The Telegraph.co.uk has published a rather telling article titled, “Rebuilding the brand” penned by long time moto-scribe Kevin Ash ( He of Ducati People fame ) , that features a lengthy and insightful interview with Claudio Domenicali who is Ducati’s current product director ( read: guy now in charge of design ).
The article features several telling tidbits by Domenicali, which lay out the supposed future for the 999, the Monster and the Sport Classic platforms, including a rather pointed example that cites the Porsche 911 as a prime example of the evolutionary rather than revolutionary design aesthetic that Ducati is now attempting to follow. It’s not a flat out confirmation that the new 999 will be more 916 like in appearances, but pretty darn close…
On the 999:
“Yes, the 999’s styling was divisive. The revised 05-year model was better accepted but, like the [evolution of the] Porsche 911, the 999 should have been more like the 916…The bike will go back to 916 styling cues, with cool surfaces and radiuses, nothing unnecessary; it will be very Italian, very sexy and elegant.”
On the Monster:
There will be no future Monster that will not look like a Monster, but the bike will evolve and be refined along the lines we’ve discussed, with improved ergonomics, service costs, performance and so on.
On the Sport Classic Line:
“The Sport Classics, meanwhile, are a nice complement to our strategy, but no more than that.” Which puts to rest suggestions that Ducati is looking to depend on its heritage to keep it going with retro bikes.
The article also sheds light on the worst kept secret in the Ducati Nation - the 999 replacement will ship with a new engine that’s displacement will be above 1,000cc’s - either 1,098 or 1,200 cc’s. Shocker I know…
You can read more here.
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