Ducati to expand India portfolio with XDiavel soon

Ducati India is looking to officially roll out its globally popular power-cruiser XDiavel, which was first unveiled at the EICMA Show last year in Milan, in India later this week. With the XDiavel, it will add yet another super-premium motorcycle model to its line-up for the domestic market.

The Italy-based, 90-year-old bikemaker, which is achieving new landmarks in terms of annual global sales, revenues and increased deliveries, will roll out the XDiavel later this week. At the EICMA motorcyle show last year, the Ducati XDiavel was voted as the best-looking motorcycle of all the the motorcycles at the premier two-wheeler event. According to Ducati, almost 61 percent of the visitors voted for the XDiavel as the best-looking motorcycle.

The XDiavel, which is an evolved version of the popular Diavel model that is already on sale in India, is powered by an L-twin, dual spark, liquid-cooled, 1262cc engine. The engine, which generates peak power output of 156bhp (at 9500rpm) and maximum torque of 13.1 kgm (at low 5000rpm), is mated to a six-speed transmission system.

What does the Ducati XDiavel represent?

The XDiavel is Ducati’s portrayal of a new-age powerful cruiser packaged with typical Ducati motorcycle features which includes high-performance, advanced electronics and sophisticated styling and detailing.

The X in XDiavel represents Ducati’s attempt of merging two different motorcycle categories into one product under the umbrella of its new global growth strategy. According to the company, with the XDiavel model, it has ventured into the cruiser segment by giving the model all the core characteristics that are essentially found in any conventional cruiser motorcycle. This typically includes low saddle height, long wheelbase, forward positioning of footpegs, high torque at low engine rpm, comfortable riding aesthetics besides other features.

The key features in the XDiavel clearly explain the same. The high peak power output by the engine is in-line with a typical sporty, high-performance Ducati motorcycle. However, the same is tuned for cruiser applications by offering high torque at low rpm. On the other hand, the XDiavel is given a long wheelbase of 1615mm (Harley-Davidson Fatboy’s wheelbase is 1635mm) and a low saddle height of 755mm (Triumph’s Rocket III Roadster’s saddle height is 750mm) along with forward footpegs to suit cruiser ergonomics.

According to the company, the XDiavel, which has a kerb weight of 247kg, also offers a lean angle as low as 40 degrees, which is more attributed to sports motorcycles than cruisers. The cruiser motorcycles, however, are typically limited on the front of their leaning angles. The XDiavel also features belt drive, which although is a common feature among several popular cruiser models worldwide, it is a first for any Ducati model.

“The XDiavel does everything that cruisers do and they don’t do. It leans and it accelerates well much like a sporty motorcycle. It is an intersection of two different worlds of motorcycling,” Claudio Domenicali, CEO, Ducati, had said while giving an official presentation on this model last year.

On the front of advanced electronics and sophiticated design, the XDiavel offers several features including multiple riding modes, cruise control, cornering ABS, slipper clutch, full ride-by-wire system, full LED lights with DRLs, backlit handlebar switches, Bluetooth, infotainment system, glossy appearance of the engine area with machined belt cover, machined aluminium mirrors and others.

Growth backed by sound strategy

The company had closed 2015 with its best-ever results, selling 54,809 motorcycles and marking a healthy 22 percent YoY growth over its 2014 sales performance. Of that, Asia-Pacific markets contributed via sales of 6,502 motorcycles last year.

Under its new growth strategy, the company is entering into new classes of motorcycling, new markets and new engine displacement categories driving its global business. The company had set up its first corporate footprint in India last year recognising the growing potential of premium motorcycles.

Ducati’s investments in new products can be seen in the company rolling out nine new models for 2016 including the XDiavel, Multistrada 1200 Enduro and Scrambler Sixty2. Ducati says that it has entered into three new segments – cruiser (XDiavel), off-road (Multistrada 1200 Enduro) and engine displacement of below 500cc through the new Scrambler Sixty2.

"This impressive performance, a landmark one for Ducati, confirms the soundness of the strategy of expansion and consolidation in global markets and highlights the energy and professionalism of the over 700 dealers who cover no less than 90 countries", commented Andrea Buzzoni, global sales and marketing director of Ducati Motor Holding as quoted in a company document.

The third Ducati model for India

The XDiavel will mark Ducati India riding its third super premium model in the domestic market in 2016. The company, which currently has a footprint of six exclusive stores across five major cities including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune and Ahmedabad, had launched the 959 Panigale in July and the Multistrada 1200 Enduro in August this year.

It added its sixth store in Ahmedabad, a growing market increasingly prefered by the premium car and motorcycle makers, on September 5. Ducati India plans to bring the XDiavel as a CBU from Thailand and is likely to price it in the Rs 15-20 lakh bracket. 

Indian industry sales data for the FY2015-16 indicates that the total market size for super-premium motorcycles above 800cc stood at 3,525 units for FY2015-16 as against 2,992 units sold in FY2014-15. The 800cc and above motorcycle market, as understood, grew by close to 18 percent YoY last fiscal, a clear reason that explains why India is on the radar of almost every global big bike manufacturer.