Ducati 1199 Panigale Superlegerra unvieled

After lots of speculations and rumours, the cat is finally out of the box as Ducati unveieled its latest halo motorcycle, the 1199 Panigale Superlegerra.  The word ‘Superlagerra’ in Italian means light weight (which many Lamborghini fans already know) and Ducati has done complete justice to the word as the bike weighs in at just 177kg (wet weight) while pushing out 203PS of power, to endow it with an incredible power to weight ratio of 1147PS/Ton.  The bike would take center stage at the Ducat stand in the up-coming 2013 EICMA Motor Show in Milan starting November 5.

So how did Ducati manage this super light weight creation? Well the Italian motorcycle manufacturer preferred the lightest materials available while building it, starting off proceedings is a magnesium monocoque frame and a carbon fiber rear sub-frame and bodywork along with forged Marchesini magnesium wheels. The body panels with an integrated R-spec aero-kit has been crafted from carbon fiber while the exhaust system and the various nuts, bolts and fastners on the engine and body has been made from titanium.

On the mechanical front, the Superleggera’s Superquadro engine now revs to an additional 500rpm and pumps out a heady 203PS of power and 134Nm of torque. Even the engine has been put on a diet and features titanium for the con-rods, inlet valves and the exhaust valves as well. Also for the first time on a production Ducati machine, two-ring pistons has been employed while the crankshaft has been lightened by using dense tungsten inserts. Also an Ergal rear sprocket and WSBK-spec 520 drive chain have been fitted and with the stock gearing it is rumoured that the motorcycle would have a top speed north of 320km/h. 

The Superlegerra employs lightweight Öhlins FL916 forks for front suspension duties, which are mated with CNC’d aluminum fork bottoms while  at rear an Öhlins TTX36 rear shock is present with a titanium spring. Braking duties are taken care of by Brembo M50 monobloc calipers, while a racing-style MCS 19-21 master cylinder and remote adjuster are at the handlebars.

To keep all that performance under check, the bike has been loaded with a plethora of electronic goodies like a new Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) which works in sync with the Ducati Traction Control (DTC) and Engine Brake Control (EBC). Also the Superlegerra gets automatic calibration for the rear- tyre size and final drive ratio – which gives the owner the freedom of tinkering with the bikes set-up at their will.  The Ducati Data Analysis+ (DDA+) has also been updated with additional sensors that help record and display the vehicle lean angles. For ease of use all these systems can be accessed via buttons on the handlebars.

Still not satisfied with all those numbers and electronic gizmos? Well no need to worry as the Superleggera would be offered along with a “Race Kit”. As part of the kit the rider gets Akrapovic racing exhaust, racing windscreen, front and rear paddock stands, machined mirror fill-caps, removal kits for the registration plate holder, and sidestand. Also the bikes weight is further reduced by 2.5kg and adds 5PS on the power front. The Superlegerra would produced in a limited run of only 500 units and current Desmosedici RR, Panigale R, and S Tricolore owners would be given preference.  Each bike would sport an individually numbered engraved top yoke bearing its identity and would retail at Rs 54 lakh each!