Parag Satpute, Managing Director, Bridgestone India

Bridgestone India has inaugurated a major expansion in excess of Rs. 350 crore in its  Indore plant at Kheda, Madhya Pradesh. With this expansion, the capacity of the Indore plant will go up to over 20,000 tyres a day by 2020.This expansion will enable Bridgestone India to meet the increased demand for its products.

Spread over 76 acres, this plant will produce the entire Bridgestone India’s range of radial tyres serving passenger car segment. Strategically located close to the centre of India, this plant has the logistic advantage of serving some crucial OEMs and aftermarket businesses for the passenger vehicle segment in the automotive sector. This state-of the-art facility is driven by advanced Japanese technology, ready to produce world class quality tyres for Indian roads.

Vivek Porwal, Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh, Industrial Development Corporation Ltd inaugurated the plant, in the presence of Michio Harada, Consul General of Japan in Mumbai, and Akihiro Eto, COO, Bridgestone Corporation.

Commenting on the occasion Parag Satpute, Managing Director, Bridgestone India said, “This expansion is our response to the trust and confidence of our OEM partners in our product offerings. Through this expansion, we also demonstrate our commitment to create value for a larger base of Indian consumers with our world class quality. India’s growth prospects in the mid to long term future are positive. And, Bridgestone India is ready to take the lead in being a trusted partner to our customers, dealers, consumers, and all other stakeholders at large.”

Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, world famous for his record breaking number of runs and centuries, has added another historic Run to his impressive list of achievements. Last week the renowned ‘master blaster’ took a drive in a 1900 Daimler, a regular participant in the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.

The Daimler is in the care of the Royal Automobile Club, organiser of the annual pilgrimage from capital to coast, and Tendulkar was visiting its Pall Mall Clubhouse while in the UK for the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.

Aware of his love of cars and always keen to share its passion for historic vehicles, the Club transported a 1900 Daimler (sporting a Veteran Car Run Number 10 – Sachin’s number as a player) from its Woodcote Park Motor House to Pall Mall in time for Sachin’s visit.

The Club’s Head of Motoring, Jeremy Vaughan, showed the cricketer the ropes of the 1900 veteran car as they journeyed down Pall Mall together, before turning into St James’s Square.

Following a brief lesson on the workings of a Victorian car, Tendulkar got behind the wheel to have a go at driving the 119-year old Daimler. The sight of a pioneering veteran car being driven by the world’s top scoring batsman was certainly a sight to behold for pedestrians.

After his ride, Tendulkar was driven back to the clubhouse in the veteran and headed inside to enjoy dinner in the clubhouse.

The Club was thrilled to share the excitement of the veteran car world with the icon, and the cricketing star was similarly overjoyed with his ride in a veteran, describing it as ‘an experience I shall always cherish’.

“He soon got the swing of it and despite being overtaken by a bicycle, which he thought was very amusing, proceeded to circle around the square becoming more confident by the minute,” reported Vaughan. “For an international mega star who has 75 million followers on social media, it was so reassuring to teach someone who was genuinely interested in the experience and had the time to listen and take it all in. I did ask him to join us on the Run… and, who knows, perhaps one day he will accept our invitation.”

As tradition dictates, the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run – organised by the Royal Automobile Club since 1930 – will take place on the first Sunday in November, which this year falls on the 3rd November. More than 400 three- and four-wheelers – all built before 1905 – will take part in the 2019 Run and in excess of 500,000 spectators will line the roadsides between London to Brighton.

Despite the overall downtrend in the automobile sector, Volvo Car India has registered a strong 11 per cent increase in sales in the first half of 2019. The company sold 1159 units in January-June 2019 against 1044 units in January-June 2018. Sales contribution from Mini Metros and Tier-I towns and a good demand for the SUV range aided the growth.

Charles Frump – Managing Director, Volvo Car India said, “We are extremely happy with 11% growth in sales performance so far especially when the industry is not looking positive. Our brand engagement programs continues to play a crucial role in this performance. While the short term market performance looks tough, I am very confident the automobile growth will bounce back and we would be happy to replicate our sales performance of 2018.”

The story of MG (Morris Garages) began in 1924 in the UK. In the years that followed, MG’s stunning sports cars and cabriolets were the ride of choice for many celebrities, including British Prime Ministers and several members of the British Royal Family.

