MV Agusta's 2026 Plan: Brutale 950, 5-cylinder, and Racing

After MV Agusta's turbulent recent years, the Italian brand is entering 2026 with a reshaped lineup and a fresh operational setup. In this 1000PS interview, Poky speaks with MV Agusta CEO Luca Martin about the new Brutale 950 platform, the repositioned Brutale 800, a company-wide five-year warranty, the future of concept projects, and the concrete promises regarding parts supply and dealer coverage. Martin also lays out where MV sees growth, how the brand plans to attract younger riders, and why motorsportand a radical five-cylinder engine projectremain central to MV Agusta's identity.

Poky, 1000PS: The Brutale 950 is a new generation. What are the performance targets between the outgoing Brutale 800 and the four-cylinder 1000 that's still in the lineup?

Luca Martin: This new Brutale gave us the opportunity to widen our range of products, because we had the chance to reposition the Brutale 800. The 800 will become the entry gate into our lineup. The Brutale Standard will come out with 113 horsepower, while the Brutale 950 Serie Oro will come out with 148 horsepower. And then, of course, we have the four-cylinder line that goes even beyond, to more than 200 horsepower.

Poky, 1000PS: The engine uses the same basic architecture as the Enduro Veloce, but what's carried over and what's really renewed?

Luca Martin: Basically, we have a very strong base because the engine of the Enduro is an amazing engine. We started from there, but we completely changed the cylinder head and pistons, the upper part of the engine, plus a new crankshaft and new conrod. The 950 EVO, as we call it, is made to equip sport and supersport motorcycles.

Poky, 1000PS: You also changed the IMU features in the updated electronics. How different is that to what we experienced on the 800 so far?

Luca Martin: I would say the new Brutale is not just one generation ahead, but at least two generations. Besides the engine, the electronics has been updated to give the rider the chance to fully customize everythingfrom throttle response up to the rpm of the engine. At the same time, we prepared riding-mode configurations: Urban, Race, Sport, and Rain, so riders can use the best settings straight out of the box.

Poky, 1000PS: On the 800, heat management could be an issue, especially at low speed in the city. Is this better on the new 950?

Luca Martin: The new Brutale is a completely different bike. Even though the design recalls the shape of the Brutale, the bike is completely different. In terms of comfort and rideability, it's another level. We introduced a new product philosophy called "Beyond Performance." Our bikes are already on top in performance, but we want to go beyond that: rideability, comfort, reliability, and connection with the rider. We want to deliver emotion at the end of the day.

Poky, 1000PS: So we see this new engine on another platform. Is this the end, or will we maybe see a Dragster 950 based on that?

Luca Martin: We now have the chance to clearly define the product lineup and extend the range. The 800 will be there as an entry door not only in the Brutale, but also in the F3 R and in the new Turismo Veloce in Euro 5+ configuration, of course. The 950 will be our bread and butter. We started with the Brutale, but there will be a rollover process to many other models.

Poky, 1000PS: You talked about reliability. You have a five-year warranty on some other models. Will this be the case from 2026 for all MV Agusta bikes?

Luca Martin: Yes. From 2026, all MV Agusta bikes will have five-year warranties.

Poky, 1000PS: I want to go back one year. We saw the 921 concept here back then. Is this more retro-looking bike still something you're digging into, or was it purely a design study?

Luca Martin: It's a project. We will see more of it at the end of 2027. It's slightly redefined compared to what you saw here. And this is one of the examples where we use our 950 platform. So it won't be a four-cylinder anymore.

Poky, 1000PS: There was also the Kymco scooter concept. Is urban mobility still part of your direction?

Luca Martin: Not at the moment. We have a clear position. We want to compete in the premium segment against Ducati, KTM, and Triumph. We don't want to talk about luxury anymore. We are a premium brand that we want to grow. Urban mobility is a different storymaybe we've done our exercises therebut for the next future we will focus on premium motorcycles.

Poky, 1000PS: You mentioned KTM. The majority is gone; now there's separation. Can you help customers and media understand in one minute what the situation is nowwhat changed operationally, not just on paper?

Luca Martin: I'm not really excited to talk about ownership. I prefer to focus on our industrial plan. From an operational standpoint, nothing changed. We are independent. We had a plan started two years ago, and now we have a vision beyond 2030 with a clear path for product development. We took the chance in the last two years to redesign the dealer network development, which is very solid right now. We have a brand-new organization with a lot of young talent, and we want to keep going.

Poky, 1000PS: For owners and new buyers, stability was unclear at some point in the past. How do you rebuild trustalso about on-time delivery?

Luca Martin: We completely changed the organization from January. We have a new operational director, new purchasing director, and a very strong sales team. Rest assured MV Agusta is completely different from the past. We optimized processes and we have a brand-new partner for spare parts: DHL will take care worldwide of spare-parts delivery. I'm confident we have solid basics. We came out of a financial crisis that was not led by MV Agusta, as you know. I'm thankful to suppliers who believed in our plan and worked with us. We had a supplier meeting on Monday; I showed them the future product lineup, and they are supportive and committed to help us become a big player among motorcycle players.

