Ducati World Première 2024 Series Begins July 27

Ducati released a “Save the Date” teaser with some clues about what to expect. We already have a good idea of what two of the new 2024 models will be, but let’s take a dive into what we expect from the series.

But first, let’s remember what Ducati revealed in last year’s World Première series: the Streetfighter V4 Lamborghini, the Monster SP, the Multistrada V4 Rally, the Panigale V4 R, the Streetfighter V4, V4 S, and V4 SP2, the Diavel V4, and the new generation of Scrambler models. Along with jogging our memory, revisiting last year’s new models gives us an idea of what not to expect this year. Apart from a new special edition, or Audi Group tie-in model, the models announced last year are likely too new to have a follow-up for 2024.

Eliminating those new-for-2023 models helps narrow down the possibilities for the Ducati World Première 2024 series. Given what we know, and what Ducati has revealed in the teaser and the press release included below, here’s what we think is coming.

Episode 1 - July 27

The first episode of the series is probably the hardest to figure out. The teaser included images of multiple screens, lines of code, and… the girl that comes out of the TV in the Ring horror films?

Ducati says the first episode “will celebrate one of the most iconic models of the Bologna-based manufacturer,” which isn’t much help. “Iconic” gets thrown around a lot these days, and while the word hints at a classic or historic model, that doesn’t match the high-tech, multimedia visuals in the teaser.

We also can’t ignore the fact the first episode is coming July 27, well ahead of the rest of the series. There has to be a reason for the timing of episode one.

With that in mind, we wouldn’t be surprised if Ducati throws a curveball on its first pitch, and episode one won’t be a new motorcycle at all. Ducati is very careful in its press release, switching between the words “models” and “products”. It notes the first part “celebrates” an iconic model, but it’s when the series resumes Sept. 19 that it will unveil a new bike every two weeks.

We hope Ducati will reveal a new motorcycle tomorrow, but we have a sneaking suspicion the first episode will instead be a digital non-fungible token (NFT) collectible.

For the uninitiated, an NFT is a digital identifier on a blockchain that certifies ownership over an item. Ducati also just so happened to have launched a new web3 digital collectible site today, with its first NFT, a video sequence of all Ducati’s historic logos, available free to anyone who signs up over the next week. While that may appeal to some people, it’s hard to run an NFT marketplace when the only product is free for all your customers. A second purchasable NFT that “celebrates” an iconic model will be needed very soon.

We still hold out hope for a new model tomorrow, but are prepared to get a blockchain instead of a drive chain.

Episode 2 - September 19

The second episode seems more likely to hold an actual 2024 motorcycle. The teaser shows footage of a forest, fields of horses and several roads. These clues, plus filings from the California Air Resources Board that we dug up, lead us to believe the second episode will be for the 2024 Ducati Multistrada V4 Grand Tour.

Ducati previously offered a Grand Tour or Granturismo variant for the Multistrada 1260 and Multistrada 1200, so we shouldn’t be surprised to get a similar more comfort-focused model for the Multistrada V4.

Episode 3 - October 3

Ducati also recently received CARB approval for a DesertX Rally model, which fits the off-road riding clues for the third episode. We expect the Rally model to push the already capable DesertX even further as a hardcore off-road adventure bike, with a beefier skid plate, engine protectors, and perhaps a color scheme inspired by the Dakar-winning Cagiva Elefant.

Episode 4 - October 19

For the Oct. 19 episode, the teaser juxtaposes images from a race track and modern-looking homes, hinting at a model that will be a suitable trackday bike that could also be your daily ride. With Ducati focusing more on its V4 models of late, perhaps it’s time the V2 models get some love.

Ducati announced a new 2024 Black on Black livery for the Panigale V2 in early June, so we can likely rule that out for episode four. The Streetfighter V2, however, could be a suitable candidate to get its first update since it was introduced for 2022.

Episode Five - November 2

The teaser adopted more urban imagery for the fifth episode, showing a parking garage and several tight alleys, but also a brief glimpse of a racetrack.

The urban settings lend themselves more to the Monster and Scrambler lines, either of which could be getting a new variant for 2024. The track footage makes us lean more towards the Monster.

Another possibility is an updated Hypermotard. Just like the Panigale V2, Ducati recently announced a new livery for the 2024 Hypermotard 950 RVE, but that doesn’t rule out the 950 or 950 SP models from getting an update.

Episode Six - November 7

The six-part Ducati World Première 2024 series concludes Nov. 7, with the teaser showing images from the Museo Ducati.

The press releases says the final episode will “celebrate one of the most representative bikes in Ducati’s history”. The Ducati 916 gets a lingering look in the teaser, and a tribute model would be a good candidate, having received a special edition Panigale V4 version in 2019 to mark its 25th anniversary.

There is another significant anniversary this year, as it is now 30 years since Ducati debuted the Supermono. Powered by a Single-cylinder engine, the Ducati Supermono was a lightweight racer designed by Pierre Terblanche, with a frame designed by Massimo Bordi and Claudio Domenicali, Ducati’s current chief executive officer.

There’s also the matter of a mysterious 659cc Single that Motorcycle.com was first to report appearing on a vehicle identification number decoder submitted by Ducati to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Based on the evidence, we suspect that a modern 659cc Supermono will be the final piece of the Ducati World Première 2024 series.