MG has a long and storied history as an iconic British racing brand, having dominated championships the world over. Since then, MG has evolved into a modern-day innovative brand and has continued to be a style icon through the last 95 years.

Through the past decade, MG has developed new technology and independent innovative research capability, especially in traditional powertrain, new energy vehicle, internet and intelligent driving technology. The MG brand covers every segment of the mainstream passenger vehicle market, especially upper-medium vehicles including SUVs.

MG Motor has finally forayed into the Indian car market with the launch of the much-awaited Hector at an introductory ex-showroom price of Rs 12.18 lakhs to Rs 16.88 lakhs. The English carmaker created quite a buzz with its pre-launch campaign and adverts resulting in MG receiving 10,000+ bookings for the Hector in first month since pre-orders began on June 4. Deliveries to customers who have pre-booked the MG Hector have begun from the first week of July through its network of 120 centres across India, which the carmaker aims to expand further to 250 by September this year.

Commenting on the launch of MG Hector, Rajeev Chaba, President and Managing Director, MG Motor India, said, “As MG’s first product for the Indian market, the Hector comes with ‘MG Shield’, a first-of-its-kind package in the Indian auto industry which provides complete assurance to our customers, as we continue to remain focused on disruption and differentiation. With the very distinctive design that also packs in safety, best-in-class features and competitive pricing, the MG Hector will make an impact with buyers who are looking for something very different from the normal array of cars.”

The Hector’s 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine delivers 143 PS power at a peak torque of 250 Nm while the 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine will deliver 170 PS at a peak torque of 350 Nm. It comes with a fuel efficiency for both petrol and diesel with the Petrol Hybrid MT returning 15.81 kmpl and diesel 17.41 kmpl, as per ARAI.

The MG Hector has been tested for over one million kilometres in India before entering production and comes with 25 safety features as standard. At 10.4 inches, it has the biggest HD touchscreen in its segment featuring iSMART and also has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity options. It also comes with LED daytime running lights, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, cruise control, electrically adjustable front seats and heated ORVMs. The Hector also comes with a mild-hybrid architecture that uses a 48-volt lithium-ion battery to store energy and provide extra torque assistance of up to 20 Nm.

The MG Hector will come with a vehicle ownership package called the ‘MG Shield’. It provides private owners free-of-charge 5-year comprehensive manufacturer warranty for unlimited kilometers – the best factory warranty for any vehicle sold in India. It also includes round-the-clock roadside assistance (RSA) for a period of 5 years and no labour charges for the first 5 scheduled vehicle services.

The Hector further offers prepaid maintenance plans starting at Rs 8,000 for the first three years. Its total cost of ownership (TCO) is very economical in the segment starting at Rs 45 paise per kilometre for the petrol and at Rs 49 paise per kilometre for the diesel.

In addition, MG assures customers of the resale value of the Hector at a value proposition under the ‘3-60’ plan. Under this plan, MG has tied up with automotive portal CarDekho and the latter will buyback the MG Hector at a residual value of 60 per cent upon completion of three years of ownership. All these elements under MG Shield are aimed at enhancing the customer experience and providing complete peace of mind.

The ‘Made in India’ MG Hector is available in a total of 11 combinations across 4 variants namely Style, Super, Smart and Sharp. It comes with 3 engine options – Petrol, Petrol Hybrid and Diesel. The petrol is available in both manual and automatic transmissions.

The prices of all the variants are given below:

Ford will make a special Ford GT supercar announcement on July 4, at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Hermann Salenbauch, Global Director, Ford Performance, and Larry Holt, Chief Technical Officer, Multimatic, will deliver the news at Ford stand in the Drift Paddock of the world-famous motorsport event in West Sussex.

Ford returns to Goodwood this year with an exhilarating line-up of vehicles tackling the 1.16 mile hill climb, including:

• The all-new Focus ST and all-new 760 bhp Mustang Shelby GT500 making their UK debuts
• The Ford Chip Ganassi Racing #66 Ford GT race car, fresh from the Le Mans 24 Hours
• The M-Sport Ford World Rally Team’s Ford Fiesta WRC car – also appearing on the Goodwood rally stage
• The 2018 NASCAR Championship-winning Team Penske Ford Fusion race car
• The 1980 Ford Zakspeed Turbo Capri race car
• Gymkhana TEN star Ken Block’s Hoonitruck and Escort RS Cosworth
• Champion drifter Vaughn Gittin Jnr’s Ford Mustang RTR Drift car

The Ranger Raptor pick-up will also be demonstrating its capabilities in the off-road experience.

