For the 2016 model year, Shimano will produce the Dura Ace groupset under the XTR flag. In the course of the 2017 season, Shimano will replace the Ultegra and 105 groupsets with the XT and SLX designations in a "running change", while the entry-level Tiagra, Soris and Claris groupsets with the Deore, Alivio and Acera labels will also hit the road in the following model year.

Already confusingly similar: The brake caliper from the MTB Schulblade...

...and the equivalent of the disc-braked road bike.

According to Shimano, the decision was made in the marketing department and in close consultation with the engineers. Today, brake calipers and brake pads from the offroad department are already in use on the disc brakes of the road groupsets, so the step towards a uniform appearance of the road and offroad groupsets was a logical step.

The Di2 groupsets also use identical components, with the XTR Di2 groupset and the Dura Ace and Ultegra electronic drivetrains sharing the same cables and connectors. According to Shimano, a large proportion of the first riders have reacted well to the upcoming changes.

Here are the first pictures of the pre-series Dura Ace and XTR road brakes - still without the new labels: