MV Agusta has pitched an innovative and revolutionary 5-cylinder engine idea that would, in essence, change the entire concept of engineering of the fast-performance motorcycles. At EICMA 2025, this futuristic powerplant was first introduced picturing a very different design philosophy of combining small size, high power, and advanced technology to provide the ultimate riding thrill.
New “Square” Configuration
Simply saying the new 5-cylinder engine of MV Agusta is not an ordinary one, we can see that this design has taken a different approach which is to create a “square” engine. The front three cylinders are in the line while the next two remain slightly offset forming a sort of a square. A VR engine such as a Volkswagen’s VR5 or VR6 could somewhat resemble this design in that they too have one crankshaft, thus simplifying the layout and at the same time keeping the mass low.
The design of the engine brings about a product that is not only slimmer than a regular inline-four but also of a length that is even less than a standard V4, therefore, giving the manufacturer more freedom in the design of the frame and the bodywork of upcoming motorcycles.
Advanced Technical Features
The engine sports a complex valve gear with triple camshafts: a central camshaft controlling the intake valves, and two lateral camshafts operating the exhaust valves (or reverse). The main purpose of such an organization of the valves is to improve valve accuracy and install volume reduction.Stuff such as the water pump and oil pump are driven by electrical auxiliary units, thus the engine becomes more efficient and lighter in weight.
Performance and Specifications
Displacement: A reconfigurable design that could be either 850cc or 1150cc, thereby, is suitable for different classes of motorcycles.
- Power Output: The aim is to have a power of more than 240 horsepower at more than 16,000 rpm.
- Torque: at around 8500 rpm, roughly 130-135 Nm is available.
- Weight: An extremely light one, below 60 kg, which is incredible for such high output.
- Firing Order: The unusual 5-cylinder firing order, which does away with the need for variable valve timing, thus improving both low-end tractability and high-end performance.
- Camshafts: Three camshafts for the perfect valve timing and precision.
This engine platform is imagined as a modular unit that could be employed in different types of motorcycles, e.g., supersport and naked bikes as well as touring models. It is the new solution to the problem of which the most common liter-class performance motorcycles are either inline-four or V4.
The 5-cylinder engine is touted as one of the major innovations brought about by its combination of compactness, ability to attain high revs, smoothness, and lightweight design. MV Agusta intends to utilize this 5-cylinder engine in a “model which is highly anticipated” that, as per current knowledge, has been missing in its line-up but is going to make a comeback with this upgraded power unit. The leading models are most likely to be rolled out between 2026 and 2027.
By invoking this unprecedented “Square 5” engine, MV Agusta could provide the motorcyclists with an engine that is not only linear but also extremely powerful, of low vibration levels, a most characteristic aggressive exhaust note plus race-grade thermal efficiency and cooling which are all very desirable qualities of a race engine.
This engine is the first of many to come under MV Agusta’s strategy to keep reinventing the motorcycle engine technology and thus merge the best of Italian artisan work with the most modern engineering for a new era of superbikes.
