February21
Austrian motorcycle builder KTM today released photos of a full-scale prototype of its new X-Bow (crossbow) roadster. 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 base X-Bow will hit 62 mph in 3.9 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.
is the helmet the one the guy is wearing or something else? by the way the guy looks like the black stig
Can’t see our “Fat American” Stigs fitting in this beast, anyway.
As much protection against a UPS truck as a motorcycle…so give me a Yamaha R1 any day, over this, to cross the Bay Bridge between slow cars!!!
In terms of driving a more fuel concious car, I’d take this over a Prius any day. Considering how well motorcycles do in terms of braking and gravel, I’d take this over a bike as well for a daily driver.
Not likely to highside this KTM. ..but then stoppies are out of the question also. Awwwwww..
this car is a full second slower to 60 compared to the aerial atom
atom: 2.9s
x-bow: 3.9s
Don’t you all think that this car is designed more for the weekend racer? I wouldn’t drive this car in the streets at all.
I want badly.
I am sooo getting one…as long as I can finance it like a normal car and as soon as I can sell the R32.
creature comforts be damned, that thing’s got everythign I need in a car!
That’s great for the next Batman movie, but there’s absolutely no use for ot in real life. I don’t care if it can get to 60 MPH in 1 second…it still rains, and there’s slot of soccer moms driving SUV’s that would drive over you.
They should make a single-seat version.
———>lol that dude in tha pic looks like an “African American” Stig…..
i bet it has more storage space than a solstice.
i jut found out the atom uses an ecotech. the atom might be faster but looks a lot less like a soapbox racer
id definatly take the atom over this anyday, even if it does have an Audi motor. This looks awesome and will surely drive crazy too, but the Atom still seems more raw and wild in my opinion; especially with an 80hp advantage, with either the Ecotec or the Honda motor. And when are they going to show us pictures of this “specially designed” helmet?
(unless its the helmet in the picture, which looks pretty basic to me)
the atom is the ultimate big kids toy, did you see the car and driver test? they said it just passed zo6 on the track like nothing, i screwed up my prevouus comment, i meant the atom looked like a soapbox racer(thats a good thing)
looks like an accident waiting to happen
to those of you who want to drive this on roads: is this even road legal? I know the aerial atom isn’t road legal in the us unless you go register it as a kit car, which i don’t think you can do in all states. This is probably designed to be strictly a track car, not a street car.
I was going to say give it 300 HP.. then I read the rest of the article.
Very cool concept, albeit not superior to the Atom (as noted earlier).
Is this thing road legal? From looking at the pics I didn’t figure it was. But from the comments some think they can slap a plate on it and go cruisin…?
well its got headlights so its probably road legal. otherwise theyd be removed for weight and aero purposes. anyways im in love with this, id give my left nut for one.
I dunno why, but this car just puts a big smile on my face whenever I see it or read about it.
hanlond - I couldn’t tell ya. If it has 5pmh bumpers, turn signals, brake lights, head lights, basically pass a state inspection… then yes it would be road legal. In terms of safety, I don’t see much difference between this or a Miata. In fact, when matched up in a head on collision against an SUV, it doesn’t really matter if you’re driving a Miata or SUV. Of course, if both people are driving an SUV then both will most likely die as apposed to only the guy in a Miata being splattered. Twisted logic, I know.
If KTM came out with some sort of soft top version, I would very seriously consider this.
If you cant have fun in this, well, you are a cadaver already and shouldnt be driving in the first place.
It wont have the total grin factor as 130hp and two wheels but it would still be a kick.
these type of cars confuse me… Is there a cart series that buys these type of cars for racing, or do people put these on the streets?
KTM is a potent engineering force, and are known for their “in-your-face” styling. I love it, and I definitely want to take one for spin! I’d wager to say that the X-Bow could be a springboard to many other vehicle designs.
looks great, but I’m waiting for a design with a price tag that reflects the simplicity of the concept. Does this type of car really have to be so expensive (in relative terms)? I’d like to see a car with similar styling, but using off-the-shelf parts. Sure it might weigh a little more, but I feel that it should be possible to get similar performance for a lot less
hey europerspective it was called the GOD DAMN VW GX3
read my previous post
Seriously cool weekend racer rig. A go-cart for the adults.
Don’t expect to ever see this outside of Europe.
And to be honest, even for a summer weekend fun car, I like things like a windshield.
I agree with you europerspective. These things need to come down in price.
Why choose an Audi engine out of all things? They should have went with honda or toyota or anything less expensive. $52,000 dollars? Thats a ridiculusly expensive toy. Theres a lot of choice for quality sports cars in that price range. Ok maybe they wont hit 0-60 in 3.9 but atleast they’ll protect you from the elements.
The Can Am Spyder does 0-60 in 4.5 and costs $18000. Is half a second really worth 34k? Not to me.
Oh, but I do like the style of it. It looks great.
Bring the price down and we’ll talk.
Big boy toys will always cost deep pocket money. This is a wicked track toy, and huge grin machine. I’m in love. Sure, we’ll never see it in the states. Sure it’s as safe as a parachute made of rice paper, but who cares. Go buy a solstice if you need windows and an airbag.
Adrio, its not really that expensive of a motor, its the same motor out of the GTI which stickers for $22k, barely $2k more than a honda with less engineering feats and an engine with a poor powerband. Theres a reason the VW 2.0t won world engine of the year two years in a row for its displacement class. In addition to that, thats euros in the article, not dollars, so itll be alot more than $34k of a difference when you factor in exchange rate.
or maybe not who knows the exchange rate these days
the car is road legal… that why it brings the helmet
helmets arent required by law on motorcycles in the US so i dont believe thats why this car has it either.
@A4
Oh I see. I thought the Audi engine was pushing up the price. I guess its other factors.
yea probably overpriced engineering costs thanks to low output numbers
why is it so expensive? uhhh…probably because it’s made out of carbon fiber, has top of the line ohlins suspension and big yummy Brembo brakes. KTM’s philosophy is to go all the way with their products…basically everything is as if it’s been pre-modded form teh factory with all the good stuff.
Carbon fibre monocoques don’t come cheap, ya know!
And never mind the speed…not only is this thing fast, but if you look as the design you will notice something that the Atom doesn’t have…downforce! Check out the underbody diffusers and rear bodywork.
I’d happinly take this, an Atom or an Elise anyday. But what wins it for the KTM is the fact that it’s much less of a ‘kit’ than the Atom…more of a real road car, albeit a minimalist one.
I guess we’ll see how much its really worth when it goes against the Atom on a track.
If there are Ariel Atoms here, I’m sure KBow’s can be also. Just saying that it will never happens shows what you really think.
Am I reading this right the KBOW is 1500 pounds, isn’t the Atom 500lbs? i forget.
however an Audi engine and 0-62 in 3.9 secs nice.
Atom look out
i wonder if top gear will feature it
Many states have mandatory helmet laws. Those that dont are always flirting with it.
i smell
a