RE: KTM X-Bow Production Halted
Discussion
dandarez said:
It's not dead?
Come back in 12 months time and say that!
God, if you look back over the last 30 years at the so-called cars that the press told us were supposed to take off that just disappeared without trace you could write a book - probably two or three - about them!
There was one at Silverstone a week ago Sunday - on display and was giving rides
around the circuit prior to the GT race.
Were any in the GT race?
NO.
It'd have to be in GT4.
Why aren't any in the GT4 racing?
Ok it has appeared in the Euro GT4 but it's no contest for the
cheaper British 35k Ginetta G50, winners last year and winners
again this year even though the season hasn't ended!
The mags all love to extoll the virtues of the X-Bow and other similar non-roof vehicles and tend to make them out to be something they are not.
They may be 'track day' cars but they certainly don't seem competitive enough for the 'real' track, or surely there would be some entries, wouldn't there?
The X-Bow competes in the Supersport category of BGT, as you know. Therefore it doesn't directly compete against the G50 (which shouldn't really be in GT4 anyway, as you also know) because it's on road tyres. A mate of mine (Phil Keen) has been driving the KTM on its occasional BGT outings and reckons it's actually a really fun thing to drive, but needs a bit more power. Apparently you can really feel the downforce. Phil made it up to 2nd overall during the wet BGT race at Donington a few weeks ago, which isn't too bad really against the Ferraris, Ford GT, Mosler etc...Come back in 12 months time and say that!
God, if you look back over the last 30 years at the so-called cars that the press told us were supposed to take off that just disappeared without trace you could write a book - probably two or three - about them!
There was one at Silverstone a week ago Sunday - on display and was giving rides
around the circuit prior to the GT race.Were any in the GT race?
NO.
It'd have to be in GT4.
Why aren't any in the GT4 racing?
Ok it has appeared in the Euro GT4 but it's no contest for the
cheaper British 35k Ginetta G50, winners last year and winners
again this year even though the season hasn't ended!
The mags all love to extoll the virtues
of the X-Bow and other similar non-roof vehicles and tend to make them out to be something they are not. They may be 'track day' cars but they certainly don't seem competitive enough for the 'real' track, or surely there would be some entries, wouldn't there?
The KTM doesn't compete in the same class as the Ginetta in Euro GT4 either.
The reason for the lack of appearance at Silverstone a few weeks ago was that the car was back in Austria for a spot of work. So they had a road car giving passenger rides. What was the reason for your little
at the mention of passenger rides?You really should ensure that your facts are correct before you start spouting off with such pomposity.
And in any case, Ginetta would not have made the G50 if Lawrence wasn't bankrolling the whole affair. He has done great things for that company, as I'm sure you'd admit. Presumably, judging by your sycophantic posts all over this forum on anything vaguely Ginetta related, you are hoping to be adopted by Lawrence at some stage. Or you are LT himself. If it's the latter then hello mate, have you found that perfect Quattro low mileage yet?
Wilburo said:
Another reason it might not have sold so well here in the UK is that the equivalent vehicles (Caterham, Lotus 2-11, Atom) are all built in the UK. Cheaper, better-reviewed and home-grown!
The UK does a good turn in ultra-light vehicles
Can't believe no-one has mentioned Radical yet. IMO KTM failed miserably to compete against them, plus those aforementioned.The UK does a good turn in ultra-light vehicles
Hold your horses folks. KTM are preparing a statement to confirm that this is nothing more than a rumour started by an unscrupulous Austrian newspaper. The factory have been on some shutdown time (like many businesses do in August) and they have also been doing some system changes. From a dealer (that's us) point of view we obviously queried this long ago!
I don't want to say more until the official line comes out, but rest assured the beast is not dead!!
...in fact it's very much alive and I've spent many joyous days on track out-cornering Atoms, Caterfields and the like since March this year. Also beat a Caterham R400 by 1.5 seconds in the first sprint I competed in for 18 months. It's a great car and to be honest, you would be hard pushed to spec anything up as high as the X-Bow for the same money.
Greg.
