ducati

Ducati, AMG and Cigarette all attract a similar clientele, albeit with wildly different products. Ducati make motorbikes. AMG makes performance-oriented Mercedes. And Cigarette makes speedboats. But the obsession with speed is what binds them together.

Last year AMG teamed up with Cigarette and did the same with Ducati. This year it's Ducati and Cigarette's turn to have the fun, and this is what they came up with: the Cigarette 42X Ducati Edition. The 42-foot speedboat packs a pair of 1,100-horsepower Mercury Racing engines, and is being unveiled at the Miami International Boat Show.

Superbikes meet supermodels sans clothes in Ducati's new high-octane art project. The famed Italian motorcycle firm commissioned photographer Elizabeth Raab to create images of eye-popping nude female forms astride their meanest machines. Dubbed "Desmo" the collection presents 16 unique photographs in which "the artist has approached and juxtaposed the abstract qualities of the organic and mechanical forms, highlighting both the complexity in design and the emotion of iconic Ducati motorcycles", including the Desmosedici (above) and the Monster.

The sexy shots "explore the multiple relationships between the designed and the natural – the lines of the mechanical body reflecting the lines of the organic form it was designed after." Just in case you thought it was merely an excuse to ogle the world's finest flesh and metal, that is. Numbered, limited edition fine art prints are available to order exclusively from www.ducatiart.com in various sizes; the largest version of the one above will run you about $550. The project was produced under the auspices of the Ducati Official Art Collection, an artistic venture between Ducati and lifestyle art brand Cultwork.

Used to be if you wanted a cruiser, there was only one place to turn: Harley-Davidson. Maybe Triumph, if you were a bit of an Anglophile. Then Japanese manufacturers like Honda and Kawasaki got into the game with cruisers of their own. It wasn't long before BMW joined in with the R1200C. Now Ducati has entered the fray with the new Diavel.

Anticipated for some time now, the Diavel packs 162 horsepower into a 456 lb package with some of the most wicked styling this side of a Harley V-Rod. But that's not the end of it, as Ducati has packed the Diavel full of all the latest technology from the electronic throttle, traction control and ABS brakes to the keyless ignition and auto-dimming tank-mounted display. Of course this much machine will cost you, and cost you plenty: $17k for the base model, and nearly $20k for the even lighter Carbon model to follow.

Gorgeous British actress Keira Knightley is starring in a sexy new ad campaign for famed French fashion house Chanel shot in Paris the other day. Knightley, clad in a skintight, full-length bespoke beige leather bodysuit specially designed for her by Karl Lagerfeld, sat astride a classic 1970s Ducati Super Sport painted to match. She also wore a custom helmet from Les Ateliers Ruby, the French luxury brand which collaborated with Lagerfeld on a series of haute couture motorcycle helmets for Chanel a few seasons back. Of course, Knightley also sported a bespoke pair of riding boots and gloves to match, the whole a nod to Emma Peel of Avengers fame. The ad campaign was shot at Paris' famed Place de la Concorde, stopping traffic in the process.

[via JustLuxe]

Ducati has managed to refine its already formidable middleweight sportbike for 2011 by adding more power via all new cylinder heads, pistons, throttle bodies and camshafts. According to the Italian manufacturer, horsepower is up six ponies to 140, which, when coupled with the 369 claimed weight, means the new 848 EVO is the most powerful bike in its class and even has a better power-to-weight ratio than the 2005 999.

Other top-level components include the massive Brembo Monobloc front braking calipers and a cross-mounted steering stabilizer, both of which are said to have been developed through racing feedback. The bike should get its official unveiling this weekend from the MotoGP race in California and sales are slated to begin later this summer. Asking price stands at $12,995 for the blacked-out Dark Edition or $13,995 in bright Ducati Red.



[Source: Ducati]

Ducati, an Italian motorcycle manufacturer known for producing some of the highest performing race-bred motorcycles in existence, is apparently looking to branch into new and untapped markets. Evidence of such can be seen in the sketch above, which is said to have been leaked by a dealership that was privy to the company's future plans.

It's expected that Ducati will introduce the world to its power cruiser concept at the EICMA motorcycle show in Italy later this year, but the image above gives us some hints as to what we can expect. First and foremost, a liquid-cooled Testastretta V-twin engine with the Multistrada 1200's 11-degree valve overlap angle will be featured. The mill should pump out 150 or more horsepower and will be controlled by a ride-by-wire system with traction control.

Perhaps the most controversial feature amongst Ducati fans is sure to be the massive rear tire, which is held firmly in place by a single-sided swingarm. Spy shots indicate that the rear hoop may be as wide as a 240, which will certainly have negative effects on the bike's handling characteristics. In contrast, inverted front forks and monobloc calipers are up-level items included up front.

As always, Ducati will use its trademark trellis chassis, and the power cruiser will reportedly sport a reasonable 40-degree lean angle. Stay tuned for more as the EICMA Show gets closer.

[Source: Ducati.ms via Asphalt & Rubber]

Two-time world champion Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso is stocking up on high-end Italian toys now that he's in pole position for Ferrari. Back in March we reported that he'd splashed out on a new Maserati GranCabrio from Ferrari's sister marque, selecting a dark gray model with a two-tone beige and bordeaux interior with matching bordeaux roof. Now another iconic Italian brand known for its superfast machines – Ducati – has gifted the champ with a wicked custom Desmosedici RR (above). The $60,000 superbike is painted in a combination of Ducati MotoGP and Ferrari F1 graphics, matching Alonso's race livery. Now that he has a Ducati, observers are looking for Alonso to make good on his challenge to 9-times Grand Prix World Championship motorcycle racer Valentino Rossi. We'll see.

[via Motorbiker.org]

You might think that the Ducati Desmosedici RR, the Italian firm's limited production MotoGP motorcycle for the street, is plenty good enough in stock form. And you'd mostly be correct, but then again there's always room for improvement, right?

Enter legendary motorcycle tuner NCR, which has taken the standard (is there really such a thing?) Desmosedici and turned it into what may be the most desirable sportbike on the planet. To do so, the company employed lots of carbon fiber. The composite material makes up everything from the frame, rear subframe, swingarm, fuel tanks, fairings and wheels to items such as the paddock stand.

A minimalist undertail exhaust system is bent from lightweight titanium, and NCR completes the package with a racing slipper clutch, lightened gearbox, ceramic matrix disc brakes with Brembo monobloc caliper, fully adjustable top-shelf Ohlins suspension front and rear and finally a fully custom ECU with traction control, data acquisition and telemetry systems.

All told, the NCR Millano 16 weights just 319 pounds and is motivated by over 200 horsepower at the rear wheel. Contact NCR for pricing information, if you want one. And, you do want one... trust us.



[Source: NCR]

From time to time we've brought you news of efforts to make a Ferrari superbike; now Ducati is turning the tables with a supercar concept. The vision of young designer Anthony Collard, the Desmosedici RR² concept is a carbon fiber-bodied two-seater made mostly from motorcycle parts. A spyder which can be converted into a coupe via a removable polycarbonate roof, it's designed to be powered by a V8 based on two Ducati L4 Desmosedici engines kicking out about 420 hp. Collard's goal is to deliver a driving experience as similar as possible to actually piloting a superbike, with style to spare befitting a vehicle bearing the famed Ducati name. Some of the mechanical parts are left visible to enhance the effect, with a narrow front and open back to display the Italian-made Marchesini superbike wheels. The engine is situated in a central front position just behind the front wheel axis, similar to that of the Mercedes SLR McLaren. We think it definitely has potential.

[via JamesList]

Ducati has just officially announced its next middleweight Monster, and it's slated hit the market in June. Sharing the same air-cooled L-twin engine as the Hypermotard 796, the new Monster 796 will also carry a similar $9,995 price tag as its same-sized sibling.

With 87 horsepower and 56 pound-feet of torque, along with a claimed 367-pound weight, the Monster 796 should offer plenty of performance for its intended market. Comfort should be improved over previous Monsters due to the higher handlebar and redesigned seat. Ducati also includes a single sided swingarm, four piston Brembo brakes, an APTC slipper clutch, blackened foot rests and new five spoke wheels to complete the package.

The new Monster 796 will be available in white, black and Ducati red – each with the expected trellis frame and wheel striping in red – Ducati will also launch a new Monster Art program, allowing owners of the 696, 796 or 1100 models the ability to interchange tank covers, mudguards, bikini fairings and seat covers in one of ten new hues and liveries. See the press release after the break for more.



[Source: Ducati]

While the big switch back to a full liter of displacement for MotoGP racing motorcycles won't go into effect until the 2012 racing season, there are still major performance gains to be had with the current 800cc powerplants. Evidence of such can be seen in the new Ducati Desmosedici GP10 racer, which was just unveiled at an exclusive event in the Italian Dolomite mountains.

The biggest change to the bike's outward appearance is the new tail-mounted exhaust location, which does a lot to clean up the side view of the bike and looks absolutely amazing in execution. It's under the carbon fiber skin, though, where the most important change takes place, starting with a heavily revised cooling system designed to allow each engine to last longer – a nod to new rules stipulating that each team can only use six engines per rider for the entire season.

Besides the expected updates to the pistons, rods and crankshaft, the major news is that Ducati has switched back to a so-called big-bang firing order for its V4 engine, which the manufacturer claims will make the powerful bike easier to ride with improved grip and traction. In addition, the rear half of the bike was made stiffer in an effort to keep the machine from squatting under hard acceleration. Check out our high-res gallery of images below and be sure to click past the break to see the live unveiling captured on video.



