Ducati 1199 Panigale launched

The 1199 Panigale supersedes the 1198 and will be the first Ducati superbike with a name as well as numbers.

Pronounced "Pan-ee-gah-lee", it refers to the Borgo Panigale area of Bologna, the home of the Ducati factory.

The north-eastern Italian region is known as Motor Valley and includes the homes of other great motoring marques such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Pagani and the famous Imola race track.

Ducati will reveal its 2012 superbike at the EICMA International Motorcycle Show in Milan November. The company has been releasing in a drip-feed manner with the latest information being about the new "Superquadro" engine.

No, it's not a four-cylinder, but an over-square (bore-to-stroke ratio) L-twin with capacity slightly higher at 1199cc rather than 1198cc. Power is up almost 20kW to 145kW with torque of 133Nm. It retains the Desmodromic valve control from previous engines, but everything else is new.

The NEW engine also required a new and stronger six-speed gearbox. And for the first time in a top-of-the-range Ducati superbike it has a "wet", oil-bath clutch, so no more loud and annoying clatter when the clutch lever is pulled in.

It also features a "slipper" function to prevent back wheel lock-up on downshifts/ Despite the extra power and new transmission, Ducati has extended major services from 20,000 to 24,000km.

It will also be 10kg lighter thanks mainly to an aluminium twin-spar frame In a two-stage introduction of the bike to motorsport, the Panigale will compete in the 2012 FIM Superstock Championship and World Superbike in 2013.

This gives Ducati more development time for the WSB version and keeps a lid on costs for teams competing with a 2012 version of the 1198. Dates for local release have not been announced.

Ducati has also revealed more details on its 2012 range. The Mulistrada family will get more comfortable and longer seats while the top-of-the-line Multistrada 1200 S Touring (pitcured left) will get a titanium and black colour scheme.

The 2012 Hypermotard 1100EVO SP (pictured right) will come with a Corse (race) Edition with high ground clearance, high-spec suspension, high bars and black Ducati Corse official colours.