L-R: Tom Kearns, Head – Kia Design Center, Manohar Bhat, Vice President and Head of Sales and Marketing, Kia Motors India, Kookhyun Shim, Managing Director & CEO, Kia Motors India, Han-Woo Park, President & CEO- Kia Motors Corporation, Lorenz Glaab, Head Global Product Management.

Kia Motors, world’s 8th largest automaker, hosted the world premiere of its first car for India – Kia Seltos. The indigenously manufactured, Seltos features contemporary and stylish design with plush and spacious interiors. The vehicle boasts many segment firsts with class leading safety features, making the vehicle capable to disrupt the segment and create a niche for itself.

Kia Seltos comes equipped with Smartstream, a third-generation powertrain developed for high efficiency and powerful performance. Originally slated for India, the vehicle hosts world class design, quality and features and now will also be available in global markets from the 4th quarter of 2019.

Commenting on the occasion Han-Woo Park, CEO & President, Kia Motors Corporation, said, “India is crucial market for Kia Motors overall growth story and will play an important role in expanding our global footprint. India is a diverse country with distinct driving condition across the country and hence it was crucial to introduce a vehicle which is perfect in every sense. We are excited to pursue our India journey with Kia Seltos which is crafted and built keeping in mind the Indian customers and their needs. We believe that Seltos is all set to propel Kia into becoming one of India’s prominent automobile players in the years to come. Globally, the world premiere of the Seltos is an important milestone for Kia as it shows our commitment to the Indian market. This is just the beginning as we have many surprises for the 4th largest auto market in the world.”

Kia aims to reach out to every possible customer even in the remotest corners of the country. The company plans to begin retail sales with the highest number of touch points for any new car entrant in India. The company will cater to its customers through 265 customer touch points owned by Kia authorised dealer partners, spread across 160 cities. As part of the company’s customer-centric strategy, on/offline sales system will be available from day one of sales, while digitizing the entire customer journey from sales to services, including introduction of digital showroom.

The Smartstream – newly developed third generation BS VI compliant powertrain for high efficiency and powerful performance. The Seltos, by offering BSVI diesel and petrol engines, reiterates Kia Motors’ commitment towards offering cleaner mobility solution. The vehicle will come in petrol, turbo-petrol and diesel guise and will be offered in three automatic transmission options – IVT, (Intelligent continuously variable transmission) 7DCT, 6AT and, along with 6 Speed Manual transmission   – giving users options to choose the combo that conforms to their driving style.

To further elevate the driving experience the Seltos gets multiple driving modes that alters the responsiveness of the car and transforms the car’s driving character optimizing the performance on all conditions. Drivers can choose from ‘Normal’, ‘Eco’ and ‘Sport’ mode. The  Eco mode is tuned to maximise vehicle range by using fuel-saving measures, while Sport mode increases responses from the steering and electric motor to maximise the dynamic driving feel of the car. Normal mode provides a careful balance between the two. It also comes equipped with multiple grip controls. Drivers can choose from mud, wet and sand mode depending on road condition.

A Kia hallmark, design is intricately woven into the brand’s DNA, and is definitely the talking point of the Seltos whose design is a collaborative effort of Kia’s global design centres that did extensive research on the current and upcoming trends of car design around the world and tailored it for the Indian market. The design of the Seltos is set to spark conversations and turn heads wherever it goes. From the dominating front fascia with the wide Signature Tiger Nose Grille, the muscular shoulder line and intricately and sharply designed front and rear full LED lights the Seltos looks commanding and confident all-round. The stunning premium crystal cut alloys compliment the dimension of the Seltos and lends it a powerful stance, ready to take on everything and triumph. The Seltos is the flag bearer of the ‘Future of Design’.

