Ducati could be working on a mystery model equipped with an all-new 659cc four-valve single-cylinder engine, according to documents filed in the United States. The evidence appeared buried in VIN (vehicle identification number) files submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States.
So far, the Ducati World Premiere 2023 has been short of surprises. Ducati first revealed the Streetfighter V4 Lamborghini Limited Editionthen the Monster SP, who may have arrived with sharper claws, but that we saw coming. During the third episode, the Mutistrada V4 Rally was presented. Certainly, cylinder deactivation and a larger tank make it an interesting bike, but it was a predictable progression, to say the least.
In addition, thanks to stolen photos of the Diavel V4 during road testing, to one first evening of presentation of the future Scrambler during World Ducati Week and the Panigale V4 R which must be Euro5 approved at the end of the year to take part in the Superbike World Championship, we have a pretty good idea of the cards that Ducati still has to play. However, the Borgo Panigale brand may only have one ace up its sleeve…
It turns out that Ducati could be working on a new, smaller capacity engine as a VIN filed last September 22 in the United States has been leaked. The filing reveals the engine's displacement and other details that Italian engineers could develop for a future model.
According to the leaked data, it would be a 659cc, single-cylinder, four-valve, liquid-cooled engine. The smallest engine Ducati uses in its lineup is the 803cc air-cooled L-twin. But, the 3cc engine could take its place if Ducati develops it further.
Ducati may have gained a reputation as a maker of V2s and then V4s over the past few decades, but the Italian firm is no stranger to monos. These powered its Scramblers of the '60s and '70s, but the company's Supermono project also comes to mind. In the early 90s, Ducati manufactured an ultra-limited run of 67 units of the model for the Sound of Singles racing series.
The Supermono's 500cc single-cylinder engine developed 75 horsepower at 10 rpm. This seems like a modest figure but the machine only weighed 000kg! We highly doubt Ducati will ever produce such a specific sports bike again, but one wonders how powerful that 118hp engine will be?
Will we see the revival of the single-cylinder Scrambler? Could a new entry-level roadster or neo-retro type make its debut? Only Ducati knows, but we're ready for the Ducati World Premiere to finally deliver a surprise.
