KTM X-Bow: the motorcycle firm’s first car

The KTM X-Bow is an ultra-light sports car manufactured by Austrian motorcycle maker KTM. It was the first mass-produced car in the company’s range, unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2008, and was developed in collaboration with KISKA GmbH, Audi and Dallara.

KTM X-Bow at a glance

based on one source

History of the KTM X-Bow

A motorcycle maker builds a car

The X-Bow, pronounced crossbow, is an ultra-light sports car built by KTM, a company known for its motorcycles. It was the first mass-produced car in the firm’s range and was unveiled and launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 2008. The road car was developed in collaboration with the design studio KISKA GmbH, Audi and Dallara, and it uses a carbon fibre monocoque.

Engine and running gear

The X-Bow uses a 2.0-litre transversely mounted turbocharged inline-four from Audi producing 237 hp (177 kW; 240 PS) at 5,500 rpm and 230 lb-ft (310 Nm) of torque between 2,000 and 5,500 rpm. In the X-Bow R of 2011 and later models the Audi engine is further tuned to 300 hp (224 kW; 304 PS) and 400 Nm at 3,300 rpm. Two transmissions were offered: a six-speed manual or a six-speed Holinger twin-clutch DSG sequential manual. Tyres are 205/45 ZR17 at the front and 235/40 ZR18 at the rear, and Brembo brakes use 305 mm discs at the front and 262 mm at the rear. The car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and reaches 217 km/h.

Production

KTM originally planned to build 500 units a year, but high demand led the company to raise production to 1,000 cars a year and to build a new plant near Graz.

The model range

The X-Bow R is an updated version of the original car with the more powerful Audi engine; it was made available in the United States in 2019 as the X-Bow Comp R, which unlike the standard car is not street-legal and is sold for track use only. The X-Bow RR is a high-performance version. The X-Bow GT adds a windscreen and side windows, which raise the weight to 847 kg, slow the 0-97 km/h time to 4.1 seconds, shift the weight distribution to 38:62 and raise the ride height by 10 mm; it also offers 50 litres of luggage space and a centre console adapted for climate control, wiper adjustment and windscreen washing and heating.

GTX and GT-XR

The X-Bow GTX, a long-wheelbase track-only race car, was released in October 2020 and built with Reiter Engineering. It uses a 2.5-litre Audi TFSI 20-valve inline-five from the Audi RS3, keeps the six-speed Holinger sequential transmission and carbon monocoque, and has fully electric power steering. The X-Bow GT-XR is a long-wheelbase street-legal model based on the GTX and GT2 track cars, also built with Reiter Engineering. Its 2.5-litre inline-five produces 493 hp (368 kW; 500 PS) and 582 Nm through a seven-speed DSG, it carries a 95-litre tank, and with a dry weight of 1,250 kg and a 44:56 weight distribution it is the heaviest car in the line-up; the factory quotes 3.4 seconds to 60 mph and 280 km/h, at a price of 284,900 euros.

Motorsport

The X-Bow has been the selected car for the Race of Champions all-star event since 2008. The KTM X-Bow Battle race series started in 2010 and was a support event for the DTM at Adria Raceway in 2010 and the Lausitzring in 2011. Marcus Clutton and Phil Keen won the Supersports category with a modified X-Bow in the 2009 British GT Championship, and a modified car raced in the Supersport category of the 2008 FIA GT4 Championship, taking a podium at Monza and pole position in the wet at Nogaro. Peter Belshaw and Marcus Clutton were the GT4 champions in the 2011 British GT Championship, and the factory X-Bow GT4, built with Reiter Engineering and KISKA, debuted in the 2015 GT4 European Series with a 17 cm longer wheelbase and a closed cockpit.

Design and features

• Carbon monocoque: the same construction idea as a racing car.
• Audi power: a 2.0 TFSI with 237 hp, or 300 hp in the R.
• Ultra-light: 3.9 seconds to 100 km/h and 217 km/h.
• Race pedigree: the chosen car of the Race of Champions since 2008.

KTM X-Bow versions

• X-Bow (2008): the original 237 hp car.
• X-Bow R (2011): 300 hp and 400 Nm; sold in the US from 2019 as the track-only Comp R.
• X-Bow RR: the high-performance version.
• X-Bow GT: windscreen and side windows, 847 kg.
• X-Bow GTX (2020): long-wheelbase track car with a 2.5-litre five.
• X-Bow GT-XR: street-legal long-wheelbase model with 493 hp.

The X-Bow is KTM’s only car; the rest of the range is motorcycles in the KTM collection, among them the 1190 RC8 and the Duke.

Sources

• KTM X-Bow, English Wikipedia: specification, models, motorsport