It has been made in four displacements ranging from 898 to 1,285 cc (54.8 to 78.4 cu in), with power as high as 145 kW (194 hp) in the largest version.

The successor models, the 1299 Panigale of 2015 and the 959 Panigale of 2016, had the same 60.8 mm (2.39 in) stroke, and bores of either 100 or 116 mm (3.9 or 4.6 in), giving displacements of 1,285 cc (78.4 cu in), and the 955 cc (58.3 cu in).

Unlike the belt-driven overhead cams of earlier Ducati engines the Superquadro's uses gears and a chain.

As with most Ducatis, the engine is a stressed member, making the bike smaller and lighter than a conventionally framed motorcycle.

[2] The engines are of aluminum with Cermetal bore plating, a hardening process developed by the Italian company Tecnol which is similar to Nikasil.