[Source: Asphalt & Rubber]

Art Basel isn't the only thing taking Miami by storm - dashing designer Duncan Quinn has opened a limited edition pop-up shop in the city's design district that's a shrine to gentlemanly pursuits and fine tailoring. In addition to his full range of Savile Row-inspired menswear the British-born bon vivant's 6,000-sq.-ft. space features a full-sized indoor croquet pitch; a 1962 Maserati 3500GT, one of only 359 made, specially ordered and owned by famed Formula One driver Peter Revson; and a killer collection of vintage Ducati motorbikes, including a 450 Desmo from the 70's, a 350 Desmo, built in 1969 and a 1985 F1 prototype.

There are also limited edition croquet shirts and t-shirts exclusive to the venue; a bespoke lounge with Dormeuil fabrics; an installation of Ruby couture motorcycle helmets from France; Hendrick's Gin cocktails; and more. Famed shoe designer Christian Louboutin, who has his own op-up shop down the block, was their first customer, coming in to buy an outfit for his own opening, while Birmingham band The Twang, who opened the Glastonbury Festival in front of 500,000 people, played a one-off show for the DQ faithful there on Friday night. The shop will be open until Dec. 12th, then once a month for dinners and tastings and otherwise by appointment.

Question: When is a Ducati not really a Ducati? Answer: When it's an electrically-assisted pedal bike made by the Italwing Group. The machine is known as the City Pearl, and it will be available in both men's and women's (with a dropped top tube) styles when it goes on sale in January at selected Ducati dealerships in Europe.

There is a precedent set for a pedal-powered Ducati. The famed Italian marque's first two-wheeler was known as the Cucciolo, which was really just a small four-stroke engine that attached to a bicycle frame. Still, we do wish that there was a bit more of a direct connection between Ducati and the City Pearl – as it stands it seems Italwin is merely trying to capitalize on the Ducati name.

In any case, the specifications for the City Pearl are right in line with other comparable electric bicycles. Power comes from a six-volt 9Ah Panasonic lithium ion battery pack and motivation comes from a front-mounted 250W brushless electric motor that's capable of propelling the bike to 24 kilometers per hour (about 15 mph). A seven-speed Nexus hub from Shimano sends human power to the rear wheel. See both versions in our image gallery below.



[Source: Ducati]

After months of rumors, grainy spy shots and leaked information, Ducati has finally pulled the wraps off the 2010 Multistrada 1200. As with the original MTS, Ducati wanted to create a machine with sportbike-level performance that could be attained on nearly any kind of surface terrain. This time, though, the Italian manufacturer started with its latest liquid-cooled Testastretta powerplant as used in the top-level 1198 superbike, though altered with revised valve overlap for smoother power delivery and a 15-percent improvement in fuel consumption and emissions.

Ducati says the new Multistrada 1200 is "four bikes in one," and has thus bestowed its new motorcycle with four distinct Riding Modes that alter power and traction control levels: Sport, Touring, Urban and Enduro. Sport mode offers the full 150-horsepower experience with a low amount of traction control and Touring mode is reportedly intended for everyday riding. Urban and Enduro modes tone things down several notches to 100 horsepower and opting for the latter also raises the suspension and sets the traction control to its least-active setting.

Up-level S models get a new Ducati Electronic Suspension setup that can be tailored to adjust spring pre-load along with rebound and compression damping with options for rider only, rider with luggage, rider and passenger or rider and passenger with luggage. Ducati says that the Multistrada 1200's 417-pound dry weight is the lowest in its class, though a full 5.3-gallon load of fuel (enough for 186 miles between fill-ups) would certainly raise that a bit. Pricing starts at $14,995 before any options are added. Hit the jump for the rest of the details and check out our high-res image gallery below.



[Source: Ducati]

Following the release of the $9,995 Hypermotard 796, it was pretty obvious that Ducati would have some updating to do on its bigger 1100cc brother. After all, with a power-to-weight ratio that was within spitting distance, it seemed kinda tough to justify the price increase to the bigger model. Not surprisingly, then, Ducati has just released all the details on the 2010 Hypermotard 1100, and it's got all the right boxes checked: 15-pounds lighter, five more horsepower and an $11,995 starting price.

The new base 1100 is now called the EVO, and it weighs 379 pounds dry and puts out 95 horsepower and 76 lb-ft of torque. New vacuum-cast engine cases join a magnesium alternator cover, a superbike-spec flywheel from the 848 and rare-earth magnets in the generator assembly help the latest Desmodue engine drop 11.5 pounds. Like the smaller 796, the new EVO eschews the previously-forged chassis bits for lighter pieces without sacrificing performance.

Also new for 2010 is an uprated 1100 EVO SP model for $14,995 that has higher ground clearance, upgraded suspension bits, Brembo Monobloc brake calipers, Marchesini wheels and a few external carbon fiber bits. Want to know more? All the sordid details can be found in the press release after the break and we've added a high-res image gallery for your viewing pleasure below.



[Source: Ducati]