Ducati Diavel for Bentley: Is this art or does it drive away?

To properly appreciate Ducati's latest world premiere at Art Basel in Miami Beach, we need to delve a bit into the past. Back to 1998. Back then, the Guggenheim Museum in New York opened the exhibition "The Art of the Motorcycle," curated by star architect Frank Gehry. Rarely had an exhibition caused such a stir. Some saw it as a fascinating idea, while others called it a scandal and the desecration of a temple of art.

Today, 25 years later, we can assert that a rightful bridge was built between art, culture, and technology. After all, by that time, the motorcycle had long evolved from a mere vehicle to a cultural asset. And two miles south, at the Museum of Modern Art, they had never shied away from everyday culture. In 1953, a special exhibition already focused on ten automobiles of exceptional beauty; the MoMA collection comprises a total of 18 vehicles.

While the motorcycle exhibition toured through various other Guggenheims, it seems that the world of art has seemingly turned away from two-wheelers since then. And in the respectable design collection of the MoMA, there are indeed 18 vehicles, but only one motorcycle. And no Bentley. Should we just say "scandal" now?

Indeed, it's probably no coincidence that this special model from Bologna celebrated its world premiere at an art fair. After all, here, performance, craftsmanship, and exclusivity are united into a vision that not only extracts a torquey 168 horsepower from its V4 engine but also celebrates sonic artistry through the combination of the Twin Pulse firing sequence and the special exhaust system.

But let's take it step by step: The bike was created in collaboration between Ducati and Bentley, based on the technical foundation of the powerful yet comfortable Diavel V4. Numerous stylistic elements of the Bentley Batur were integrated – the most powerful Bentley ever with 740 horsepower, of which 18 units are custom-tailored and handcrafted by the exclusive Bentley coachbuilder Mulliner for customers.

And now, this on two wheels. Fortunately, there are a few more of these. To be precise: 550, with 50 bikes exclusively reserved for Bentley customers. They will find the pronounced horizontal lines from the side view of the Batur, just as the Scarab Green paintwork with its wealth of metallic shades. The forged and dark titanium satin-painted wheels were specially designed for this Diavel, drawing inspiration from the Batur, while the side air intakes mirror the design of the two-tone Batur grille.

The triangular rear vents reference the corresponding elements of the vehicle. And the black Alcantara of the rider's seat is manufactured precisely, just like the Batur, making the underlying red fabric with the same texture as the Batur seats visible, embroidered with a Bentley logo.