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Ducati shows us how tweaking the codes and smoothening things out, dials up the hotness level on the 2023 Panigale V4 even further.
The Panigale V4 line-up is Ducati's most extreme offering for the roads. And for 2023, the Italian motorcycle maker has bumped things up for the V4 with a slew of clever electronic updates to make riders feel at ease, when on this monster. The Panigale V4 has made a name, over the last three years, for its Moto-GP-derived finesse.
The Euro-spec Panigale V4s do get a bump in power with 215.5 hp and tweaks to the gearbox, with a longer first, second, and sixth gear to broaden this Ducati's riding potential. Also on the visual and aero front, Ducati has given the new Panigale V4s the same winglets as the $100,000 V4 Superleggera. But the most interesting updates for the 2023 Panigale V4s come in the form of software, and that's what we will be getting.
Yup! Ducati has dived deep and brought about major changes with software updates, all of which are intended to make this hooligan an easier-to-ride machine. The software updates are for the engine braking control system, cooling system, quick shifter, and traction control.
All of these changes have been assured by Ducati to make the Panigale V4 line-up more forgiving to new riders and give a feeling of ease to experienced ones. The red-hot Italian now stands simpler and stronger than before against the likes of BMW S 1000 RR, Aprilia RSV4, and Honda CBR1000RR-R.
Ducati dials up the hotness level on the 2023 Panigale V4 even further by tweaking codes and smoothing things out to carve corners on track and ride smooth on the road.
The most notable electronic update comes in the form of a new Engine Brake Control (ENC) EVO 2 software. This tweaks the gear calibration on each of the levels offered on the EBC. The new programming provides for a more linear increase in the intensity of the engine braking as the riding gets more aggressive.
On lighter braking where the load on the rear tire is lesser, the engine braking is also subtle. And as you lean further into a curve, the software kicks in further, and the engine braking intensifies to help you hold onto the perfect line. This system is also adaptive which helps the motorcycle access and improvise on the engine braking front according to the riding scenarios.
This helps instill more confidence in riders and helps them ride more aggressively. The new software also helps improve the overall riding experience by reducing rear wheel lockups and improving stability in both corners and straights.
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The Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) module also gets a software update in the 2023 Panigale V4. The new tweaks are focused on improving the gearshifts by making the transition from each gear smooth at all times. Ducati has also incorporated a tweak to handle full and partial throttles differently. And the way Ducati's electronics does this is quite impressive.
During partial throttle shifts, the DQS system now retards the ignition timing, which smoothes out the shifts. Also eliminating the previously used engine cut-off method adds to the smoothness. While in full throttle, the DQS continues to implement the engine/injection cut formula.
But there is a slight tweak with the torque restoration phase as it has been refined to provide more stability during high-speed runs. So, all of these gear-shift tweaks now allow the rider to go harder and wilder on the tracks without being cut off or forced out of sync by the onboard electronics.
Heat dissipation has always been an enemy for Ducatis and the Panigale V4 is no different. But for 2023, Ducati has tweaked on the cooling system and deployed a new update that provides better heat management by fiddling with the radiator fan.
While Ducati has not detailed how they have achieved it, we believe that kicking in the fan early and faster has helped them keep a tap on the operating temperatures. Similarly, after an intense race day or road trip, Ducati states that it has reduced the infamous heat build-up. This we feel has been achieved by kicking in the fans at higher RPMs during idling.
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Supporting all of these major software updates are the refinement of Ducati Traction Control (DTC) and ride-by-wire. The DTC gets more accurate with better intervention at lean angles. The ride-by-wire system has been tweaked keeping the torque delivery in mind and has thinned the line between how the rider twists the throttle and the torque delivery. Ducati has strived to reduce the disconnected feeling of a rider to a minimum.
The Ducati Panigale V4 line-up is known for being wild and drop-dead hooliganistic! But all the latest electronic updates for the 2023 MY have dialed the Panigale V4 on its unpredictability. In short, by smoothening out a bit of its sharpness, the 2023 Ducati Panigale V4 is now a much easier demon to ride about, both on the tracks and roads. But bear in mind, that despite all of these buttery efforts, it is still a demon deep down!
Tijo is an engineer, mechanic, and an avid content creator. He is a grease-monkey who loves tinkering with automobiles every now and then, when not busy penning down his passion for them. He has always had a soft spot for JDM and is keen on diving deep in for anything that involves wheels and engines.