The 2014 Ducati Superbike family introduces the 899 Panigale, a “Supermid” version of the award-winning 1199 Panigale, intended to provide a new way to access the exclusive world of Ducati high performance Superbikes. Designed to combine thrilling performance with the refined character of an everyday streetbike, the brand new 899 model stands proudly alongside the 1199 Panigale, 1199 Panigale S and 1199 Panigale R.

The brand new 899 Panigale is available in Ducati red with black wheels or a sporty arctic white silk with red wheels. The 1199 Panigale is available exclusively in Ducati red, while the 1199 Panigale S offers the additional stunning option of dark stealth. The 1199 Panigale “R” continues in Ducati red with defining white race features, sporting a mix of red and brushed aluminium on the fuel tank.

Underlining Ducati’s focus on the innovative Panigale concept and its continuous development, all 2014 Ducati Superbike models feature the exciting combination of Superquadro engines and monocoque chassis construction to achieve outstanding power-to-weight ratios with ride-enhancing agility. Benchmark electronics for enhanced performance safety include the Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) and the fully integrated Riding Mode technologies of Ride-by-Wire, triple stage ABS, Ducati Traction Control (DTC) and Engine Brake Control (EBC) and, on the 1199 Panigale S and R models, Ducati Electronic Suspension (DES).

Ducati’s latest generation Superbike goes beyond the barriers of motorcycle design and engineering to set the most extreme benchmark ever and the direction for future sport bikes. Developed and designed to raise the performance bar to its highest, the 899 and 1199 Panigale use innovative Ducati Corse-derived solutions to make World Championship level technology available to everyone.

The most high tech, most powerful twin-cylinder production engines on the planet become an integral part of an innovative monocoque chassis that combine to deliver astonishing power-to-weight and torque-to-weight ratios.

Every detail of the Panigale pays tribute to the rich heritage of racing on which Ducati is built. Components that are not only functionally efficient, but also minimalist, essential and beautifully engineered into pieces of automotive art.

Climb aboard the Panigale and take hold of the bars and the feeling of pure racing is everywhere. The finely formed top-clamp with weight-saving hollows and recesses immediately communicates Italian engineering at its very best. Radial brake and clutch pumps, Ducati’s precise switchgear and full Ride-by-Wire twistgrip give a race-driven sense of minimalism further enhanced with the monocoque-integral steering head flowing into the front sub-frame and minimalist instrumentation.

Ducati’s Superquadro engine went beyond the barriers of engineering to enable the Panigale. Its no-compromise approach to design, combined with Ducati’s Italian innovation has set the most extreme benchmark ever and stands as the latest milestone in Ducati’s long and iconic history of Superbike engines.

Ducati engineers were given a near impossible design brief to create the latest generation Superbike engine for the Panigale. Increase power, torque and user-friendliness and reduce overall vehicle weight and scheduled maintenance costs seemed impossible tasks, but given a “blank canvas” to create the new power-plant and encouraged to think outside-of-the-box to achieve the unachievable, engineers finally ticked all the boxes.

For the 1199 Superquadro, Ducati and Ducati Corse engineers increased engine speed and enhanced breathability with the incredible bore and stroke of 112mm x 60.8mm (4.40×2.39in) resulting in an output of 195hp @ 10,750rpm and 98.1 lb-ft (13.5kgm) @ 9,000rpm. The 1199 bore and stroke ratio of 1.84:1 effectively increased rpm with the ultra-short stroke of the crankshaft and increased the cylinder area, enabling the larger valve diameters of 46.8mm (1.71-1.84in) inlet and 38.2mm (1.35-1.5in) exhaust. The 889’s proportionally smaller bore and stroke of 100mm x 57.2mm (3.93in x 2.25in) uses the highly efficient steel valve diameters of 41.8mm (1.64in) inlet and 34mm (1.33in) exhaust.

The introduction of the highly-anticipated Ducati 899 Panigale provides a new way to access the exclusive world of Ducati Superbikes with a “Supermid” version designed to provide the thrill of the latest generation flagship model with the refined character of an everyday street bike.

Ducati’s constant pursuit of perfection now offers all-round performance for connoisseurs with an authentic and stylish way to enter the world of high performance. The 899 Panigale is available in traditional Ducati red with black wheels or a stunning arctic white with red wheels.