The Panigale family will not be ignored this season.
In fact, we expect the baby Panigale to get an update to gear up for the
upcoming Euro 5 emission norms. A test unit spotted in the wild has confirmed
that the facelifted Ducati Panigale 959 will have several mechanical and
cosmetic changes.
The baby Panigale will get the single-sided
swingarm, making the bike a more premium offering. Also, the exhaust unit traces
its origins to the Ducati Diavel. However, the engine is where the mystery
becomes thicker. There is no confirmation whether Ducati will continue with the
L-twin layout or move on to a smaller V4! Also, the Italians may increase the
engine capacity to help meet the Euro 5 norms.
In its present form, the 955 cc engine is capable of
producing 150 PS of power and 102 Nm of torque. Electronic riding aids include
traction control, riding modes and engine brake control. A highlight of the
braking setup is the M4.32 monobloc callipers up front. The suspension system
includes 43 mm upside-down Showa big piston fork which is fully adjustable and
a fully adjustable Sachs unit at the rear. Tyres are premium Pirelli Diablo
Rosso Corsa. Expect the updated Ducati Panigale 959 to be priced at around the
INR 16 lakh (ex-showroom) mark.