy of Ducati.
2018 Ducati Panigale V4

Our suspicions that the 1299 Panigale would be the last twin-cylinder flagship sportbike to come out of Bologna were confirmed with the announcement of the 2018 Panigale V4, the first mass-produced Ducati to incorporate a 4-cylinder engine. This 90-degree Desmodromic V-four with a counter-rotating crankshaft and twin pulse ignition was lifted straight out of the Desmosedici GP bike, with an identical 81mm bore (the largest allowed by MotoGP) and a longer stroke that boosts displacement to 1,103cc, for more low- to mid-range power and a reduced top end intended to make the bike easier for mere mortals to handle.
Read our First Look Review of the 2015 Ducati 1299 Panigale. Even mere mortals will want to make sure they have superhuman levels of self-control however, as the Panigale V4 promises to churn out 214 horsepower at 13,000 rpm and 91.5 lb-ft of torque at 10,000 rpm, making it the most powerful bike in its class. With a claimed wet weight of 198 kilograms (436 pounds), that also means the beast has a power-to-weight ratio of 1.1:1 (horsepower to kilograms). If that’s not quite enough for you, adding the optional titanium Akrapovi? full exhaust system promises to boost peak horsepower to 226.
2018 Ducati Panigale V4 S.
Keeping all of this power under control is a full suite of electronics, so prepare yourself for some acronyms. Standard features include 6-axis Bosch Cornering ABS EVO, w...