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| Claudio Domenicali, CEO: "Although 2020 is a stormy year, the third quarter recorded the most positive performance ever." |
September confirmed a recovery trend that began in June, with 4,468 motorcycles delivered to customers, of which the Panigale, Ducati Scrambler and Multistrada were the families with the best results. From the beginning of the year to the end of September, China, Switzerland and Germany recorded higher sales compared to the same period in 2019.
The company says that "thanks to the positive market trend, since June we started to recover the decline in performance recorded in the first months of the year, partially filling the sales gap compared to the previous year caused by the slowdowns that are affecting the whole world".
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| Diavel 1260 Lamborghini - just as the VAG board in Germany officially recognises that it may sell its Italian interests (Ducati, Lamborghini, Italdesign), this 630 unit limited edition special is described by Ducati as "the first motorcycle born from the collaboration between Ducati and Lamborghini - a Diavel 1260 inspired by the Lamborghini Sian FKP 37". It's a lovely bike (the car's not bad either) - but it is a good job Volkswagen never bought the Zanussi washing machine company! |
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| The unveiling of the new V4 Multistrada represented the entry into production of the world's first motorcycle equipped with front and rear radar technology. This is the fourth generation of a model that has already seen production of more than 110,000 units. |
Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati, said that "although 2020 is a stormy year, the third quarter recorded the most positive performance ever. Now the situation is worsening again, unfortunately just when we are about to present to the world the new models for 2021, on which we have worked continuously despite the difficulties introduced by the pandemic.
In addition to a slew of new Scramblers, the Multistrada V4 and updated XDiavel, 2021 sees Euro 5 and other updates to the SuperSport 950, Panigale V4 and V4S, a numbered Panigale V4 SP (Sport Production) series delivering 214 hp, 12.6 KGM of torque, and weighing in at just 173 kg dry; plus new Italian THOK powered electric mountain bikes, including the TK-01 RR Enduro eMTB.
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| The new Multistrada features Ducati's new lightweight V4 Granturismo engine - "developed for maximum smoothness of operation with record-breaking maintenance intervals," Ducati says the new engine is "compact and light, performing, featuring rich torque values: an engine designed for "adventouring" use, at the same time able to offer great thrills and sportiness". |
In additional news, the rumours about the sale of Ducati by VAG do appear to be back on the agenda, at least it has now been admitted as being within the realms of the possible, as Ducati parent company Audi endeavours to streamline its structure and lay down the foundation for its electric future.
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| Can you have too much of a good thing? Maybe! The 800 cc Ducati Scrambler Nightshift - one of four more 800/1100 cc Scramblers added to what may be in danger of becoming an uneconomically oversized family. |
According to the Reuters news agency, Audi subsidiaries Ducati, Lamborghini and Italdesign are being wrapped up in to a single, Italian legal structure. VW CEO Herbert Deiss has stated that these brands "may not fit into the era of intelligent networked vehicles which provide on-demand mobility. Are [those brands] really valuable in the new world, we don't know yet". Addressing the possibility of disposing of their Italian assets, Deiss said "it's probably a bit of a slower process, but it's on our agenda."
