February25
With the production version of its Audi-powered, carbon-chassis X-Bow track car due for unveiling at the Geneva Auto Show on March 4, KTM will mark the start of its growth to become a sports car maker, a recent report out of the U.K. reveals. The Austrian motorcycle company plans on defining a new niche in the sports car market, using Lotus’s earlier years as an example.
“We expect to be producing five versions of the X-Bow,” Stefan Pierer, KTM’s CEO, told Car. He said the added models will push production to 2,000 or 2,500 units a year, according to the U.K.'s Car magazine. One such variant would be a hardtop X-Bow Coupe. Another would be an off-roader.
He went on to say KTM wants to be a "serious player" in the high-end sports car arena. "Everything we do already in motorcycles, we want to do in cars," he said.
The idea is nothing new to KTM, as it already uses a basic engine and chassis design to produce a range of motorcycles with decidedly differing missions in life.
The X-Bows went from a prototype to production in just a single year, and with most of the hard bits already in place, the variations can fly out of the Austrian factory at a quick pace. Pierer revealed the X-Bow will be followed by a race version to compete in the FIA GT championship’s GT4 Light division, while 2009 will see a version with a roof and doors. The latter will be the basis for a fourth variant, powered by a 330 horsepower engine based on the one found in the Audi S3.
While the plans are ambitious, KTM intends to prove the mettle of its new products – and garner the associated attention – by attacking some of the world’s most exclusive racing events with vehicles based largely on the X-Bow’s underpinnings. To prove itself on the off-road circuit where KTM’s motorcycles have enjoyed so much success, Pierer points out the X-Bow has been designed to offer a strong foundation for an off-road machine, and the company is considering entering it in the Dakar rally.
A new challenge for the company remains on-road supremacy however, and Pierer plans to tackle that with a LeMans endurance racer he calls the “four-wheeled equivalent of the RC8,” referring to the superbike recently launched by KTM.
I hope you know it's not pronounced as it is spelled.
They'll have to have a shootout to see. The X-bow looks more effective on first impressions than the Atom.
KTM X-Bow
Ariel Atom
Lotus 2-Eleven
Campagna T-Rex
This would be a great shoot out!!!
The T-Rex would win the awesome factor, but the lack of one rear tire, and it's habit of kicking everything up into the cockpit will lose it a lot of points in performance (it's too touchy) and "get along" categories.
The 2-Eleven would be the most drivable to and form the track but might suffer a lose on weight having the only full body and frame, albeit made of aluminum.
The Atom would be awesome all around. It doesn't kid about practicality so you aren't too surprised to get track water splashed in your face, but the lack of aerodynamics limits high-speed ability. This is knit-picking as the cars duking it out aren't meant for ultimate speed. Kicking it to 150mph seems to be the arena they gladiate in.
The X-Bow whups with few weaknesses and is honestly ready for more speed than the Atom. The Atom is a more exciting and tactile experience while the X-bow feels more professional though maybe a bit cold. Still if you wanted a car that looks and acts like a winner, the X-bow is your car.
The Atom is still a solid rival, like the Vette to the 911. Both having their strengths and failings but still get the job done better than most. Ultimately, it would come down to who you like more between the Atom and X-bow.
The 2-Eleven would be the car most will buy due to it's lower cost, $20K or so as I last read it. But you would get a car that could smoke a Mazdaspeed Miata, S2000, Solstice GXP, and the list goes on. Barely street legal these cars don't have to worry about facing one until track day. But when they do, they will face one of a handful of cars that only needs it's brakes at the end of the race.
The T-Rex… wear a rain slicker or a wet suit and lay off the caffeine 12 hours before driving. Taken to the limit, this killer trike will come loose fast and suddenly if handles like it has four wheels. But with practice and experience, this car can become your best friend, if you have moves like Bruce Lee or roller skates.
Personal choice for winner: X-Bow because I like it's looks.
^Thanks for that awesome report, Blakkarr. Next up, Will Hyundai join in on this lightweight sports car fad? Tonight At 10pm.
Nah, Suzuki will.
see here: http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/2008/top-2008-SUB-G1.htm
this thing looks way better than the atom or the lotus