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MV Agusta F4R Corsa Corta – Varese Gets Cheaper Again

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The raison d’être at MV Agusta should be abundantly clear by now, as the Italian company has added yet another “more affordable” model to its otherwise exclusive motorcycle line. After creating lower barriers to ownership in the Brutale line with the Brutale 920 and Brutale R 1090, we now see the F4 line getting the same treatment with the release of the MV Agusta F4R Corsa Corta. Dropping an “R” off the MV Agusta F4RR, the MV Agusta F4R is a lower-spec version of its 197hp counterpart (other publications will differ on this horsepower value, we’re sticking to the power fiure listed in kilowatts by MV).

Though featuring the F4RR’s shorter-stroke Corsa Corta motor, the MV Agusta F4R makes only 191hp (6hp less than the F4RR), due to a revised engine map and the lack of hand-ported cylinder heads. Still with plenty of power on-tap, not to mention 84 lbs•ft of torque, & full titanium cylinder valves, the 2012 MV Agusta F4R with its 423 lbs dry weight should make the spec sheet warriors happy. Other changes include lower-spec suspension, a MAG-welded frame, a revised traction control system, and a €18,800 price tag.

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MV Agusta Brutale R 1090 Breaks Cover

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We’ve already heard about the MV Agusta Brutale R 1090, a continuation of MV Agusta’s trend to bring more affordable motorcycles to its product line-up. Taking the motor of the Brutale 1090RR, the oddly-named Brutale R 1090 is the bigger-displacement cousin to MV’s entry-point Brutale 920. Differentiating itself from the 1090RR by offering lower-spec wheels, suspension, brakes, and other detail items, the 2012 MV Agusta Brutale R 1090 offsets those deficiets with an attractive €13,990 price tag.

For that money you’ll get the same 1,078cc radially-valved motor from the 1090RR, which puts out 144hp from its four inline cylinders. Forks are 50mm Marzoochi units, complemented by a Sachs rear shock. Engine mapping has been tuned for the Brutale R 1090, while an eight-level traction control system will come standard. Colors will be red, white, or black, as we ca now see from the studio photos of the new MV Agusta Brutale R 1090. We expect we’ll get to see the latest Brutale up-close and personal at the EICMA show later in the year; until then, check out the photos after the jump.

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An Open Letter from MV Agusta’s Giovanni Castiglioni

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It is a tumultuous time for MV Agusta right now. Recently bought back from Harley-Davidson, MV Agusta not only changed back into Italian ownership, but the company also saw its massive debt removed, its business structure massively revamped, and its product line-up about to burst several key new models. With the passing of Claudio Castiglioni, MV Agusta lost its paterfamilias, leaving many to wonder how the company would navigate its turbulent waters.

Writing an open letter to the motorcycle industry, Giovanni Castiglioni, CEO of MV Agusta and son of Claudio Castiglioni, not only pays tribute to his father and his vision, but also aims to alleviate concerns about the next chapter in MV Agusta’s story. The path for any Italian motorcycle company right now is uncertain, and MV fans are anxious to see what Castiglioni has in store for the rebirth of this iconic brand. While we’re still seeing the tail-end of Harley-Davidson’s playbook for the Italian company, over the next few years we will begin to see the changes and projects from the new Italian regime.

Where that leadership will take MV Agusta as a brand and as a company is not immediately clear, but it is worthy to note that not only has the company changed its corporate ownership, but MV Agusta has also now undergone a generational change in its core management. Though likely not to be talked about in great deal in the mainstream, make no mistake about how this will factor into changes at MV Agusta.

With the Italian company reported facing serious cash flow problems, and a bevy of new models to debut in the coming months, all of these factors create plenty to watch at MV Agusta. Certain to be full of highs and lows, the only thing we know for certain about the company’s future going forward is that it will be interesting. Giovanni Castiglioni’s open letter is reproduced in full after the jump.

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Spy Photo: MV Agusta Brutale 675 B3

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Set for its official public debut at this year’s EICMA show, the MV Agusta Brutale 675 B3 was caught testing in this “spy photo” that was snapped near Varese, Italy. The form of the three-cylinder naked streetbike is not terribly surprising, as it borrows heavily from the MV Agusta F3, making similar changes to the supersport’s design as the original Brutale did with the MV Agusta F4. Expected to sell around the €9,000 mark, the Brutale 675 will be MV Agusta’s most affordable motorcycle.

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Trouble Brewing for the MV Agusta F3?

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All is not well regarding the new MV Agusta F3, several sources have now told Asphalt & Rubber. Teasing the F3 motorcycle for almost two years now, the three-cylinder supersport has been on the radar of two-wheeled enthusiasts since well before its 2010 debut at the EICMA show. While the latest creation from Varese is undisputedly a stunner, and promises some more than peppy performance and features, eyebrows within the industry were raised with its very pre-mature debut in Milan, and its accompanying lack of any real concrete technical specifications.

With products traditionally launched at the November EICMA show going on sale immediately the next model year, MV Agusta made a shocking announcement in 2010 that the F3 would be a 2012 model. Obviously launched with the intention of generating immediate buzz about the newly re-acquired MV Agusta brand, and its goal of becoming a larger volume producer (and actually a profitable company for a change), the F3 and its progeny like the MV Agusta Brutale B3 are supposed to usher in a new era for the Italian brand.

Apparently teased early to help prove demand for MV’s new product offering, this new ethos unfortunately has apparently done little to sway creditors and investors on the viabiliy of the brand, especially since the names associated with driving MV Agusta into the ground are still associted with the decidedly not-so-new regime. Though the Castiglionis were able to negotiate a stellar deal with Harley-Davidson regarding the purchase of MV Agusta (they bought the company for one euro, and got an operating cash flow of 20 million in the bank), according to our sources that are close to MV, the Italian company has had a hard time raising additional working capital, and has also found negotiations with parts suppliers to be difficult, with the outside firms demanding to be paid up-front for their wares.

