Ducati 1299 Panigale R Final Edition Takes Shape
Rennie Scaysbrook | June 27, 2017
It has been known for some time that Ducati will eventually kill off their V-twin superbike in favor of a V4 engine format, and it appears that time has come with the release of this teaser video.
Resplendent in the Italian Tri Color, the machine will be named the 1299 Panigale R Final Edition, interesting in that an R label is usually reserved for the company’s homologation racing machines, yet the Final Edition will sport the same 1285cc capacity as the just released Superleggera. That makes the Final Edition machine illegal for WorldSBK racing, so the factory will continue to race the 1198cc V-twin next year before debuting the V4 in the 2019 WorldSBK series.
It is likely, however, that the Final Edition will not carry many of the carbon fiber goodies that makes the Superleggera so special. Expect to see a standard aluminum monocoque chassis design, as well as cast alloy wheels and steel cylinder liners and a die-cast crank case. The video also shows the Final Edition will get the beautiful exhaust system that first debuted on the factory WorldSBK machine of Chaz Davies and eventually made its way to the Superleggera this year.
As spotted by Asphalt and Rubber, the Final Editions top was officially blown earlier this week when the Californian Air Resources Board (CARB), released a document confirming not only the Final Edition’s existence but also its hydrocarbon, combined hydrocarbon and NOx and carbon monoxide numbers, which are drastically lower than the 1299 Panigale currently in dealer showrooms.
The new 1299 Panigale R Final Edition will be unveiled to the public on Friday, July 7, at the Laguna Seca WorldSBK round.
Check out the CARB document here:
https://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onroad/cert/hmc/2018/ducati_m0300177_1285_0d8_hn.pdf