Previewing The All-New 2020 Ducati Panigale V2

Ducati has officially unveiled the 2020 Panigale V2, and it's packing a load of updates. It takes the place of the outgoing Panigale 959 and has a highly revised engine, chassis, and the latest suite of Ducati electronics. It's Euro 5 compliant and has lost nothing on its predecessor in terms of power and performance, according to the Italian marque.

Related: 2019 Ducati Panigale V4 S MC Commute Review

Back in May, the new V2 was spotted in the wild during testing, and our take on the few improvements we could see proved correct. But the engine gets a more substantial overhaul than we would have guessed. It's now a 955cc Superquadro configuration with 100mm bore and 60.8 stroke, boasting 5 more horsepower and 1.5 pound-feet more torque than the 959, for a total of 155 hp at 10,750 rpm and 76.7 pound-feet at 9,000 rpm. It's got new injectors and inlet ducts for more efficient fuel consumption, die-cast covers, MotoGP-derived crankshaft lubrication, desmodromic valve control, ride by wire, 48.1mm intake valves, and 34mm exhaust valves.

The intake was redesigned with larger ducts for better efficiency.

There’s a redesigned silencer that routes underneath the bike and seat. It reduces noise and is equipped with two larger catalytic converters to meet Euro 5 standards. The six-speed transmission utilizes Ducati’s Quick Shift up/down EVO 2 system.

The 90-degree V-twin is a stressed member of the new aluminum monocoque frame, which is designed with 3.7 inches of trail and 24 degrees of rake. That's paired with a new aluminum, single-sided swingarm. The package is suspended on a Showa 43mm BPF fully adjustable fork and fully adjustable Sachs monoshock at the rear. It rolls on Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa II tires wrapped around the five-spoke light alloy wheels. A Sachs steering damper is also included.

In the braking department, riders will utilize Brembo M4.32 Monoblock calipers at the front, gripping 320mm discs, and a Brembo caliper, 240mm disc setup at the rear.

In terms of electronics, the V2 packs full LED lighting, Ducati's Cornering ABS, Traction Control EVO 2, Wheelie Control EVO, and Engine Brake Control in addition to the aforementioned quickshift setup. Cornering ABS comes with three levels, while traction control can be set among eight modes, with six dedicated to dry conditions and two dialed for wet. Riders will also get to select from three ride modes: Race, Sport, and Road.

All the information is displayed on a 4.3-inch TFT instrument panel, as is information from the Ducati Lap Timer and the Ducati Multimedia System and Data Analyzer. The latter two, however, are plug-and-play accessories.

Ducati lists the curb weight of the new V2 at 441 pounds. It will carry a total of 4.5 gallons of fuel and come with a 24-month warranty.

Pricing, however, is not yet listed.

In spite of having to accord with ever stricter emissions standards, it looks like Ducati hasn't lost much in terms of power, performance, and curb appeal with the new V2.