CFMoto unveils V4SR-RR, its first superbike, at EICMA

CFMoto has revealed its first superbike, the V4SR-RR, at the EICMA show in Italy, taking direct aim at litre-class machines from Ducati, BMW, Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki. The Chinese manufacturer says the bike's naturally aspirated 997cc V4 produces more than 210 horsepower, a figure it puts roughly level with rivals such as the BMW M 1000 RR and Ducati Panigale V4 S.

Engine and chassis details

The V4 uses a counter-rotating crank in the style of a Ducati V4, along with titanium connecting rods, and CFMoto says it will spin to 15,000rpm. A titanium Akrapovic exhaust is fitted.

Running gear includes Ohlins suspension, Brembo Hypure brake components and Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP V4 tyres as standard. CFMoto quotes a dry weight of 180kg, against 187kg without fuel for a Panigale V4 S.

Active winglets

The fairing-mounted winglets are described as active, with an angle that can change, and the two sides can operate independently to shift downforce. CFMoto claims the setup lifts front-end downforce by 20% and improves braking, though how it behaves on the road and track has not yet been independently verified.

That active aero is the most distinctive part of the package. Winglets are now common on European and Japanese superbikes, but a system that moves and works each side separately is unusual in this class, and it is the kind of feature that could set the CFMoto apart if it delivers in practice.

Carbon Black concept

A more track-focused concept called the Carbon Black appeared alongside the standard bike, finished in matte black with a different Akrapovic titanium exhaust, an STM dry slipper clutch and carbon fibre panels. CFMoto has not confirmed whether the Carbon Black will reach production.

Price and availability

CFMoto has not yet announced pricing or availability for the regular V4SR-RR. No launch date, market rollout or recommended retail price has been confirmed, so buyers in markets including Australia will need to wait for those details. The Carbon Black's production status is also still open.

The V4SR-RR is not the first Chinese superbike, but its claimed output and specification sheet put it closer to the established litre-bike class than earlier efforts. For riders, the appeal is clear on paper: Ducati-style engine architecture and premium components at a brand that has so far competed lower down the market. The unanswered question is whether CFMoto can price it to undercut the Italian, German and Japanese machines it is chasing, and that cannot be judged until the company releases figures.

Ford appears to be evaluating a two-door version of its F-150 Lobo street truck, according to spy photos published by Car and Driver. A camouflaged prototype has been photographed wearing parts associated with the V-8 street truck, which Ford currently sells only as a four-door crew cab.

The photos are the first indication that Ford might extend the Lobo formula to the F-150's regular cab, but the model is unconfirmed and Ford has not announced it.

What the prototype shows

The test vehicle is built on the F-150's base XL trim, which is the only version of the truck offered with the regular-cab body style. It carries the square front bumper otherwise exclusive to the Lobo, along with 22-inch six-spoke wheels that look like the Lobo's.

The tyres are where the prototype departs from a stock Lobo. The 275/50 rubber matches the Lobo's size, but the Michelin Primacy LTX tyres fitted here are normally reserved for the Ford Performance FP700S, while the Lobo rides on Bridgestone Alenza A/S 02s. The headlights are halogen units with amber daytime running lights rather than the Lobo's white items.

The spy photographer could not confirm what engine sits under the bonnet, though the prototype has a dual-exit exhaust. The Lobo uses a 5.0-litre V-8, and the FP700S pairs that engine with a dealer-installed supercharger rated at 700 horsepower; Ford offered the same kit on the Lobo earlier this year.

Two possible readings

Because the tyre choice and amber lights point toward the FP700S, the prototype could be an updated version of that truck rather than a two-door Lobo. The alternative, and the more appealing one for buyers who remember the original gas-powered F-150 Lightning, is a street truck with two doors instead of four.

Ford positioned the Lobo as a successor to those Lightning street trucks, with a V-8 and a slightly lowered ride height, but it broke with the original recipe by offering four doors only. A regular-cab version would restore that part of the formula.

Why a cheaper Lobo matters

The SuperCrew Lobo currently starts at nearly $60,000 in the US. Building the Lobo treatment onto the XL regular cab would give buyers a more affordable route into the street truck, which is the main argument for Ford doing it.

Ford also has a reason to move now. Ram is preparing its family of Rumble Bee muscle trucks for the street, so a cheaper two-door Lobo would give Ford a direct answer in the same segment.

What is still unknown

Ford has not confirmed the two-door Lobo, and no launch timing has been announced. Pricing for a regular-cab version has not been revealed either; the only figure on the table is the roughly $60,000 starting point of the existing SuperCrew Lobo.

The prototype's engine also remains unverified, so whether a production two-door would carry the standard 5.0-litre V-8 or the supercharged FP700S tune is not settled.