Ducati XDiavel S Wins “Good Design Award 2016”

2016 Ducati XDiavel S
A new model introduced for 2016, the Ducati XDiavel S has won a “Good Design Award 2016” in Transportation from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design.

When Ducati introduced the Diavel for 2011, which had a long-and-low profile, hot-rod styling and a massive 240mm rear tire, the Italian company known for its sleek, bright red superbikes didn’t call it a “cruiser.” But five years later, when Ducati rolled out a heavily revised version called the XDiavel, which features maximum torque at lower revs, a feet-forward riding position and belt drive, it finally embraced the cruiser moniker, acquiescing to the segment’s supremacy in the American market.

2016 Ducati XDiavel S
The Ducati XDiavel S has an LED daytime running light around the headlight, billet aluminum mirrors and many other upgrades that distinguish it from the base-model XDiavel.

Two versions of the XDiavel were introduced for 2016, the base model and the XDiavel S, which has a gloss black engine, right-side belt covers machined to expose the aluminum underneath, machine-finished wheels and frame components, brushed-aluminum anodizing on the single-sided swingarm, billet aluminum mirrors, an LED daytime running light around the headlight and other upgrades.

Read our 2016 Ducati XDiavel S first ride review

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The Ducati XDiavel S, which won a 2016 “Best of the Best” Red Dot Award in Product Design in Europe, has been awarded a “Good Design Award 2016” by The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design, which honors products that are notable for their design excellence. Established in 1950, the Good Design Award is the world’s oldest prize dedicated to the most innovative and cutting-edge industrial products and graphic designs produced around the world.

2016 Ducati XDiavel S
The Ducati XDiavel S a gloss black engine, right-side belt covers machined to expose the aluminum underneath, machine-finished wheels and frame components and brushed-aluminum anodizing on the single-sided swingarm.

The XDiavel S is one of 29 awards for 2016 given in the Transportation category. There are 27 categories in all, everything from Electronics to Kitchen/Appliances to Hardware, Office Products, Sports-Recreation, Mobile Application and many more.

Ducati was given the “Good Design Award 2016” in New York, at the museum’s Good Design Night event on January 27. For more information about the award winners in the Transportation category, click on the link below:

https://chi-athenaeum.org/transportation-2016/

1 COMMENT

  1. The XDiavel S is a marvel to behold. However, I think the belt drive is a step backward. Further, the Ducati Testasteretta engine it employs uses belts to drive its cams. Boner! (No, not that kind) Back in the 1970s, as emissions regulations became ever more demanding, it appeared obvious that any timing system that used a chain would have too much fore and aft slop for the cam to provide sufficient precision for EPA (or, now, CARB) compliance. So, automobiles and motorcycles with overhead cams went to timing belts. Now, however, after losing decades worth of sales, the chain manufacturers have improved their product to where it actually surpasses the accuracy and in-spec compliance of a belt. You’ll note that all new Suzuki automobiles use chain(s); ditto Volkswagen’s magnificent V-10 turbodiesel (Touareg); even Ducati’s Super Quadro employs timing chains. Time to put the belts back where they belong, Ducati: around your waist.

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