Surely Ducati could not miss out on the 2012 Motor Bike Expo, but the Italian manufacturer did not bring any significant new model to the event, that is currently taking place in Verona. That’s pretty understandable though, as they’ve just introduced the brand new 1199 Panigale at the 2011 EICMA in Milan last November, and given the importance of the model we are quite sure that the crowd in Verona was pleased enough with the opportunity to admire Ducati’s latest output ‘in the metal’ right there, on the spot. Both ’standard’ and Tricolore versions of the 1199 Panigale are on display at the Motor Bike Expo, and they are by far the undisputed stars of the Ducati stand, overshadowing Valentino Rossi’s Desmosedici GP11 as well. We have no doubt that this model will follow in the footsteps of its illustrious predecessors and become a worldwide success.

In spite of the economical crisis, 2011 has been a fantastic year for Ducati, which registered a 21% increase of its global sales and a staggering +84% in the Asian market alone. Besides, the legendary Italian manufacturer has just received an official and prestigious recognition from the British Government, the ‘Brand Recognition Award‘, that is the proverbial ‘icing on the cake’ of an already outstanding year. Check out our pictures taken live at Ducati’s stall in Verona by our mates from Motoblog.it.

View the full Ducati live @ the 2012 Motor Bike Expo photo gallery

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Arguably the most sought-after bike at the 2011 EICMA, the Ducati 1199 Panigale is definitely bound to become one of the most talked about motorcycles of 2012. The new jaw-dropping ‘beast’ from the Italian manufacturer boasts impressive figures such as 195 hp at 10,750rpm, 132Nm of peak torque at 9,000 rpm, 164 kg dry weight (188 kg with a full tank) and a number of innovative solutions like the revolutionary monocoque frame and the horizontal monoshock.

Besides, it boasts a lot of ‘firsts’: the first full-LED headlight on a motorcycle, the first electronically adjustable suspension on a sport bike, the first engine braking control system, as well as the first GPS-assisted data acquisition system for a production motorcycle. And it looks killer too, doesn’t it? Check it out in this massive photo gallery.

View the full Ducati 1199 Panigale photo gallery

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Ducati brought the whole 1199 Panigale range at the 2011 EICMA, meaning 1199 Panigale, 1199 Panigale S and the special 1199 Panigale S Tricolore version. The whole lot uses the Superquadro engine, arguably the most advanced and powerful two-cylinder unit of the planet.

Our friends from Motoblog.it are at the Milan event, and they have just sent us a huge amount of pics taken at the Ducati booth, starring the awesome 1199 Panigale range. Check them out.

View the full Ducati 1199 Panigale Live at the 2011 EICMA photo gallery

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The new Ducati 1199 Superbike - or Ducati Xtreme - is apparently going to depart from Bologna tradition and use a gear-driven camshaft in the place of the previous belt-driven one. The new technology is the kind that Aprilia used in last year’s 2010 SBK championship, and should help the new superbike get an extra three to five horsepower.

The 2012 Ducati Superbike would therefore use the same kind of camshaft technology as the Ducati Desmosedici employs in the MotoGP. Asphalt & Rubber says that this fact will be highlighted in Ducati’s marketing and that it might make it easier for “Ducatisti” to move from the traditional belt-driven camshaft on the famed V-twin engine.

Accommodating this new technology, Ducati will also move away from its traditional steel trellis chassis to a frameless chassis which will cradle the new Superquadrata engine. The 2012 Ducati 1199 will get more power from the new camshaft set up but should also have better performance as its slated to lose about 9 kg with the new frame - currently estimates are a gain of about 20 hp on the 1198.

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The 2011 EICMA show will see the new Ducati 1199 superbike debut on home turf, and although it looks like the XTreme name might not be confirmed, more “spy shots” show off some of the design and technical details. The new race-oriented bike will get a new front end with encased LED headlights and the short, high rear shows off the exhaust positioned under the motor.

The engine itself is currently said to be a “superquadrata” squared-off version with a front airbox which could produce nearly 200 hp. The traditional trellis frame will be replaced with the new airbox design. At this stage, the changes on the new generation don’t look like they’ll produce anything radical on the style front, but with all that duct tape it’s difficult to tell. More to come as EICMA approaches.

Ducati 1199 XTreme spy shots from Mugello

Source | Motosblog via A&R

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What is it with Ducati names of late? After playing around with the dialect of Bologna to produce the Ducati Diavel (which we’re sure makes the baby boomers it’s aimed at feel all devilish….), we’re now apparently getting the Ducati Xtreme. This pic is supposed to be the first teaser shot of the new 2012 Ducati Superbike, the 1199.

The pic comes from Motociclismo magazine, who claims the bike will be called the Ducati Xtreme, while MCN says that it will almost certainly be the 1199. It quotes a source as saying: “The XTreme name was something that was used within Ducati. It’s not the name of the bike which is almost definitely going to be 1199.”

The new Ducati 1199 is expected to house a V-Twin engine with some extra power on the Ducati 1198 - up to about 185 or 190 hp. Apparently the design and chassis is revolutionary for Ducati, with HFL betting on a monocoque frameless design borrowed from MotoGP tech, with lightweight materials to get weight down to about 140 kg.

Further reports on the model suggest we could get a horizontally-mounted rear shock, and A&R is reporting on an underslung tail exhaust like the Ducati Desmosedici. More will be revealed when Motociclismo gets its print version out soon, but they themselves are describing the new Ducati 1199 (Xtreme?) as the “biggest technical turning point for Ducati in the last decade”.

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