Aprilia Debuts Highly-Exclusive 225hp RSV4 X

In celebration of a full decade of its current flagship model, the Noale firm announces the arrival of the most potent and sought after RSV4, ever.

In recent years a trend has emerged in which manufacturers have released wildly high-spec, track/race-only versions of existing flagship models. It probably started with Ducati’s 1199 Superleggera, but was followed by BMW’s HP4 Race , Suzuki’s GSXR Ryuyo, and so on. So with the ten-year-anniversary of Aprilia’s flagship superbike just around the corner, the Italian marque opted to toss its hat in the ultra-trick-flagship-variant-<wbr>ring with its own uber-exclusive offering for 2019.

Building On A Legend

In 2009 Aprilia released the successor to its flagship RSV 1000R superbike with the new RSV4. The new V4-powered beast was a benchmark-setting model across the industry, and until the recent arrival of Ducati’s new MotoGP-derived V4-platform, the RSV4 held the distinction of being the only V4 in the literbike class. 

The RSV4 was touted for its precision in the corners as well as its ample pull on the straights— not to mention the awesome and unmistakable bellow of that throaty Italian V4. Since 2009, Aprilia has offered a myriad of different RSV4 variations including the RF, Factory, R, RR, LE, and so on. But just on the heels of the release of Aprilia’s latest (mass-produced) addition to the flagship V4 lineup — the RSV4 Factory 1100 —  the Noale brand has just pulled the cover off its most exotic, high-performing, and exclusive RSV4 to date.

X Marks The Spot

To celebrate the RSV4’s ten-year-anniversary, Aprilia’s Race Department — an outfit responsible for four-and-a-half-dozen world championship titles — was tasked with turning the Italian V4 up a notch (or 5), with the aim of producing something of the ultimate RSV4 racer. And what they came up with is the 2019 “RSV4 X”.

**Squeezing Out Extra Horses **

Gone were the restrictions Aprilia’s road-going RSV4s must adhere to, as the X-spec is a dedicated track-only machine. Consequently, the lab coats in Noale were able to achieve an impressive (claimed) 225hp — eight ponies over Aprilia’s standard 1100 model, which is already ridiculously powerful. These near-MotoGP figures were possible thanks to the 1.1L V4 receiving new intake camshafts, valve return springs (and caps), and all-new convex bucket tappets that accommodate more aggressive cam profiles — a design borrowed from Aprilia’s WSBK operation.

There’s also the addition of a full Akrapovic exhaust system with titanium headers and a full carbon muffler that’s had its standard filter replaced with a “Sprintfilter”, a piece Aprilia calls “the air filter with the highest permeability available on the market”. Also a part used by Aprilia’s MotoGP Team. On top of the new pipe there’s also special ECU mappings that come preprogrammed with dedicated race-track settings.

Track-Grade Trick

Thanks to the use of various precious metals, coupled with the X-spec’s full carbon fiber bodywork — which includes the MotoGP-style winglets — the limited edition Italian tips the scales at only 363lbs (or 165kgs) dry. Said bodywork is adorned in a striking red, white, green, and black livery, clearly derived from Aprilia’s current MotoGP Mount, the RS-GP — in particular the machine piloted by Andrea Iannone, only the “29” has been replaced with an “X”, and the scheme has jettisoned all the sponsor-logos, resulting in a mean, distinctly Italian look.

Other minor details worth noting include the RSV4 X’s CNC’d billet aluminum brake and clutch levers (and guard), rear-sets, top triple, and sump guard, plus there’s the forged magnesium rims from Marchesini shod in Pirelli Racing slicks, and a race-style push-button panel for controlling primary electronics. Bringing the V4 X to an abrupt halt is Brembo’s brand new GP4-MS brakes. This model’s release marks the first time the GP4-MS unit’s have been offered on a production model available to the public. 

Prices, Production, Preorders

Aprilia’s new RSV4 X is quite possibly the most exclusive production machine to ever leave the factory in Noale. Just how exclusive you ask? Well, the 2019 X-spec will be limited to just ten units (as in 10...one-zero!). Unsurprisingly, each of the ten units — all of which are individually hand-assembled by Aprilia’s factory race department — comes with a hefty price tag of $45,000 (or €39,900). While more info can be gleaned on the Aprilia Factory Works website, you might as well save your time, as all ten examples are almost certainly spoken for already.