Official document (above) lists upcoming MV Agusta models
Plans for MV Agusta’s future model range have been revealed thanks to documents filed with authorities in the United States that confirm a host of updated models coming in the very near future.
Paperwork filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is roughly equivalent to the UK’s Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and responsible for enforcing product recalls, reveals the names of the new bikes. Manufacturers selling bikes in the USA have to submit documents to explain how their bikes’ VINs (Vehicle Identification Numbers) are decoded, and it’s in this paperwork that the next generation of MV Agustas is revealed.
We’ll run through the main new models here:
Three-cylinder Brutale 800 RR (above) will spawn Brutale 950 derivative soon
First up, there are new machines in the three-cylinder Brutale and Dragster ranges, known as the ‘B1’ line-up and signified by the letter ‘A’ in the fourth position of the VIN. The NHTSA paperwork reveals that alongside familiar models like the Brutale Rosso, Dragster Rosso, Brutale RR and Dragster RR, there will be two new machines – the Brutale 950 and Dragster 950.
Since the current three-cylinder Brutale and Dragster models all use the 798cc ‘800’ triple, the ‘950’ name is a big giveaway as to what’s changing. MV has already developed the engine for those machines in the form of the 931cc, 124hp triple that’s featured in the new Lucky Explorer 9.5 adventure bike. While that peak power figure is below the 140hp of the most powerful Dragster and Brutale 800 models, the engine is sure to be in a relatively placid state of tune for the Lucky Explorer. Adopting the Lucky Explorer’s 81mm bore and 60.2mm stroke, up from 79mm and 54.3mm and combining it with the higher-revving tune of the Brutale and Dragster should allow a substantial increase in both torque and power.
Although there’s no mention of an F3 950 sports bike, or ‘950’ versions of the Superveloce or Turismo Veloce sports tourer, it’s easy to imagine them both getting a similar engine upgrade in the future.
The Lucky Explorer 9.5 (above) will get an ‘Orioli’ limited edition version as a tribute to its Dakar-racing forebears
Next up, we have some limited-edition models that are heading towards the range. The NHTSA documents name one as the ‘Superveloce 98 Edizione Limitata’ and another as the ‘LXP Orioli’.
The former is part of the three-cylinder Superveloce range, related to the existing Superveloce 800, Superveloce Alpine and Superveloce Ago. The ’98 Edizione Limitata’ name is likely to refer to MV Agusta’s rebirth with the original F4 superbike, launched 25 years ago in 1998. Expect a red and silver paint scheme to match those original, Tamburini-styled F4s.
The ‘LXP Orioli’ is part of the Lucky Explorer 9.5 model line-up (shortened to LXP on the NHTSA documents). Edi Orioli is a legend of the Paris-Dakar rally, winning on four occasions. Two of those wins – in 1990 and 1994 – were while riding the Lucky Strike-sponsored Cagiva Elefant that inspired the MV Lucky Explorer 9.5. As such, we can expect the ‘Orioli’ version of that bike to mimic the old Dakar machines as much as possible.
The NHTSA document also reveals another variation of the Lucky Explorer, the ‘LXP Premium’, which is likely to be a higher-spec version of the standard, mass-made model.
The Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro (above) will be joined by more affordable ‘S’ and ‘R’ versions
Moving on to MV Agusta’s 1000cc, four-cylinder offerings, there are two new bikes in the listing – the Superveloce 1000 R and Superveloce 1000 S.
Last year, MV Agusta previewed the Superveloce 1000 Serie Oro, which is also listed as a production model on the American document. Taking the neo-retro style from the Superveloce 800 and wrapping it around the chassis and 200+ hp engine of the Brutale 1000, with four under-seat exhausts like the old F4 and winglets to help keep the front tyre on the Tarmac, it’s the sportiest MV since the demise of the F4 superbike. The Serie Oro, as usual for MV Agustas, will be a hugely expensive, limited-edition model to start production, but the NHTSA document’s confirmation of an ‘R’ and ‘S’ version shows that there will be more affordable, mass-made ones coming to the range later on.
The retro 921 S is confirmed for production, and there’s going to be a 921 GT as well.
Finally, the document confirms two new retro models joining the range: the MV Agusta 921 S and 921 GT.
The 921 S was shown as a concept last year, featuring a revived version of the original F4’s four-cylinder engine, punched out to 921cc and wrapped in styling that paid homage to the 750 S of the 1970s. Its inclusion on MV Agusta’s VIN decoding document is apparent confirmation that a production version of the bike is heading to dealers.
Clearly the 921 GT will use the same engine, but with a design that’s closer to the old 1972-74 750 GT. Essentially, it’s likely to be a version of the 921 S with a dual seat instead of a single seat, plus higher, wider bars instead of the dropped, café-racer-style ones of the ‘S’.
It looks like MV Agusta, now being assisted in its distribution and supply chain by KTM, which took a 25.1% stake in the Italian company last year, has got an exiting few months ahead of it.
