Some time ago, we told you Ducati was readying its new flagship Panigale to sit above the refreshed-for-2025 Panigale V4 S. It would bear the ‘R’ tag, serving as a homologation special to race in the World Superbike championship (WSBK) next year. Now, the new Panigale V4 R has finally been spotted out in the wild, during the WSBK test days at Misano World Circuit in Italy. There are a lot of juicy details to note, so let’s jump in.
The New Ducati Panigale V4 R Boasts A New Double-Sided Swingarm
We knew it was coming, you knew it was coming, and Ducati didn’t disappoint. Following in the footsteps of the seventh-gen Panigale V4, the new V4 R ditches the single-sided swingarm in favor of a double-sided unit. However, the setup here appears different from the ‘standard’ bike. The aluminum sections appear slimmer, there’s a layer of carbon fiber, and the hollow section is much larger here.
In fact, the overall shape appears similar to carbon swingarm Ducati runs on its MotoGP bike. Similarly, the prototype bike here (ridden by Ducati test rider Michelle Pirro) also flexes a different bolt-on subframe. While the benefits are unknown, we all know Ducati doesn’t do things unless there’s an obvious benefit.
What we can’t comment on right now is the performance. But we do know the previous bike could produce almost 240 horsepower with a race exhaust and special oil. So ideally, the new bike seen here should have even more juice. 250 horsepower doesn’t seem all that improbable, does it?
Expected Mechanical Changes On The New Ducati Panigale V4 R
- New double-sided swingarm
- Carbon fiber touches on the swingarm
- New bolt-on subframe
New Aerodynamic Fairings Elevate The New Panigale V4 R’s Track-Ready Nature
This is another big change on the new Panigale V4 R. Comparing to the on-sale Panigale, the V4 R boasts a new aerodynamic package. It has bespoke fairings, which look quite different and feature MotoGP-inspired scoops downlow. These help with cornering stability and downforce on MotoGP bikes, so the effects could be the same here.
What we also see is a set of new wings near the headlight area. These are larger, longer than the on-sale Panigale V4, while having a similar shape to the uber-exclusive Panigale V4 Lamborghini. In similar fashion, the tank appears reworked here to ensure better ergonomics for track riding. Although there’s a carbon panel here, we expect a brushed aluminum finish on the V4 R that’ll go on sale.
Expected Design Changes On The New Ducati Panigale V4 R
- New wings
- New fairings
- Reshaped fuel tank
- New livery
The 2026 Ducati Panigale V4 R Will Break Cover In A Few Months
With the prototype already doing rounds on the track in public, it’s quite clear the Panigale V4 R is almost ready to go on sale. However, we know Ducati usually reveals its new machines methodically via the World Premiere series, so the debut could still be a few months down the line. What also remains unknown is how much moolah Ducati will charge for one of these. The previous bike breached the $45,000 mark, and the changes should make the new bike even pricier. That’s a lot of money…..
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