Ducati has this evening unwrapped a 215bhp 1299 Panigale Superleggera at the Milan Show which features a carbon monocoque frame, wheels and swingarm, Ohlins suspension and carbon fibre fairing.

Weighing in at just 167kg wet, it promises to be a proper rocketship all kept under control by a serious electronics system controlled by a six-axis IMU.

The engine boasts a load of changes, including lighter two-ring, 116mm diameter pistons, aluminium cylinder liners, a lighter crankshaft, titanium con rods and a sand-cast crankcase. The top of the engine has also been treated to new camshafts with increased lift and larger titanium intake and exhaust valves that are housed in cylinder heads with specially developed intake and exhaust ducts. The throttle body features new aerodynamic openings, the air filter has a larger surface area and is derived from World Superbikes. Oh, and check out that WSB-spec Akrapovic exhaust.

The IMU also means this ultimate-spec Ducati has cornering ABS and it retains the engine braking control found on the 959 and 1299 Panigales. The 1299 Superleggera is also the first Ducati to be equipped with launch control – called Ducati Power Launch (DPL). As on the ‘basic’ 1299 S, the Superleggera also has wheelie control, a quickshifter and for clutchless up and down shifts. The bike also comes with a data analyser.

Suspension is fully-adjustable Ohlins FL936 forks with billet machined bottoms and TTX36 shock - with a titanium spring!!!. The brakes are similarly superbike-spec Brembo items – the front of the bike is anchored by a pair of Brembo Evo M50 four-piston monobloc calipers and 330mm semi-floating discs with a Brembo MCS adjustable-ratio master cylinder. At the rear there’s a 245mm disc and two-piston caliper.