The Ducati 959 Panigale was spotted testing in Bologna, Italy, barely a week after its existence was revealed through CARB emission filings in the US. The sparsely camouflaged test mule shows that this new super middleweight will not be a lot different than the model it will replace – the 899 Panigale.
Cosmetically, the new 959 Panigale might look identical to its predecessor, though a closer inspection shows that the fairing has been designed along the lines of the flagship 1299 Panigale. The nose section of the 959 Panigale is different from the 899 Panigale, while the air vents in the lower section of the fairing are bigger in size. The mirrors also get a new design.
The emission documents leaked last week have indicated that the displacement of the liquid cooled L-twin Superquadro engine for the 959 Panigale has been upped from 898cc to 955cc. Besides these, the 959 Panigale carries over most of the components, including the suspension and brake setup, from the 899 Panigale. The Ducati 959 Panigale will be unveiled at the EICMA Show, next month. The 959 Panigale is just one of the nine new models to be showcased at the annual motorcycle show which is conducted in Milan, Italy.
