Thought Id post this...(hope it formats out ok on the forum) Some of it could be lost in translation but you'll get the gist of it.. Funny. Was talking to a guy at the weekend on his 749s, to think what I was looking at the day before, the 899 and also the 1199 Superleggera in a dealers showroom. How far they've come and changed, a lot. We know developments / progress etc must go on but are the 1199 / 899 the start on "non Ducati's" ? Someone made a point here ages ago ( in another thread ) that the current engines from 999 / 1098 etc have ran their course as such. You cant do any more with them (?). Way i see it, if Ducati continue the way they are, will the bikes loose their fundamental Ducati design / sound and dna & heritage? I think so. Read on.................. Responsible for the development of the Audi Group speaks along with Claudio Domenicali of races, technical solutions and future models for the brand Ducati The World Ducati Week, the global event for fans of the Borgo Panigale, was the great chance for an interesting round table - this the best printing industry worldwide - with Claudio Domenicali andUlrich Hackenberg, head of development of the Audi Group . Professor Hackenberg, born in 1950 in Herne, graduated all'Aachen University, later earninga doctorate in 1985, the Automotive Institute with a thesis on the dynamics of the motorcycle (more precisely on the "stable behavior of the system 'pilot-motorcycle- road '"). Subsequently, Hackenberg joined Audi, where from 1989 onwards he was involved in concept definition and later as Technical Project Management for various models including Audi 80, A3, A4, A6, A8, TT and A2. After a period in Volkswagen as Head of the development of the superstructure, during which, however, is also occupied by a technical point of view of some models Bentley and Rolls-Royce in 2002 Hackenberg returned to Audi to take care of the development of the Concept , the superstructure and electrical and electronic solutions. In 2007, he joined the technical advisory board of Volkswagen development, restructuring the sport commitment of the House, and by July 2013 he joined the Board of Directors Audi, with direct responsibility for the development of the brand with the four rings but also of all the brands owned by the group. We're talking two motorcyclists, therefore, since the passion of Domenicali is well known to the public of Ducati. Claudio takes the floor just to warm the environment. "I'm going to bike more often as I can, at least once a week. Every occasion is good, and of course always drive all our prototypes and the motion of the competition. After all started out as a passionate, only then I was able to turn my passion into a profession. I think that is a key feature, because when it comes to motorcycle product can not be expected to understand all the aspects without a deep knowledge and practical experience. Then, of course, we have our professional testers, but since many testers Audi are motorcycle enthusiasts look forward to their impression about our models' Hackenberg confirms the concept "It 's true, we have in place an important collaboration in this respect. We recently did a comparative inside of all Ducati motorcycles and even competition, in southern Italy. I also, personally, I go running as often as I can, in my office I have a garage with 15 between Ducati and motorbike competition, I feel every time I have occasion. Yesterday, here at WDW, I wanted to borrow a bike to move, but I got in the saddle, and after five seconds I remembered to have knee surgery next week. Better to wait ... " And since we are talking about WDW is natural to ask what the Hackenberg has fascinated more here at the rally. "A lot of passion, certainly, but above all perceive a common passion between Audi and Ducati. 50% of the bikes here are customized, not just aesthetics - what matters to fans is technical. They take more superstructures can leave the details to the more technical and technological in plain sight: it is a trait d'union between Audi and Ducati: we too are fascinated by the details and technique, we like to show it as much as possible. And then see how fans seek to continuously improve their midst: I myself try to listen as much as possible for our customers to understand what they like, what we can improve. It 'a very important part of our culture, and in this I find a strong identity with Ducati " Audi owns Ducati for two years now, but we can not say that I have already received the "touch Audi" in the products of the series, at least for solutions and technologies. In fact, the information exchange is going very well, especially on issues of technology. Audi has learned something from Ducati and of course, vice versa "There is of course a continuous exchange of information. We're helping each other: our part, we have learned many things by studying the Ducati engines, especially in the field of relief - one of our bullets - not only with regard to the materials, but also in technical solutions, as a good example of where we found the Panigale new concepts very interesting for us. Ducati on the other hand can learn a lot from the way we work, especially our methods of solving problems in the field of electronics and engine and materials. We share a lot of information to solve the problems we face every day, " The automotive industry is the technological benchmark for the entire industry of mobility on wheels. So let us understand what are the main differences between the two state of the art. "Speaking of a brand like Ducati, the differences are easily discernible: it is a motorcycle specialist, designed to be successful only in some respects, in a rather restricted use. It is a very versatile bike. In the car, even the sportiest Audi should be much more versatile, usable in everyday use. Consequently, the R & D departments