Kia’s very first product for India flaunts a bold, distinctive and dynamic design. The mid-SUV sports a wide Tiger nose grille, one of the most unique and recognizable design elements of Kia Motors’ world-class design philosophy. The robust design character of a conventional SUV co-exists with sophisticated exterior design details and is drawn out from real life inspirations, such as a long hood, a robust and sophisticated character line on the front bumper, and sharp lines pressed into the bodywork. Its strong shoulder line, matched with a glasshouse, which tapers towards the rear of the car, as well as rear bumper with a metallic muffler effect, lends the compact SUV an air of understated sportiness. Seltos has eight attractive colour combinations and five two-tone colour options. By using different colours and two-tone roof combinations, customers can select their car based on their tastes.

Kia Seltos comes equipped with the globally famous UVO connect, an advanced connected car technology which offers an array of convenience and safety features. The UVO boasts 37 smart features under five distinct categories i.e. Navigation, Safety and Security, Vehicle Management, Remote Control and Convenience. The UVO facility will be free for the first three years for its users.

Kia has paid utmost attention to ensure that every drive in the Seltos is relaxing and safe. It offers a full range safety which includes, active, passive, health safety, security and maintenance. The Seltos gets six airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, HAC, VSM and is built on robust structure, which has high usage of advanced high strength steel (AHSS) that fortifies the Seltos’s core and keeps the occupants safe in an event of a crash.

Additionally, the front and rear parking sensors, blind view monitor ensures that the visibility of unseen vehicles is not compromised, giving the driver confidence at all times. Working in tandem with the safety tech, the Seltos comes equipped with an array of advanced UVO connected car technology features. The UVO technology can be summoned via a dedicated button on the IRVM. The IRVM also has dedicated roadside assistance and SOS button that alert the dedicated call centre– in case of An emergency .The car is fitted with an Anti-lock Braking System, a Traction Control System, a Brake-Assist System and Hill-start Assist Control, as well as front and rear parking sensors, for assistance when parking.

Safety being central to all Kia products, the Seltos, also gets, rain sensing wipers and auto headlamps, thus allowing the driver to focus more on the road conditions ahead.

Volvo Car India flagged off an all women drive under the global ‘Equal Vehicles for All’ (E.V.A.) initiative to promote gender equality. The rich data of over four decades and 40,000 investigations involving car crashes has now been provided to the world. The E.V.A. initiative centres around safety for all and not just safety developed by testing the traditional ‘Male Crash Test Dummies’. Women have a different anatomy and hence different effects in crashes.

Volvo cars are tested with Female Crash Test Dummies as well delivering safety for all. The seats are ergonomically designed with WHIPS to reduce the whiplash risk for male and females by half. The Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) relies on an intelligent structure to boost overall safety. In fact, SIPS, together with the side-impact airbag, reduces severe chest injuries by more than 50 per cent for all passengers.

The gender equality does not stop just at product development, it is an integral part of Volvo’s corporate mission and culture. Volvo Cars is aiming at one-third of all leadership positions by 2025 to be females and has a healthy 23 per cent women workforce.

Sudeep Narayan, Corporate Communications Director – Volvo Car India said “ We are very proud of our campaign to generate awareness about gender equality. It is something very close to our brand and the corporate mission to have at least one-third women in all leading positions globally by 2025. We have a healthy 23% ratio of women globally and in India. Our global E.V.A initiative involves creating a Female Crash Test Dummy, thereby delivering safety for all”.

Bentley 3 Litre Le Mans 1923

This year, the Concours of Elegance will be celebrating Bentley’s Centenary year in style, with a display of the cars that established the Bentley legend, both on and off the race track. From the first Bentley to race at Le Mans – a 1923 3-Litre – and Speed Six ‘Old Number One’ – victorious at Le Mans in 1929 and 1930 – to Her Majesty The Queen’s State Limousine, it’s a journey through Bentley’s incredible 100 years from automotive innovator to global luxury icon.

The Bentley legend was built on the race-track, and Concours of Elegance will gather only the most important motorsport Bentleys. It was with the 3 Litre that the on-track legend really began, when an example was privately entered into the Le Mans 24 Hours race in 1923. Founder W.O. Bentley attended last-minute, convinced the race was ‘crazy’, but watched the 3 Litre set a lap record and finish fourth overall, hindered only by a hole in the petrol tank. This very car will be coming to Concours of Elegance in September.