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Claudio Castiglioni Passes Away at the Age of 64

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Claudio Castiglioni, President of MV Agusta, passed away this morning in Varese, Italy at the age of 64. In a statement from MV Agusta, the company says that Castiglioni succumed from an unnamed illness while attending a clinic in Varese. Over the course of his career, Castiglioni touched such esteemed brands as Ducati, Cagiva, Husqvarna, and of course MV Agusta. His most recent accomplishment was bringing MV back into Italian ownership, in an act of business acumen that saw Harley-Davidson actually pay Castiglioni €20 million to take back the recent refurbished company.

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MV Agusta F3 ‘Serie Oro’ Unveiled

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MV Agusta has officially taken the wraps off its collector’s edition MV Agusta F3 ‘Serie Oro’ motorcycle, showing the three-cylinder supersport machine in its final production trim. Producing only 200 units of the Gold Series, MV Agusta is building these bikes to each customer’s specifications, with a price tag upwards of €20,000 being the name of the game. Helping justify that high cost for the MV Agusta F3 Serie Oro, MV Agusta has made Brembo monobloc calipers, Öhlins forks, an Öhlins TTX rear shock, and forged aluminum wheels all stock on the 675cc supersport machine.

The premium F3 also boasts plenty of carbon fiber and a sophisticated electronics package, though some might find the price hard to swallow in the middleweight sport bike category (even if there are nice touches like painted mirrors and intake grills). Accordingly, MV Agusta has also announced the MSRP for the base model MV Agusta F3, with European pricing set at €11,990. Production for the MV Agusta F3 has also been moved up by four months, meaning bikes will be in the hands of dealers by the end of this year. Photos of the 2012 MV Agusta F3 ‘Serie Oro are after the jump.

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First Sounds of the 2012 MV Agusta F3

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MV Agusta brought out its new three-cylinder sportbike, the 2012 MV Agusta F3, to its annual international gathering of owners and enthusiasts, and as you would expect in this digital age, the cameraphones and video cameras were in full-swing as it rolled out of the truck. The F3’s design was clearly not complete in-time for the 18th annual gathering, as parts of the bike noticeably looked un-finished or were inoperable (there are no turn signals in the mirrors for instance, and we hear the LED tail light didn’t work).

But that all matters for not, as what we really want is to hear that triple purr, and these videos don’t disappoint in that regard. If anything actually, the MV Agusta F3 sounds subdued, likely because of noise and emissions standards in the EU becoming more and more strict. We imagine some aftermarket kit will help put some life into that exhaust note, but we’re sure MV fans will enjoy the silky smooth sound of the MV Agusta’s new three-cylinder lump. Two videos await you after the jump.

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2012 MV Agusta F4 RR Official Details & Photos

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After teasing us last week with a video of the new 2012 MV Agusta F4 RR, the Italian company has come out and released official details and photos of the 198hp superbike. Using a shorter-stroke Corsacorta motor, MV Agusta has been able to coax more top-end speed and power from the iconic F4 design. Expected to go on sale in Italy later this month, the F4 RR is carrying with it roughly a 20% premium over the base F4, and will cost €22,900 in that market.

Highlights of the new MV Agusta F4 RR:

  • New short-stroke radial valve engine 198 hp at 13,400 rpm
  • New increased bore diameter
  • New primary drive
  • New cylinder head
  • New large-diameter titanium intake and exhaust valves
  • New lightweight forged pistons in “aerospace RR alloy”
  • New exhaust 4-2-1-4
  • Close ratio gearbox
  • Variable length intake runners
  • Öhlins multi-adjustable 43 mm fork
  • Öhlins TTX 36 rear shock
  • Öhlins steering damper
  • Forged aluminum wheels

It should be noted that MV Agusta is translating a 201cv figure in some instances as 201hp, which some sites have confused as being 201hp. In fact the new 2011 MV Agusta F4 RR makes 198hp. Photos and press release after the jump.

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Video: 2012 MV Agusta F4 RR Corsacorta – 198hp Superbike

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Ducati isn’t the only Italian manufacturer coming out with a new motorcycle for 2012, as we get our first look at the 2012 MV Agusta F4 RR Corsacorta. Making 198hp (18hp over your standard F4), the new MV features a short-stroke “Corsacorta” motor. We can expect to see the 2012 MV Agusta F4 RR Corsacorta hit dealers this summer, with a price tag of somewhere in the neighborhood of $30,000+.

MV Agusta is noticeably ramping up its product line offering now that it is back in the hands of the Castiglioni family. Also due out in 2012 is the all new MV Agusta F3, and its naked sibling the MV Agusta Brutale 675 B3. Expect an unveiling of those bikes at EICMA in November; and in the meantime, checkout the video of the new F4 in the video out after the jump.

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MV Agusta Brutale 990R for 150 Years of Italian Unification

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MV Agusta is helping Italy celebrate the 150 year absence of Italian city-state fiefdoms with, you guessed it, a custom-painted limited edition motorcycle. A fairly standard operation procedure from old MV Agusta that seemingly has found its way into new MV Agusta, it’s things like this that make us weary as to whether the Italian motorcycle manufacturer has a little bit of a history re-repeating problem.

Now that we’ve gotten that rant out of our system, the MV Agusta Brutale 990R that the company has done up with a special 150 Year Unification paint job is quite stunning, and all the appropriate drool-worthy remarks should be made about its tri-color aesthetic.

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