have different kinds of knowledge and experiences in the bike as Ducati have to be more specialized in the most spacious and versatile car » However, there are specific technologies that Ducati has a lot to draw from Audi, especially in the context of electronic management, new lighting and stability controls, but also in the technology of interconnection between vehicles. "It 's true: Audi is a leading manufacturer of LED lighting systems, as well as laser, which we first offered on a production car, our R8. The electronics for the management of vehicle dynamics is another of our great powers, especially because always we develop all of the software on their own, and in this we can transfer much of our knowledge to Ducati. This does not mean that we can simply adapt our systems: to develop, but to even think such systems need a deep understanding of the dynamics of the bike, which Audi obviously missing. Ducati on the other hand it has, and what we're trying to do is to pool these strengths, sharing with them our experience, our know-how, electronic and software to help them develop their logical operation.But it is a long process, made up of many trials, errors and fixes » Domenicali takes the floor, which drops a little 'more in detail than the last mentioned aspect. "As you may know, internally all'ACEM (the European Association of Homes manufacturers) have signed an agreement in 2020 to equip all vehicles of interconnection systems, to improve the safety of both the bikes as cars. We have a dedicated task force, inside the Ducati R & D department, which is working closely with their counterparts at Audi to study how to apply these emerging technologies in the auto industry for motorcycles. It is a fundamental program for us " And the hybrid? Is there a future for these technologies? "It 's still too early, because the interaction between the two motor leads to complications in terms of throttle response very difficult to resolve at the level acceptable for a sports bike as it should be a Ducati. The electric technology "pure" is more interesting, but the batteries do not yet allow current autonomy combined with acceptable performances. The clientele Ducati has a very precise about what he wants - light weight performance. Until we know these things offer will remain on the traditional propulsion » Remaining on the level of technology is interesting to see what you think of the desmodromic Hackenberg. As pointed out by the engineer Domenicali, this is not a mere marketing solution: The Desmo offers great technical advantages, providing the potential for acceleration of competitive valves with pneumatic distribution at high revs, and more favorable benefits than the traditional return spring at the middle. "And 'a more complicated and expensive than a conventional one, but in fact is at the heart of Ducati, we can confidently say that it is here to stay. I think it will be crucial for the future of Ducati, and perhaps also for our - I can tell you that we are also studying for potential applications of Audi engines. Rather, given our experience of self, we can think in the near future to develop a control variable valve timing. Do not expect it soon, of course, " We are talking about the future, might as well try to understand what for all fans. Sunday blurts out the promise of two completely new models - instead of the traditional single model - for the next season. In which segments? "I can not tell you anything, even if all the segments, as long as you keep the identity Ducati - performance and driving pleasure - are likely candidates. We will not make motorcycles economic - is difficult for us to produce them with a level of quality consistent with the Ducati brand. We do not want to create the bike of access for young people, not we can afford it - we prefer to let Ducati remains a point of arrival. We do not fight for volume, we want to remain a premium brand » We venture: a scooter? After all, someone else has demonstrated that it is possible to combine sportiness with practicality of a scooter. Hackenberg cuts sharply, leaving us to suspect that there is really something that is brewing. "There is not really a scooter sports currently on the market! But in fact I think it's possible to create it, perhaps interpreting the concept of sport in a slightly different, more American. Say something that will guarantee accelerations starting from the traffic lights ... " Finally, we touch on sports too.Audi is the brand of reference for the Endurance. A return of Ducati in the specialty? The word goes Domenicali. "The Endurance is a specialty very interesting - the message to the customers in terms of quality and reliability is very strong, and therefore of the evidence to which we are very interested. At this time, however, Ducati is perhaps the most House engaged in sports around the world scene between prototypes and production-based series, national and world championships. At the moment there is no room for other commitments, but certainly the long-term endurance is among our interests " The sport is always a means of promotion. What do you think then Hackenberg of a German rider in MotoGP on a Ducati, to push the market in Germany? "The problem is simple: to win in the long term serves the best driver, but to lure the best bike you have to offer, and when we are not able to do so. Iannone and Dovizioso but they are already good drivers: Dovi has already been shown, and we think Iannone has great potential and we might find that you have already at home the samples we need. Specifically, though, I think if we had a German driver should be in a position to potentially climb on the podium at every race. If it were not so it would not be a positive for our brand " SOURCE: Moto.it WDW 2014, Ulrich Hackenberg (Audi): “Il desmo è il futuro. Magari a fasatura variabile” - News - Moto.it