The following year, in 1924, Bentley returned to Le Mans with a 3 Litre and won. But it was only later that Bentley made yet more history at Le Mans, with Speed Six ‘Old Number One’, which became the first car to win the race back-to-back in ’29 and ’30. Piloted by Woolf Barnato and Tim Birkin in its maiden win at the world-famous 24-hour race, ‘Old Number One’ took two other race podiums that year. Famed Bentley Boy Barnato drove the racer to a second victory at Le Mans, alongside Glen Kidston in 1930. It will be joined by Speed Six ‘Old Number Three’, which also raced at Le Mans in 1930, and was running in the top two before leaving the track at the Pontlieue Hairpin.

1929 Bentley Speed Six Old Number One

Joining the iconic racers is the car that helped establish Bentley’s reputation for innovation in the pursuit of speed; Bentley 4.5 Litre Blower No.1. This car was built by Tim Birkin before W.O. Bentley was convinced to build the 50 4.5 Litre supercharged ‘Blowers’ that were necessary to comply with Le Mans racing regulations. Blower No.1 is joined by two later ‘Blowers’, including the most original in existence; the No.2 car raced by Tim Birkin at Le Mans in 1930. The Concours of Elegance’s pre-event ‘Tour of Norfolk’ will pay homage to this great Bentley racer, with a visit to his final resting place.

Many of Bentley’s racing endeavours were undertaken by a wealthy group of young motoring enthusiasts, who have become known as the Bentley Boys. But their racing antics didn’t always stick to the track – in fact, one of the most famous races undertaken was against a train. Le Train Bleu, more specifically.

Woolf Barnato, the only man with a 100% record at Le Mans (three starts, three wins), wagered £200 in 1930 that he could outrun Le Train Bleu between St Raphael and Calais in his Bentley. Not only that, but he bet he could get to London before the train reached its destination. Barnato travelled the 570 miles to Calais in record time (setting up his fuel stops in advance), boarded a steamer and finished off his dash to London, arriving 700 miles later with an average speed of just over 43mph. Needless to say, Barnato arrived in London four minutes before the train reached Calais.

Bentley 3 Litre

Despite some controversy surrounding which car Barnato completed the race in, the coachbuilt Bentley Speed Six Gurney Nutting remains most closely associated with the race, and is possibly the most legendary road-going Bentley in history, and the car that single-handedly exemplifies the Bentley Boys legend better than any other. Visitors to Concours of Elegance will have a chance to see this piece of history first-hand.

And the Gurney Nutting car won’t be the only rare coachbuilt Bentley on display; Concours of Elegance will also be welcoming the completely unique Bentley 4 ¼ Litre Cabriolet by Antem. The low windscreen and coach lines sloping towards the tail are Antem trademarks, complemented by a beautiful trimmed interior and painted dashboard.

The Bentley story is crowned, quite literally, by the State Limousine; Her Majesty The Queen’s official car. Presented in 2002 – The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year – and based on the Arnage R, the State Limousine features completely bespoke body and interior by Mulliner, including a lengthened wheelbase and a heightened roofline, amongst numerous other upgrades and enhancements. Only two Bentley State Limousines exist, and one example will be on display in the Fountain Gardens of Hampton Court Palace for this year’s Concours of Elegance.

1930 Bentley Speed Six Blue Train

Andrew Evans, Concours of Elegance Director, said: “We couldn’t let the Centenary of Bentley pass without doing something special. And in the truest expression of what Concours of Elegance is about, we wanted only the best Bentleys, so what we’ll be displaying is a collection of the most famous, most important and most influential Bentley models ever. Between them, they’ve established Bentley’s reputation for craftsmanship, speed and innovation. There’s no better way to celebrate one of Britain’s finest marques.”

Having already revealed the world-first Aston Martin Zagato feature, which will display one of every model produced by one of motoring’s most legendary partnership, and the 70th anniversary display of five Ferrari 166MM models – including the 1949 Le Mans and Mille Miglia-winning car – Concours of Elegance is set to be the most spectacular yet. Of course, that’s without mentioning what always sits at the heart of the event – over 60 of the rarest cars ever built.

Italian motorcycle brand, Ducati has announced the launch of the all-new Hypermotard 950 in India at a price of Rs 11.99 (Ex-Showroom India).

Sergi Canovas, Managing Director of Ducati India said, “Hypermotard range has been loved and appreciated by riders who look for a fun and adrenalin-packed motorcycle. The new Hypermotard 950 inherits the sport and fearless characteristics which aligns to the personality of a rider who wants pure fun. It does not confine itself to a supermoto bike alone but rather comes with the performance of a dirt bike and soul of a sports bike. It’s a perfect choice for riders who’re looking for a thrilling yet sophisticated motorcycle.”

