MD received the above photo, and the following press release from Kawasaki concerning the unveiling of a new Z1000 naked bike at the EICMA show in Milan on November 5. We have no information at this point beyond what is contained in the following press release.

IRVINE, Calif. (Oct. 1, 2013) – Since its introduction in 2003, the Z1000 has been regarded as a benchmark “naked” sportbike. Kawasaki will unveil the next exciting iteration of the Z1000 family on Nov. 5, at the EICMA show in Milan, Italy.

Reflecting a radical new design philosophy, the Z1000 is a result of Kawasaki’s unique “Sugomi” approach, which has created a machine with the palpable energy and appearance of a predatory animal stalking its prey.

Harnessing the awe-inspiring, dark brooding menace of a crouching panther, the “Sugomi” approach has resulted in a machine which appears poised on the verge of exploding into action, focused on its prey, its body crouching low, muscles tensing in anticipation.

Rather than simply being “fastest” or “most powerful”, the new Z1000 concentrates on the overall emotional intensity of the ride, the tactile feeling of physical control and a carefully measured balance between the two extremes of outstanding engine and chassis dynamics that only Kawasaki could have realized.

As Head of Motorcycle Design for Kawasaki, Keishi Fukumoto, notes: “The new Z1000 delivers an increase in overall performance combined with an emotional spirit which will appeal to riders looking for a motorcycle with a strong, discernible character in terms of both looks and riding feel.”

“We were delighted to be asked to take a “clean sheet” approach to styling the new Z1000, a naked sportbike with a refined blend of unique Kawasaki spirit and bold “Sugomi” emotion.

“From a styling perspective, we wanted to capture and distill the look and feel of a crouching predator getting ready to pounce and combined them with refined engineering features and performance updates to reinforce the Z1000’s position as the class leading naked sportbike,” concluded Fukumoto.

Sugomi: The Japanese word “Sugomi” describes the intense aura or energy given off by a person or object of greatness and felt by the viewer. Someone, or something, possessing Sugomi inspires awe, leaves an indelible impression, is daunting in stature or ability, and commands respect.

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