ZXMOTO decided to face one of the most unusual mechanical projects of the last decade, in a move that signals the Chinese brand’s ambition to compete for space with traditional manufacturers. Zhang Xue, founder of the company, revealed the development of a V5 engine of about 1,000 cm³, designed first for a competition super sports car and then for a model homologated for the streets.
The new V5 engine of about 1,000 cm³ rescues architecture that only the Honda RC211V took to the MotoGP tracks (Photo: ZXMoto | Disclosure)
According to the British publication Visordown, the confirmation came from Zhang Xue himself, on social media, when he revealed that he works on a five-cylinder V-cylinder with approximately 1 liter capacity. For now, it’s practically everything the brand has officially put out: the executive has not released definitive power figures, dimensions or even a name for the bike.
The project comes shortly after the brand launched the ZXMOTO 1000RR and the 820RR — the latter already racing in the World Supersport Championship (WorldSSP), where ZXMOTO claims to have won the game.
Five-cylinder V-shaped is not the simplest
way Building a five-cylinder engine arranged in a V is more expensive and complex than consolidated solutions on the market. The four-cylinder in-line and the current V4 already exceed 200 hp by far, which makes the choice of the V5 an engineering decision, not a need for power.
The extra cylinder gives Zhang Xue more leeway to work on ignition ranges, power delivery, vibration characteristics and the physical package of the engine. On the other hand, the challenge lies in the balance of the crankshaft and the thermal control of the assembly.
Valentin Debise won both races in Portimao and gave ZXMOTO the 1st Chinese victory in WorldSSP history (Photo: ZXMoto | Disclosure)
Official numbers do not yet exist
Speculation in the Asian market points to something close to 1.100 cm³ and power above 210 hp; even more aggressive numbers circulate, up to 253 hp with volumetric compressor. None of this, however, is official. ZXMoto itself has not revealed power figures, and these figures should be treated as speculation for now. The brand has not released confirmed torque or power.
The shadow of the Honda RC211V
A V5 on two wheels refers directly to the Honda RC211V, created in 2002 to open the four-stroke era in MotoGP. The 990 cm³ bike dominated the World Championship with Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden, but never won a street version. It is precisely this gap that ZXMOTO says it wants to fill: to bring to series production a concept that, until today, has been restricted to competition.
Track tests planned for 2028
Before hitting the streets, Zhang Xue wants to take the engine to the tracks, with 2028 set as a target for the debut in competition. The idea is to use racing as a durability laboratory before facing the emissions and noise demands of homologation for the streets.
For now, the project remains without confirmed displacement, power or launch date — and without any indication of arrival in Brazil.
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