Hangar 111 Lotus & KTM
http://www.hangar111.com
I don't want to say more until the official line comes out, but rest assured the beast is not dead!!
...in fact it's very much alive and I've spent many joyous days on track out-cornering Atoms, Caterfields and the like since March this year. Also beat a Caterham R400 by 1.5 seconds in the first sprint I competed in for 18 months. It's a great car and to be honest, you would be hard pushed to spec anything up as high as the X-Bow for the same money.
Greg.
Hangar 111 Lotus & KTM
http://www.hangar111.com
Edited by GregL on Monday 24th August 17:01
t!
emailiscrap][helpful pedant said:
"appear to have foundered" - might I suggest "appear to have floundered"? [/helpful pedant]
A real pedant writes: "You could suggest that, but then people might think a) you were making an unrelated sea-life reference which didn't pay off or b) you didn't have access to a dictionary when you wrote out your suggestion.glazbagun said:
Sad, but not surprised, either. I stopped reading EVO before the X-Bow made it into production, but it seemed to me that there were far too many companies trying to get into the "ultimate trackday toy" market. More than I imagined customers for even pre-slowdown. Was/is there a race series for things like this and the two eleven? I'm admittedly too poor to ever entertain bombing around a track for a hobby, but it would surely be more fun, and justifiable an expense if you could sign up fora series with your new toy.
Aye it's the economic climate, the x-bow always seemed a bit flashy and would have been popular when a year or two ago any old tom dick or 'arry could stroll into the bank and say "next door have just bought a boxster, whack another £100k on the mortgage, I'm having a x-bow and a new kitchen"Now that money "doesn't exist any more", and those still with money to spend were/are a bit more carefull.
Cant say I am surprised, atleast with their lack of popularity in the UK. I think most people who own one of these would have it as part of a fair sized fleet as opposed to just a second car.
Has there ever been a Nurburgring time for the X-Bow? I am not usually bothered about these things but with Radical in the news and the fact they're not a million miles from the Ring it'd seem an obvious test. Surely it cant be that bad?
Has there ever been a Nurburgring time for the X-Bow? I am not usually bothered about these things but with Radical in the news and the fact they're not a million miles from the Ring it'd seem an obvious test. Surely it cant be that bad?
Email from KTM this evening, clarifying the situation.
Dear all,
Some of you may have seen an article published on www.Pistonheads.com today that makes reference to the factory shutdown at KTM. This article was based upon a news item published in Austria over the weekend. In anticipation that this might raise some concerns, I'd like to clarify the situation.
KTM is not immune to the current global recession and the company has taken the logical step of scaling back its manufacturing output in line with prevailing market conditions. In this respect it is following the example set by a great many of Europe's leading carmakers: Porsche, Jaguar Land Rover, Bentley, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, GM, Nissan and Fiat - among others - have already announced or implemented their own plans to reduce production or cut it altogether for significant periods during 2009.
I would also like to point out that the stock of '80 cars still unsold' referred to in the Pistonheads article has been produced deliberately, ahead of the planned factory closure, in order that KTM can continue to sell cars and fulfil orders through the remainder of 2009. In line with KTM's current sales strategy, all of these vehicles are expected to be sold by the end of the year.
I would like to stress that KTM's temporary factory shutdown is by no means an end to the X-BOW project, and production will resume in early January 2010.
Many thanks again to you all for your continued support.
With very best regards,
Jeff.
Dear all,
Some of you may have seen an article published on www.Pistonheads.com today that makes reference to the factory shutdown at KTM. This article was based upon a news item published in Austria over the weekend. In anticipation that this might raise some concerns, I'd like to clarify the situation.
KTM is not immune to the current global recession and the company has taken the logical step of scaling back its manufacturing output in line with prevailing market conditions. In this respect it is following the example set by a great many of Europe's leading carmakers: Porsche, Jaguar Land Rover, Bentley, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, GM, Nissan and Fiat - among others - have already announced or implemented their own plans to reduce production or cut it altogether for significant periods during 2009.
I would also like to point out that the stock of '80 cars still unsold' referred to in the Pistonheads article has been produced deliberately, ahead of the planned factory closure, in order that KTM can continue to sell cars and fulfil orders through the remainder of 2009. In line with KTM's current sales strategy, all of these vehicles are expected to be sold by the end of the year.
