Jaguar traditionalists might still be spluttering into their gin and tonic following the recent controversial unveiling of the Type 00 electric concept at Miami Art Week, but this new Ducati motorcycle launched there a few days later can only be described as ‘bellissima’.
The limited-edition Panigale V4 Tricolore celebrates 40 years since the fabled Italian marque set out to rewrite the sports bike rule book (while under Cagiva ownership) with the green, white and red-liveried 750 F1 of 1984.
The colours of the Italian flag appeared again on the liquid-cooled 851 Superbike of 1988, following which there was a hiatus in Tricolore models until the arrival of the special-edition 1098S in 2007.
The patriotic scheme has since become synonymous with collectable Ducatis
The patriotic scheme has since become synonymous with collectable Ducatis, and was used in 2008 on the Monster S4R, in 2012 on the 1199S and in 2016 on the final edition of the 1299.
It returned in 2018 with the launch of the Panigale V4 Speciale and, most recently, was made available on 500 special editions to mark last year’s 30th anniversary of the Monster.
The new Panigale V4, however, is the first Tricolore in which the white, red and green colours are displayed asymmetrically – green and white on the right side and red and white on the left, with the fairing lowers being finished in a chequered-flag pattern.
The ‘look’ emerged from a collaboration between Centro Stile Ducati and Aldo Drudi, a man famed in the motorcycle world for creating unique designs on helmets and race leathers.
The Panigale V4 is also the first Tricolore edition to come equipped with an array of race-based components to give it extra edge on the track.
Chief among those is the Brembo Front Brake Pro stopping system, which has never before been used on a production bike.
At its heart are a pair of finned 338.5mm discs measuring 6.2mm thick and derived directly from those used on Ducati’s Superbike World Championship machines.
Other features unique to the Panigale V4 Tricolore are its five-spoke carbonfibre wheel rims, a dry clutch, adjustable aluminium foot-pegs and a GPS module.
Buyers also get a race filler cap made from aluminium, an open, carbon clutch cover and a conversion kit to remove the registration plate holder for track use.
The fairing, meanwhile, uses thinner ‘racing’ Plexiglass, the seat is covered in grippy Alcantara and the dashboard lights up with a dedicated animation when the bike is switched on.
As with all collector-edition Ducatis, each of the 1000 Panigale V4 Tricolores being made will carry a machined-aluminium steering plate engraved with the bike’s name and edition number.
A personalised box matched to the livery will also be supplied, containing the all-important certificate of authenticity and a special cover – while any super-rich buyers with change left over from the premium asking price also have the option of spending it on a limited-edition Tricolore helmet and jacket.
The price is £48,000; find out more here.
2025 Ducati Panigale V4 Tricolore
1103cc
Liquid-cooled V4
216bhp @ 13,500rpm
89.2lb/ft @ 11,250rpm
Six-speed gearbox
188kg
Maximum speed 186mph (limited)
Price: £48,000
