American pollution laws are set to stifle Ducati’s new flagship Panigale V4 R.
Newly-published figures from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) show the stock American market version of the bike is homologated to 153kW , rather than its 162kW capability. Peak power comes in 2000rpm earlier than the Australian-spec model’s maximum at just 13,250rpm. Sadly, it means Americans get a V4 R that is less powerful than the 1103cc base version.
It’s not the first time American-spec bikes have been gagged. Kawasaki’s ZX-10R has peak power of 138kW at 11,500rpm in the US compared to 149.3kW at 13,500rpm elsewhere.
Of course, the vast majority of Panigale V4R buyers will order a dedicated race kit that ups power to 174kW. Ducati’s US website advises the kit “unleashes the V4 R’s full performance”.
By Ben Purvis
