Ducati Unveils the XDiavel Nera

Ducati unveiled its new XDiavel Nera, a 500-unit limited-edition motorcycle made in collaboration with lux Italian interior design company Poltrona Frau. 

Mechanically, the Nera is identical to the XDiavel base model equipped with a 160-horsepower Testastretta DVT L-twin. The chassis, suspension, wheels, tires, and everything else will be carried over from the base XDiavel S to the Nera, therefore riding dynamics will be virtually unchanged.

The cosmetic upgrade includes a different seat and black-on-black paint, with the brake calipers and valve covers painted in Ducati Red while the forged Marchesini wheels will be finished in gloss black.

Poltrona Frau refers to this posh hand-crafted natural leather “Pelle Frau,” which the company claimed to have undergone a special tanning process that helped it breath better. Ducati offers the trim in five different choices of color for the leather: Siam Red, Steel Blue, Cemento Grey, India Orange, and Selva Green. 

With the unveiling of the exclusive model, Ducati is trying to cash in on the opportunity of making a collectible machine, a practice well-used by most luxury car brands. BMW has its Art Car, Porsche has its perpetual cycle of special edition models, even Ford makes limited edition of Mustangs for almost every generation it produced. So making one motorcycle gimmick should just be as fine.