What does a famed motorcycle manufacturer have to do with the plot of a 1951 American psychological thriller? According to Ducati’s director of the Centro Stile Ducati, Andrea Ferraresi, the partnership between Italian motorcycle brand Ducati and furniture and home interior design firm Poltrona Frau brings to mind the plot behind Stranger on a Train.
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Image: Ducati
“The XDiavel Nera project was born from the encounter between two Italian excellences,” says Ferraresi. “Ducati and Poltrona Frau are two brands with a unique history, they share a passion for beauty and well-made objects, they are strongly Italian and make craftsmanship a distinctive element, always supporting it with sophisticated technological solutions and the use of high-quality materials. The XDiavel Nera perfectly summarizes the values that unite Ducati and Poltrona Frau. It is a unique motorcycle with an unmistakable identity, a splendid expression of the excellence of Made in Italy.”
While just how chance of an encounter it was that brought these two disparate companies together, there’s no arguing the results of their conspiracy (at least in this case, unlike that of “Strangers on a Train,” this partnership didn’t end up in murder). The XDiavel Nera reflects both Ducati and Poltrona Frau in more than just being made 100 per cent in Italy. The Nera remains true to virtually every aspect of the XDiavel, including the Testrastretta DVT 1262 engine riding on a steel trellis chassis. But as for its purpose, the new vehicle feels a little out of left-field.
The market for ultra-luxury sport cruiser bikes is a strange one, with Ducati already enjoying a stranglehold of share. Not quite performance specs paired with a pricetag that seems out of this world makes for an interesting predicament, however, the new XDiavel Nera plays it off perfectly.
Image: Ducati
As you might expect from a partnership with a design company, the differences between the Nera and the stock XDiavel come in looks. Poltrona Frau brought in a black-on-black livery that is accented by Ducati Red on the engine head covers and the brake callipers. The black seat is hand-crafted of natural leather called “Pelle Frau,” which is made using a specific tanning process. This process makes the leather more breathable and stain-resistant.
The seat is laser-engraved with Xs. You can also select from five colours for the seat: Siam Red, Steel Blue, Cemento (grey), India (orange) and Selva (green). In addition to the standard seat, you can also get a wider comfort saddle that comes with a backrest. Finally, the Nera Models come with an exclusive key ring and a Pelle Frau document holder.
You may be wondering what those additions from Poltrona Frau will cost you. Surprisingly, not that much. The 2022 Ducati XDiavel Nera is pirced at AUD$44,900. But you’ll have to act quickly, this conspiracy is limited to just 500 examples.
Image: Ducati
