Austrian motorcycle
builder KTM today released the first images of a scale model of its new X-Bow (crossbow) roadster. The model was built for wind-tunnel testing, has a scale of 1:2.5 and corresponds in almost every detail with the final car. The first prototype of the car, which will be unveiled at the Geneva Motorshow in the beginning of March, is nearing completion.
The 1500-pound car has a four-cylinder Audi engine offering 220 horsepower in the base model, and a potential 300 horsepower in a more expensive variant. A choice of either a six-speed manual or DSG gearbox will be given. KTM says the X-Bow will hit 62 mph in well under four seconds.
The X-Bow has no windshield, and instead will come with specially designed helmets, intended to offer shelter from the elements rather than full crash protection.
After its debut in Geneva, 100 units will be manufactured in-house by Italian racing car specialists Dallara and sold by KTM. The price for the basic version will be around 40,000 euros.
If all goes well, KTM plans further small series productions of the car. This production will take place in Austria and begin in 2008. KTM is working on the basis of a projected 500 units per year. The decision concerning production will be made at the end of April 2007.


02/05, 6:25 PM
posted by:
elgatodemuerto
Gimme Gimme Gimme
02/05, 6:34 PM
posted by:
S-60-driver
what a wasteful news!!!
02/05, 7:14 PM
posted by:
BAMF
^^ what a wasteful post
02/05, 7:47 PM
posted by:
Egbert Souse
Looks pretty sweet
02/05, 8:00 PM
posted by:
Renton
What is up with the “wasteful ” stuff. It is an ultra high performance car. It is pretty cool looking as well.
Too bad it will never come to the US.
KTM rules. I might have to move to Austiria.
02/05, 8:09 PM
posted by:
snoboardguy21
It’s like an Ariel Atom that actaully looks cool.
02/05, 8:19 PM
posted by:
Adrio
If the helmet isn’t intended for crash protection then what is? Does it have any other safety features other than the rain proof helmet?
02/05, 8:19 PM
posted by:
mak_
wow Ariel Atom owners are gonna shoot their bolt in their pants
02/05, 8:58 PM
posted by:
A4
id rather have the atom, its cheaper, lighter, and faster, even if this does have a VW motor.
02/05, 9:04 PM
posted by:
S-60-driver
@ Renton–
Yeah, you said it, “Too bad it WON’T come to the USA.” Why bother with this wasteful news when USA won’t get it. Duhhh!!!
Stupid LLN posting a WASTEFUL news! Wasteful is my favorite word. I plan to use WASTEFUL whenever i think its WASTEFUL when i see a WASTEFUL news posted by LLN.
02/05, 9:16 PM
posted by:
ironpony42
And, BTW, ANYTHING can come to the US. If it’s leagal or not is up to you and your importer. But a track toy like this? Who cares if it has DOT papers? It’ll never see the streets. If you have the coin for a toy like this, you can spring a few extra bux to get it on a boat.
02/05, 9:21 PM
posted by:
S-60-driver
ironpony– its called an opinion. Don’t bash bloggers to death cuz they dont like something. I didnt bash peeps on here for admiring this go-kart. Its their right.
I was agreeing with you back on the G8 news. Now i came on here and read that u bashed me for something I wrote. Now i’m not gonna say anything to you. Im sticking my comments to the news, not peeps.
02/05, 9:35 PM
posted by:
norsairius
seeing the real thing is so much better than the drawings, it looks amazing!
02/05, 9:46 PM
posted by:
ironpony42
Point was, my friend S-60, you seethed at the fact that this wasn’t coming to the US. And claim it as wasteful news, because of that fact? As if we shouldn’t hear about anything that that happens in the automotive industry if it isn’t coming to the US? You want filtered news, fine, I want all the news. That was my point, dude. Wasn’t tryin’ to bust yer balls that bad, but if you feel butt hurt enough about it to “not say anything to me” so be it. I’m not in the market for new best friends anyway.
02/05, 10:48 PM
posted by:
MY Si
Probably cuz you dont have any. OH DAYUM!!!!
02/05, 11:26 PM
posted by:
Auto.observer
gees guys ITS ABOUT THE DAMN CAR
so anyways, yeah, nice car….maybe they’ll bring a couple to canada? =P
02/06, 12:30 AM
posted by:
Renton
S-60 I did say that it won’t come to the US, it does not mean I don’t want it to come here. I would drill through a box of kittens for this car to be legal here.
There is no way that this is not a significant machine and needs to be reported. If it comes to Canada, I will have to befriend a Canadian and get it registered there.
I’ll sell my motorcycle collection to fit it in the garage.
