KTM X-Bow: Super Car Performance, Sports Car Price

Motoring Channel Staff - 27/September/2007

Mattighofen, Austria — The X-Bow is pared back, bare bones sports car that has the power, agility, and handling of an exotic car, but without the price-tag (or a roof).

Like many kit cars and low volume sports cars, such as what UK-based Caterham and Atom build, the X-Bow doesn't have a roof, or doors, or many other parts normally associated with passenger cars. It shows off its internals proudly, which adds a level of mechanical attraction not normally found on a sports car: you can see the suspension, parts of the frame and powertrain clearly.

Austrian motorcycle maker KTM is the company behind the X-Bow, and the bare-bones vehicle is currently listed as hitting European roads in early-to-mid 2008.

Originally KTM had planned on building the angry looking X-Bow at its current manufacturing facilities, but buyer interest and now demand for the new model has been so strong that the Austrian motorcycle maker has built a new facility to cater specifically to the construction of the turbocharged go-kart.

KTM has more than 1,000 orders for the new X-Bow model, which was initially only supposed to be a 500 unit per annum. Hence the new factory. It is also expected that the first 100 units to roll off the line will be special editions. 

Priced at around €40,000 (A$65,000 or US$55,000) the X-Bow offers super car performance at a fraction of the price, and together with its hard core design it's not surprising KTM has had to build a new factory.

Update: KTM Australia's Marketing Coordinator, Greg Chambers, called the Motoring Channel and said that nothing is set in concrete for an Australian launch of the X-Bow, but that it doesn't mean the vehicle has been ruled out. Far from it.

"We're getting a promotional model in the first quarter of 2008," confirmed Mr Chambers. "We'll use this to gauge [X-Bow] interest in Australia at various events," he added. If the price is right, and interest builds, the X-Bow has every chance of coming to Australia.

Powered by an Audi/VW 2.0-litre TFSI engine, the same 4-cylinder turbo from the Audi TT coupe and Volkswagen Golf GTI hot hatch, the X-Bow develops 177kW of power (240hp). 

But unlike the Audi or the VW cars that share this engine, the X-Bow weighs about half as much, around 700kg, which maxes out its power to weight ratio. The maths are solid: 177kW @ 6000rpm and a light 700kg weight make for awesome acceleration, as the X-Bow rockets from zero to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds. 

That's quicker than the Aston Martin DBS, Ferrari F430 and Lamborghini Gallardo. Only the German-made Porsche 911 Turbo can match it in the benchmark sprint, and unlike the X-Bow all of them attract extreme prices.

With 177kW of power and 310Nm of torque @ 2200rpm, the KTM X-Bow is defiantly fast, and is expected to easily surpass a top speed of 250km/h (155mph). KTM has even mentioned that a 220kW version of the purist sports car is on the way: "Even more powerful engine variations in the 300 horsepower range are planned at a later date."

Putting the turbo engine's power to the rear wheels is a 6-speed manual gearbox and can be optioned with a limited slip differential if required. The X-Bow's go-kart nature is further reinforced by KTMs explicit aim to create a purist driving experience by removing all driving aids. There's no stability control which may be seen as risky by some, but according to KTM it connects man more closely with machine.

KTM released a media statement for the X-Bow which reads: "By foregoing electronic assistants and today’s standard comfort features, the X-Bow offers an unfiltered adventure – aided by its standalone wheels in the style of monoposto racing cars, transparent technology and the car’s reduced concept, i.e. no roof, doors or windscreen. The sports car has only a 70-millimeter, transparent wind deflector. With all these unique features, driving the KTM X-Bow becomes an experience with an immediacy that otherwise can only be felt when riding a motorcycle."

Bookending the front axle of the KTM X-Bow are 17-inch alloy wheels, while 18-inch wheel with wider tyres are fitted to the rear axle. The suspension system comprises double triangular wishbone axles, and KTM says "the wheels feature suspension and damping elements by WP Suspension, with a pushrod arrangement up front".

Italian-made Brembo brakes provide deceleration for the Austrian sports car, with 305mm discs at the front and 262mm discs at the rear. KTM claims that, "when the brakes are warm, the KTM X-Bow needs only 33.1 metres to decelerate from 100kph to a standstill".

Because it's not a normal car, the options list isn't huge, but KTM does say that aerodynamics and carbon upgrade kits will be offered. The Austrian motorcycle - and now car - maker has teamed up with Italian company Dainese to make a range of safety apparel, including clothing and helmets, that"are designed to assume functions that are normally performed by the car: weather protection, climate control and – thanks to integrated technology – even infotainment functions such as sound and mobile telephony."

The KTM X-Bow will go into production early in 2008, with the first European deliveries expected mid-way through '08.

Related Links:
- Caterham Seven CSR (2004)