After teasing the motorcycle on social media handles for a bit, Norton Motorcycles has unveiled the V4CR prototype, which is based on the V4SV superbike. The Norton V4CR is the first new product to have been developed at the bikemaker’s new headquarters at Solihull after the acquisition of Norton by TVS.
The design of the V4CR prototype pays tribute to the initial days of Norton Motorcycles and its racing heritage. Even as a prototype, the Norton V4CR receives two colour options internationally — Carbon, and Manx Silver. The V4CR shares the same polished aluminum swingarm and frame from the V4SV, but the rear frame is slightly shorter. Also in common is the 1200cc V4 liquid-cooled engine which puts out an enormous 185bhp at 12,500rpm and 122Nm of torque at 9000rpm. The body panels and fuel tank are made out of carbonfibre. The round, LED headlight and the air intakes will be standouts, but let’s wait for the production version first.
Since this is just a prototype, many details remain unknown at the moment, but we suspect things could change in the coming future. What we can see here is the suspension setup that comes from Ohilns, while the brakes are courtesy of Brembo. There also seems to be a TFT unit similar to the one on the V4SV but again, the exact dimensions and interface remain unknown for now.
As of now, it remains uncertain if the V4CR will even make it to production. However, it is slated to make a public appearance at the 2021 NEC Birmingham Motor Show. TVS owns a majority stake in Norton Motorcycles, but we are yet to see any Norton products arrive on our shores. However, we suspect things should change soon enough. For now, we can just wait and watch.