A new generation of the Ducati Diavel cruiser is poised to be revealed in the coming weeks, with major changes set to include an upgrade to the firm’s V4 engine architecture.
One of the oldest models in Ducati’s current range, the Diavel nameplate - first introduced in 1986 - returned to the Italian manufacturer’s line-up in 2010 on a so-called ‘power cruiser’ designed to reflect the marque’s racing heritage.
With ‘Gen 2’ arriving in 2015, now it appears ‘Gen 3’ is being readied to star in one of Ducati’s seven World Premiere ‘webisodes’ scheduled to roll out over the next few weeks.
Though Ducati has kept its lips sealed as to which models we can expect to debut in the series, one episode is almost certain to feature the latest generation Diavel after it was spotted largely undisguised in photos published by German publication Motorrad.
Despite its striking looks, the big news from the refreshed model are set to come from under the skin with clues appearing to confirm the Diavel will be offered with an adapted version of Ducati’s V4 engine.
Set to replace the long-serving 1260 DVT Testastretta, the V4 architecture - which marked a major change of philosophy for Ducati when it debuted on the Panigale sportsbike - is given away by this prototype’s dramatic looking quad tailpipes.
Expected to mirror the Multistrada by swapping out its 1260cc for the ‘Gran Turismo’ 1158cc engine as featured in the new V4 version of Ducati’s adventure-tourer, the Diavel V4 can be expected to offer around 170bhp but be tuned for greater low down torque as symptomatic of the cruising genre.
A new engine will also likely mean a revised chassis for the Diavel, though for the most part Ducati has adopted an evolutionary approach for Gen 3 with its distinctively chunky and imposing profile remaining very much intact according to these spy shots.
As for when the Ducati Diavel V4 will bow, we only have six ambiguously titled episodes from the manufacturer to speculate with… but if we had to choose, then we’d plump for the one titled ‘Next Gen Freedom’, which is the concluding episode on 7 November, just as the EICMA show gets underway in Milan.