The all-new Hypermotard 950 boasts of an aggressive look along with a sporty character and is equipped with a 937cc twin-cylinder Ducati Testastretta 11° with more muscle, greater pulling power and new electronics to ensure smoother control. The twin-cylinder engine has been radically revised and is lightened by 1.5 kg. It puts out 4 more horsepower than its predecessor, achieving 116 PS at 9,000 rpm and a flat torque curve peaking at 96 Nm at 7,250 rpm.

The front view – characterized by the trademark Hypermotard ‘beak’, surmounted by compact headlight with a Daytime Running Light (DRL) gives the bike excellent visibility and underscores a clear ‘family feeling’ with the models that preceded it.

The assertive design of the Hypermotard 950 pivots around the twin under-seat tailpipes and the minimalist superstructure, which ensures the mechanics – including the light, essential rear Trellis sub-frame – are kept in clear view. As well as being more visually compact, the new Hyper is also 4 kg lighter compared to the previous model. This has been achieved thanks to a new steel trellis frame with variable-section tubes, new rims, brake discs with aluminium flanges, lightweight Marzocchi forks with aluminium fork bodies/tubes and meticulous design of every detail.

 It is equipped with a new Marzocchi fork with fully adjustable 45 mm aluminium tubes and stanchions, and 170 mm wheel travel. The front braking system features two monobloc radially mounted 4-piston Brembo M4.32 calipers operated by a radial brake master cylinder with an adjustable 5-position lever.

The riding position has been thoroughly revised for utmost riding fun and control. The new Hypermotard 950 sports a new handlebar, narrower side profile and a new seat, featuring a flat, extended profile and a moderate bulge in the passenger area for improved comfort.

It is equipped with 3-spoke Y-shaped aluminum rims with 3.5-inch section up front and 5.5-inch section at the rear and is fitted with Pirelli Diablo Rosso III tyres, namely 120/70 ZR17 up front and 180/55/55 ZR17 at the rear.

The Hypermotard 950 is also equipped with modern, sophisticated electronics based on Bosch 6-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (6D IMU), which instantly detects the motorcycle roll, yaw and pitch angle in space. The electronics package includes Bosch Cornering ABS with the Slide by Brake function (with setting 1), Ducati Traction Control EVO (DTC EVO), Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) EVO. The Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) Up and Down EVO is available as an accessory on the Hypermotard 950.

The operating parameters of each control system are associated by default with the three electronic setups, or Riding Modes, available on the Hypermotard 950. Riders have the ability to customize their riding styles and restore the parameters set by Ducati. The handlebar mounts radial pumps with separate front brake and clutch fluid reservoirs (a hydraulic clutch replaces the previous cable-operated one); the design and interface of the 4.3-inch TFT display take their cue from the panel on the Panigale V4.

The motorcycles also come with provisions for the Ducati Multimedia System (DMS), which enables users to connect the bike to a smartphone and manage key multimedia functions (incoming calls, text messaging, music) via switchgears, and display the relative information on the TFT instrument panel via Bluetooth.

Ducati is preparing for the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb; in this edition, which will start on June 30th, Carlin Dunne will tackle the most famous hill climb in the world on the Streetfighter V4 prototype.

As part of the development process of the new model, the “Race to the Clouds” has been identified as an ideal proving ground for testing the high performance of the Streetfighter V4.

In keeping with tradition, the Streetfighter V4 derives directly from the sporty Panigale V4 stripped of its fairings, and fitted with high and wide handlebars. The high performance of the 1100 cc Desmosedici Stradale is kept in hand by aerodynamic profiles specifically designed for this model.

The prototype will race with a “pixelated” livery, designed by the Centro Stile Ducati; unlike the normal practice with prototypes, the livery does not hide the lines, but exalts them by deliberately revealing how the bike will finally look.

“The Streetfighter V4 will be one of the stars of the Ducati World Premiere 2020,” declared Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati. “Streetfighter V4 is the Panigale for road riding; so there was no better stage than the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb for what will be the highest performance Streetfighter ever put into production.”

The bike will be presented to the public at EICMA 2019