Italdesign Giugiaro S.p.A. designed the 1974 Ducati 860 GT, and it was one of the most influential designs of its time, one which also started the trend of squarer designs. In fact, Italdesign also has recent history with Ducati, when company created the Ducati Urban-E, a foldable electric motorcycle designed in collaboration with Ducati's own designers. Now, Italidesign has revealed an electric concept which is based on the 1974 Ducati 860GT, but without going all-out retro. The 860-E concept, as it's called certainly seems to be inspired by the original 860 GT, and it even carries forward key design details.
The Ducati 860-E Concept design is heavily inspired by the 1974 Ducati 860 GT, also designed by Italdesign
The side panels, with the gill-like openings are revived from the 1970s 860 GT, and the flat tops of the fuel tank area are also similar, although the electric model won't have any 'fuel tank' to speak of. The circular headlamp is a definitely nod to the 1974 860 GT, though on the 860-E Concept it gets a ring of LEDs. Italdesign uses modern elements from Ducati's current range of sportbikes, including a single-sided swingarm and modern, upside down front fork.
The design is still a concept, and so far, there's been no word on Ducati actually working on anything like an electric motorcycle
So far, there's no word on a production model on the horizon. In fact, Italdesign says that the design of its 860 GT was so futuristic in its time that the firm is now revisiting the look, for a contemporary electric concept. While the firm says there are no production plans as of now, but going by its links with Ducati, an electric model from Borgo Panigale, something with similar design lines as the 860-E, may well make its way into production, sometime in the near future.
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