Poky, 1000PS: A lot changed, but Hubert Trunkenpolz is still a member of the board. What is his role now?

Luca Martin: Yes, he is non-executive. All operations are now led by me. We keep continuity on the board. His role now is to make our dreams come true, focusing on motorsport.

Poky, 1000PS: Back to DHL now handling parts, what's the promise dealers can give customers?

Luca Martin: It's DHL's commitment: spare parts delivery in Europe within 48 hours, and overseas within 72 hours. That's why we chose the best partner for parts.

Poky, 1000PS: Speaking of dealers: do you still think there are too few, or are you satisfied? You once talked about going up to 270 worldwide.

Luca Martin: We want to grow. We are now around 250 dealers, with some service points. We need to increase geographical coveragefor example in the United States. But we're not looking for numbers; we want real business partners. Germany is a good example: we partnered with top dealers that believe in our plan, and Germany is performing extremely well. I would rather have one dealer committing for 100 bikes a year than ten dealers committing for ten bikes. Few selected partners, strongly committed to the brand.

Poky, 1000PS: Which segment will lead your growth? The 800 platform, or the bigger 950 and four-cylinder lines?

Luca Martin: Our bread and butter50 to 60 percent of total volumeswill be the naked segment. That's why we enlarged the lineup: three-cylinder in two platforms, 800 and 950, and the four-cylinder, because this is where we're recognized as number one. At the same time, we want to explore further the travel segment where Turismo Veloce is gaining traction. This year Turismo Veloce has been the best seller; in 2024 it was the Enduro Veloce.

Poky, 1000PS: The 800 comes at a comparatively lower price point for MV Agusta standards. Is that also a way to get new and younger customers?

Luca Martin: Absolutely. The Brutale Standard, with less power compared to the RR, will be the entry door for many customers. We will not compromise on quality or performance. Making our bikes more accessible will enlarge our customer base.

Poky, 1000PS: Average buyer age keeps rising. How do you cope with that trend?

Luca Martin: I will fight this trend. I believe young people will be more attracted by motorcycles again. There was a shift from the 1990s when motorcycles were pure passion, then they became a means of two-wheel transportation. Now we are going back to emotionalism. Thanks to upcoming brands like CFMOTO and other Chinese brands making bikes more affordable, young customers will enter or re-enter motorcycling. We are happy to have new clientsbecause if you want the best naked, you come to us. It will take time, but now it's clear there is mobility and there is fun. With Liberty Media entering MotoGP, they will make motorcycling more popular. Purchasing power is related to age, but there's also a new wave of IT and tech guys with purchasing power at a younger age. Our job is to make them understand motorcycles are about emotion, freedom, and travel. I think we will see a shift in the next years.

Poky, 1000PS: With your three-cylinder and four-cylinder platforms, what will the volume split be?

Luca Martin: No major changes compared to the past. Usually our four-cylinder platform is 20 to 30 percent of total sales.

Poky, 1000PS: You introduced something completely new: a five-cylinder engine concept. Is this linked to racing ambitions?

Luca Martin: Of course. It's related to our racing aspirations. MV Agusta wants to be a trend setter, not a follower. We were often asked to come out with a V4 like our competitors, but we want to be at the forefront of innovation. This engine represents a completely different infrastructure and platform for the motorcycle. I recall Valentino Rossi's success with a five-cylinder in the past. Racing is in our DNA, and we want to explore the opportunities linked to this exotic engine.

Poky, 1000PS: Can you talk about the technical specifications of this concept?

Luca Martin: It's not just a concept; it's a project we're working on. We are doing the first analyses. Next year we will go into the prototype phase. The most particular thing is: it's a square engine, not a V shape. That means we have two crankshafts. The beauty is that it will be electrified: a combustion engine power unit, but all accessories like fuel pump and water pump will be electric.

Poky, 1000PS: With Liberty Media taking over MotoGP, what would be your dream date to enter top-level racing again?

Luca Martin: Hubert (Trunkenpolz) is working very hard to bring us back in MotoGP. My focus is more industrial. We see an opportunity with new regulations, but we have to be realistic. If there is a chance, 2027 maybe could be a date. As of now, we don't have a real answer.

Poky, 1000PS: Given you're working on this prototype next year, will these racing ambitions be usable for street models?

Luca Martin: Yes, absolutely. The engine you saw here will be the next platform for the big naked and the superbikes.

Poky, 1000PS: With new regulations, MotoGP might get closer to what we ride on the street. Is that also your approach?

Luca Martin: We don't want to develop sport bikes that cannot be street legal. It's the other way around. We want to increase our product lineup in the superbike segment. That's why we came out with this kind of engine. If this engine can compete in World Supersport or World Championship, we will be happy as well.