It seems we are starting to see the fruits of Audi’s purchase of Ducati, both for the Italian motorcycle company and for the Volkswagen Group as a whole. Last month, the Volkswagen XL Sport was shown, featuring a 200 hp V-twin engine off the Ducati 1199 Superleggera. Now Ducati has released details of its new engine, the Testastretta DVT (Desmodromic Variable Timing) that borrows technology from the German manufacturer.
We’re all familiar with variable valve timing in cars, but Ducati’s system is claimed to be the first for a bike engine. DVT utilises dual continuous cam phasing, using hydraulically-operated pulleys to alter the angle of both intake and exhaust camshafts. This shifts the opening and closing of the desmodromic valves back and forth, rather than the actual duration of the valve opening as with a “true” VVT system.
Ducati says the benefit of DVT is to allow the variation of valve overlap (i.e. when both valves are open at the same time) – zero overlap will ensure that the engine runs as smoothly as possible at lower revs, while maximum overlap gives the mill greater power and an aggressive character when fully extended.
The result is a 1.2 litre two-cylinder engine that produces 158 hp at 9,600 rpm and 136 Nm at 7,500 rpm, 10 hp and 11 Nm more than the regular Testastretta engine in the current Multistrada 1200 touring bike, while using around 8% less fuel. The engine also meets Euro 4 emissions regulations, a step up from the older mill’s Euro 3 specification.
The Testastretta DVT will be making its debut at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan next month, and is rumoured to make its way onto the next Ducati Multistrada, expected to go on sale next year.
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1.2L producing 158hp? Kawasaki made a 1L producing 300hp!!!! Just like Sam Loo said, Japanese rocks!!
duhhh… that’s a supercharged engine
European bikes are in a much higher league than your crummy jap bikes. No point having all that power if you can’t put it on the track efficiently
as long as DSG gearbox is not use in ducati bike, im happy
Only one fly in the ointment; as mentioned above. Supercharging an engine by Kawasaki makes variable valve timing nearly unnecessary. The whole purpose of variable valve timing is to get as much of the air / fuel mixture into the cylinders at most revs. Why bother to ‘hurry’ the mixture in when you can cram it in (as in supercharging)? Remains to be seen if the complexity of variable valve timing (compared to the relative simplicity of supercharging)is more acceptable to riders than the ‘fury’ of supercharging ie. most riders cannot even handle 160+hp what can be said of 300hp?
Its not that simple though.
Yes, supercharging makes big power across the rev range. However, the supercharger needs to be driven off the engine with some parasitic losses, and its a heavy component….relatively, on a bike, not to mention additional packaging requirements to fit a compact application.
Bikes are relatively lightweight, so they don’t need much torque to get them moving so a higher strung engine with power up top is still preferable.
Ducati’s system looks relatively straightforward, it doen’t change the duration and lift, just shifting the timing.
Honda’s VFR also has VVT…(So I don’t know Ducati’s claim works any better). I don’t think VVT needs to be complicated…look at Honda’s VTEC, which is reliable and simple…when is the last time you heard a VTEC system malfunction?
All said and done, any VVT system that allows overlap at high range will sound amazing with a proper exhaust, yet does not sacrifice low speed drivability and economy.
Wow….the best of both world in UNRELIABILITY.
One, italian shitty unreliable engine and here comes VW for ultimate unreliable drivetrain.
Double Whammy. And Double longkang no resale value.
Tow truck business will si beh boom !!!
thanks to Volkswagen technology ???
No thanks
may be my own ignorance, but i thought Honda bikes have had variable valve timing for a while already, no?
only a matter of time before DSG comes in
we know whhre this is going , first ducati with a DSG is coming soon!
shallow keyboard warriors.. such lame comments implicating DSG on anything VW.. i wish people will grow up.
And we know your kuku is only 2cm.
Don’t worry, you can always use your Big Head to dig in.
wrong! my kuku is only 2 mm. but my kukuciao is 20 cm! tears away your ass*ole anytime.
i’m sorry about your VW but u don’t need to vent your personal anger in a public space. just go and get some consolation from the old pussies around you.
Honda bikes using VVT since the nineties.
yeah the legend CB400 VTEC