It appears that it is going to cheaper than the almighty Ariel Atom
There is nothing wastefull about this news.
02/06, 12:48 AM
posted by:
niallpolley
S-60, the USA is not the only country in the world that reads English-language news sites. English is spoken (and read) in many other coubtries, some of which even use it as their first language . If you research it a little you will find that the language actually originated in another country altogether (the clue is in the name).
02/06, 2:12 AM
posted by:
Toy Yoda
The Ariel Atom looks much more elegant, in my humble opinion.
02/06, 4:39 AM
posted by:
Eisen Faust
Youd be suprised how many yanks think they speak ‘american’ half of them probably think english is something else entirely
02/06, 5:13 AM
posted by:
gumball
I reckon they could do more on the back and doors it looks a bit unfinished but other than that its perfect, Its kinda like the lambo version of the ariel.
02/06, 7:55 AM
posted by:
JohnnyBlazE
I live in the UK and appeciate news on all US cars too as well as Euro and Aussie etc… I want a worldwide experience too.
02/06, 9:23 AM
posted by:
wetstuff
Maybe this will give the T-Rex from Montreal a push too. You gotta respect KTM engineering tho’. It’s too bad VW went cluck-cluck on theirs.
02/06, 9:26 AM
posted by:
Saud
Sweet 220 hp in something that light should give the atom a run for its money
02/06, 9:38 AM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
im shopping for a new best friend, who wants to be my friend?
except for this guy below, why even say something so repulsively hateful, you sir are not friend material
Youd be suprised how many yanks think they speak ‘american’ half of them probably think english is something else entirely
Comment by Eisen Faust, posted on February6 at 4:39 am
anyways guys, this thing looks fabulous, i would love to see this on the roads in this country, i would sell by bike and truck no problem to have this.
02/06, 9:42 AM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
by the way here in america we will be speaking spanish soon anyways.
02/06, 10:03 AM
posted by:
protonzdead2me
A right hand drive version of this car will make Caterham sweat
02/06, 2:07 PM
posted by:
imageWIS
niallpolley,
LMAO.
Jon.
02/06, 4:12 PM
posted by:
brycity
Hey, A4 id rather have the atom, its cheaper, lighter, and faster, even if this does have a VW motor. What the hell are you talking about? They either come with a Honda engine or a GM Ecotech engine. Not a queer VW engine.
02/06, 4:55 PM
posted by:
Eisen Faust
Cant hate the facts CTS!
02/06, 5:09 PM
posted by:
Cobradreamer427
SOOOO COOL
02/06, 6:19 PM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
WHAT FACTS? YOUR HALF HEARTED STEREOTYPE? IM SURPRISED YOU MUST BE THE ONLY BRIT WITH NO EDUCATION, BUT HEY YOUR TEETH ARE PERFECT RITE? ARE YOU DRINKING TEA? HOWS YOUR BISCUT? CRUMPETS ANYONE? AND YOUR PRINCESSES ARE NOT VERY PRETTY? WHY ARE YOU EVEN SAYING SOMETHING SO “STRANGE”? JUST WANT TO START A FLAME I GUESS, OR ARE YOU A FLAME, YOURE BRITISH RITE? WAIT YOURE RITE ENGLISH IS WHEN YOU GET THE BILLIARDS BALL TO SPIN.
JUST BECAUSE YOU DONT LIKE WHAT S-60 SAID DOESNT MEAN YOU HAVE TO ATTACK ALL AMERICANS, BECAUSE WE ALREADY KNOE BRITS ARE PUSSIES.
02/06, 9:52 PM
posted by:
Eisen Faust
You should take that on the road its classic
02/07, 11:32 PM
posted by:
darkwingduck
well, knowing that i can’t have…. only makes me want it even more!!!
02/08, 6:16 PM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
seriously though i really respect the brits, they have been our brothers on the battlefield for a century now,(the raf kicked major ass in the battle of brittain and your royal marines are bad ass warriors, major props) without each other the world would be a horrible place. besides look what happened when a british car met an american engine……the legendary shelby cobra.
02/10, 11:44 AM
posted by:
theshadow
I want one of these for my daily driver. Hope I can find a bank that will give me 4% financing on one
02/12, 3:28 PM
posted by:
v8havoc
2 questions, where do i get it and how much!??!?!?!?!?!?!? I WANT NOW…this looks so much better than the ariel atom, too bad its slower than the atom, 0-60 the atom will do it in 2.9s with a good driver, this thing, according to the article is just under 4s which is a whole second slower…
02/19, 8:15 AM
posted by:
DialM4Speed
What the F***? Will this be one of the do it yourself things ya find down at the local Wal-Mart? LOL!