Thursday, November 10 2011
A swanky Press Conference at the Teatro Dal Verme in Milan saw the eagerly anticipated unveiling of the Ducati 2012 range, along with the new 1199 Panigale Superbike. Pioneering ground-breaking advances, the Italian firm have set themselves on the cutting edge of motorcycle innovation with this Superbike. Ducati’s awe-inspiring range of dream motorcycles is set to be exhibited from 10-13 November at the 69th Milan International Motorcycle Show, EICMA 2011.
The positive performance of the Bologna-based business was affirmed by the President of Ducati Motor Holding, Gabriele Del Torchio, during the impressive presentation of the 2012 models. Although residing within a market which has of late been challenged by economic difficulties, Ducati has in fact continued to enhance its market share with production volumes and worldwide sales confirming that they still hold solid ground and underlining that their efficient and well structured business will continue to reap rewards for the company in coming years.
During the conference, Gabriele Del Torchio praised Ducati workers and championed the continued development and success of the company:
“It is the hard work of all the men and women at Ducati that has resulted in the positive results that I present today and it validates the strategy we followed during the period 2007-2011.”
“Thanks to our focus on product development, increased investment and our work to maintain the desirability of our brand around the world, I take great satisfaction in announcing that 2011 has been the most successful year in the history of Ducati.
“Sales of approximately 42,000 motorcycles have generated revenues of €480m, a 20% increase over the previous year and just reward for our highly innovative products. It gives us the confidence to believe in the pillars of our strategy and to continue on our ‘mission’ to be specialist leaders of the sportbike segment.
“All of this has enabled us to present the incredible new 1199 Panigale, the new benchmark in the sportbike arena. Without doubt, this has been the most ambitious project in Ducati’s history and underlines our engineering excellence and ‘product emotion’, an aspect of our brand which, in such a competitive market place, has become more important than ever. This motorcycle represents pure Italian style, the reference point for performance and a safety-enhanced, confidence-inspiring experience for our customers on road and track.
“We are particularly proud to have created a special ‘Tricolore’ version of this new motorcycle, in the red, white and green of Italy. What better occasion to celebrate the 150th anniversary of our national flag and underline our role and responsibility as ambassadors of the title ‘made in Italy’, than with a product of such style and technical excellence.”
Claudio Domenicali, Ducati Motor Holding General Manager, then proceeded to release further details of the new Ducati 2012 models, giving particular attention to the 1199 Panigale:
“We are moving into a new generation with a ‘revolution’ of the species that establishes new limits for the category. Its Desmodromic heart, the new Superquadro engine, is the most powerful twin-cylinder ever produced and represents the base of a new concept of frame and engine integration. This concept enables the 1199 Panigale a dry weight of just 164kg and gives it a riding sensation that is closer than ever to a full race bike. With revised ergonomics, full Ride-by-Wire engine management and enhanced systems of ABS and traction control, we have controlled the beast within the 1199 Panigale so that the full emotion of this motorcycle can be enjoyed easily and safely.”
The Ducati Superbike family of 2012 brings the official introduction of the breath-taking 1199 Panigale, 1199 Panigale S and flagship 1199 Panigale S Tricolore: opening a whole new chapter in the company’s iconic Superbike history. Available in early 2012, Ducati’s new breed of Superbike goes beyond all know barriers of motorcycle engineering and design to set an extreme precedent regarding the direction of future sport bike development. Designed to raise the performance bar to the limit, the 1199 Panigale implicates innovative Ducati Corse-derived solutions to make World Championship level technology available to the masses.
The most powerful and high-tech twin-cylinder production engine on earth is now an integral part of an innovative monocoque chassis, combining to deliver an astonishing 195hp from this 164kg Italian beast. The highest production motorcycle power-to-weight and torque-to-weight ratios in the world are fitting achievements for the ground-breaking results that Ducati have achieved with this bike. Bred for the track but trained and tamed for the road, the new 1199 Panigale is a true revolution in the superbike species, destined to be influential within the entire sportsbike community.
At the mere click of a button, Ducati’s Riding Mode concept combines seven class-leading technologies to deliver enhanced performance and rider confidence. The latest-generation sports ABS system, Ducati Quick-Shift (DQS), Ducati Traction Control (DTC), Ducati Electronic Suspension (DES) and Ducati’s new race-derived Engine Brake Control (EBC) and Ride-by-Wire (RbW) now all come programmed into seamless, electronic rider assistance. The full colour Thin Film Transistor (TFT) display even changes in order to suit the rider’s environment.
State-of-the-art from the ground-up, merging cutting-edge technologies with exciting new features, the 1199 Panigale is the definition of ‘Ducati’. The no-compromise approach to design and attention to incredibly fine detail presents authentic Italian performance at its purist and best. The phenomenally successful 848EVO and the new for 2012, 848EVO Corse Special Edition with enhanced electronics, suspension and striking Ducati Corse livery, complete the incredible 2012 Ducati Superbike range.
The excellent new Streetfighter 848 takes its place alongside the awesome firepower of the Streetfighter S, broadening the stylish, exciting and high-performance naked family of 2012. The new 848 fighter is dressed in red with a red frame for all Ducati traditionalists, while yellow makes a comeback and the dark stealth scheme underpins the Streetfighter’s aggressive image. The Streetfighter S comes to the fight in Ducati red and the brand new ‘race titanium matte’, both schemes finished with red frames and black wheels.
The Ducati Diavel introduces a new Cromo model for 2012, in addition to the Diavel AMG Special Edition which was recently unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Ducato Diavle was first introduced to an excited public at the 2010 Milan International Motorcycle Show, and went on to enthral motorcyclists the world over, collecting awards to become one of Ducati’s top selling models. In 2012, the ground-breaking Ducati will be available in four exciting versions: the standard Diavel and the Diavel Carbon – with a character-forming mix of aesthetic and performance components – will stand alongside the stunning, brand-new Diavel Cromo and the exclusive Diavel AMG Special Edition.
Ducati’s 2012 model range press conference also presented an opportunity for the company to celebrate the winning of the Riders’ and Manufacturers’ titles in the 2011 World Superbike Championship with Carlos Checa and Riders’ and Manufacturers’ titles in the 2011 Superstock 1000 FIM Cup with Davide Giugliano. Both riders rode Team Althea Racing Ducati 1198s to their respective victories, both of these winning bikes will be proudly on show on the EICMA 2011 Ducati stand.
The entire 2012 Ducati motorcycle range in addition to new accessory and apparel collections will be on show at EICMA 2011 in Milan on stand G64 of hall 18 from 10-13 November.
The 1199 Panigale range will be available in UK showrooms at the end March and will be priced at £14,995 for the 1199 Panigale, £15,750 for the 1199 Panigale ABS, £19,750 for the 1199 Panigale S ABS and £23,495 for the 1199 Panigale S Tricolore. The 848 EVO Corse will be £11,995 and is expected to be in dealerships in January, while the new Diavel Cromo at £15,295 arrives in January.
