The production of the Multistrada V4 heralds the fourth generation of one of the most successful models of the Bologna-based company, of which more than 110,000 units have already been produced
The vehicle is equipped with a completely new V4 engine, which has been developed for maximum smoothness and a considerable extension of maintenance intervals. The Multistrada V4 is the first motorcycle in the world to be equipped with front and rear radar, providing the driver with a revolutionary driving safety system. Production of the Multistrada V4 has begun at the Ducati plant in Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy): the first motorcycle to use radar technology at the front and rear. The Multistrada V4 marks a groundbreaking milestone for the Bologna-based motorcycle manufacturer and will be officially unveiled on 4 November.



For the fourth generation of the Multistrada, Ducati has developed a new, lightweight and compact V4 engine that meets the requirements for "adventure use" without neglecting emotion and sportiness. Thanks to a complete new design, record-breaking maintenance intervals in the two-wheeler range could be realized. All details about this new engine will be announced on October 15. Ducati is bringing radar technology to production motorcycles, confirming the speculations from 2018.






The introduction of these Ducati systems with front and rear radar ready for series production by 2020 promises a real revolution for the two-wheeled world that sets new standards in terms of comfort and driving assistance.
Radars are advanced assistance systems that reconstruct the environment of the motorcycle and facilitate driving by actively supporting the rider. Ducati's interest in this type of system dates back to 2016, when the company experimented with this type of systems in collaboration with the Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering of Politecnico di Milano. As a result of this initial experience, the applicability of such technologies to vehicles on two wheels has proven itself, ducati initiated the development of a complete driving assistance package consisting of two radars at the front and rear. Within four years, it has been in close cooperation with Bosch,




developed and produced by a first-class technology partner and finds its first application in the new Multistrada V4.







All radars have compact dimensions (70 x 60 x 28 mm, similar to a modern action camera) and can be perfectly integrated into the motorcycle with a weight of only 190 grams.

The radar system positioned in front of the vehicle controls the operation of the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), which automatically adjusts the distance to other vehicles, which can be selected in four stages, at speeds between 30 and 160 km/h, by means of controlled braking and acceleration. This car-derived system has been adapted to the dynamics and ergonomics of a motorcycle and further wickets. In particular, the autonomy of the system in relation to braking and acceleration operations has been limited to ensure that the driver can retain control of the vehicle in any situation. This system allows for more comfortable and safe driving, especially on long stretches of motorway.

The rear radar is able to detect vehicles that are in the blind spot, i.e. by means of an area that is not directly visible from the driver or through the rear-view mirror. The BSD (Blind Spot Detection) system also registers vehicles approaching from behind at high speed. Ducati engineers, researchers and students of the Politecnico di Milano filed a patent in May 2017 regarding the control algorithms of this system. In addition, a scientific publication by Ducati was presented at the IEEE - Intelligent Vehicles Symposium (IV) in Redondo Beach, California, to underline the technical and scientific importance of the research project.