On New Year’s Day 2026, Ducati launched the Panigale V4 R in India and even delivered the first bike to Chennai the same day! What a way to kick off the New Year!
The Panigale V4 R: What’s Special?
Unlike any other sport bike you’ve ever seen – the Panigale V4 R features a 998cc Desmosedici Stradale R engine from Ducati’s MotoGP and WorldSBK racing programs. It delivers 218 HP at 15,500 RPM, but can rev to 16,500 RPM in the sixth gear. Now this is where it gets really exciting – with Ducati’s optional racing exhaust, it produces 235 hp, and with the addition of Ducati’s Corse Performance Oil, it produces 239 hp! In full race trim, this beast achieves speeds exceeding 330 km/h.
In addition to best-in-class power, the V4 R features additional aerodynamic wings which produces a 25% increase in downforce compared to earlier versions. Therefore, while you may be concerned about reaching speeds of 300 km/h when riding this bike, there will be plenty of physics supporting your efforts.
On top of all this, the electronics are mind-blowing! The V4 R features Cornering ABS, combined braking, Race Brake Control, Traction Control, Slide Control, Wheelie Control, Power Launch, Quick Shift 2.0, Engine brake control, etc… The complete list is too lengthy to include here!
The Price Tag (And Why It’s Worth Considering)
Now for the price tag! The MSRP is ₹84.99 lakh ($140,000 Canadian dollars). That’s an incredible amount of money for most people; however, this is an ultra-limited production superbike with every handlebar stamped with its model name as well as the individual serial number. You’re really not purchasing a mode of transportation, you are getting a numbered piece of the history of motorcycle racing!
Tech That Actually Matters
The 6.9-inch full TFT dashboard has a ratio of 8:3, giving it a very numerical aspect. However, the key part of the dashboard is the Grip Meter. The Grip Meter indicates through graphics how much grip is available from your front tyre in real-time. The Grip Meter displays are the same graphics that are used in racing, and could also potentially help save you from a serious crash when you’re pushing hard on the track.
Ducati changed the bike’s ergonomics from 2011 to bring the footpegs inwards and modified the profile of the tank and seat area to create a cleaner flow when you are “hunting” for lap times.
Booking and Availability
Bookings for the new motorcycle will be taken in Indian Ducati dealerships as of today! As I indicated before, Ducati used to have dealerships throughout India, so we can expect that more units will be delivered to dealerships soon.