I would like to stress that KTM's temporary factory shutdown is by no means an end to the X-BOW project, and production will resume in early January 2010.
Many thanks again to you all for your continued support.
With very best regards,
Jeff.
GregL said:
Email from KTM this evening, clarifying the situation.
Dear all,
Some of you may have seen an article published on www.Pistonheads.com today that makes reference to the factory shutdown at KTM. This article was based upon a news item published in Austria over the weekend. In anticipation that this might raise some concerns, I'd like to clarify the situation.
KTM is not immune to the current global recession and the company has taken the logical step of scaling back its manufacturing output in line with prevailing market conditions. In this respect it is following the example set by a great many of Europe's leading carmakers: Porsche, Jaguar Land Rover, Bentley, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, GM, Nissan and Fiat - among others - have already announced or implemented their own plans to reduce production or cut it altogether for significant periods during 2009.
I would also like to point out that the stock of '80 cars still unsold' referred to in the Pistonheads article has been produced deliberately, ahead of the planned factory closure, in order that KTM can continue to sell cars and fulfil orders through the remainder of 2009. In line with KTM's current sales strategy, all of these vehicles are expected to be sold by the end of the year.
I would like to stress that KTM's temporary factory shutdown is by no means an end to the X-BOW project, and production will resume in early January 2010.
Many thanks again to you all for your continued support.
With very best regards,
Jeff.
Did you tell them it was 20-50k too expensive too Dear all,
Some of you may have seen an article published on www.Pistonheads.com today that makes reference to the factory shutdown at KTM. This article was based upon a news item published in Austria over the weekend. In anticipation that this might raise some concerns, I'd like to clarify the situation.
KTM is not immune to the current global recession and the company has taken the logical step of scaling back its manufacturing output in line with prevailing market conditions. In this respect it is following the example set by a great many of Europe's leading carmakers: Porsche, Jaguar Land Rover, Bentley, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, GM, Nissan and Fiat - among others - have already announced or implemented their own plans to reduce production or cut it altogether for significant periods during 2009.
I would also like to point out that the stock of '80 cars still unsold' referred to in the Pistonheads article has been produced deliberately, ahead of the planned factory closure, in order that KTM can continue to sell cars and fulfil orders through the remainder of 2009. In line with KTM's current sales strategy, all of these vehicles are expected to be sold by the end of the year.
I would like to stress that KTM's temporary factory shutdown is by no means an end to the X-BOW project, and production will resume in early January 2010.
Many thanks again to you all for your continued support.
With very best regards,
Jeff.
Funnily enough no. The price isn't the problem. The climate is the problem for most people. I think this was raised earlier. It's not just X-Bow's people aren't buying. The poeple with the money for the high-end stuff (like the X-Bow) are still buying but they are more cautious about their investment.
My belief is that once we start to get some good news out of the unfortunate media-induced doom-and-gloom sales will increase.
It is worth noting that there are still cars selling in the UK & Europe.
The Atom and Caterhams are both good cars and have their markets. Those that compare them to the X-Bow should really drive both to see the differences.
My belief is that once we start to get some good news out of the unfortunate media-induced doom-and-gloom sales will increase.
It is worth noting that there are still cars selling in the UK & Europe.
The Atom and Caterhams are both good cars and have their markets. Those that compare them to the X-Bow should really drive both to see the differences.
It doesn't take a genius really does it? its too expensive by a long way and too heavy to compete with the likes of Catherham and Ariel.
I'm not exactly sure what this car is meant to compete against. having seen one in the flesh they look fantastic but they are at least 20k too dear.
I'm not exactly sure what this car is meant to compete against. having seen one in the flesh they look fantastic but they are at least 20k too dear.
5 USA said:
Absolutely love the X-Bow. Saw my first one on show at Le Mans last year and have since found a couple in UK. Returning from the Dutch Spring Run in May we saw a car transporter carrying five shrink-wrapped X-Bows (3 orange and 2 white) for delivery to lucky customers. I'd love a car like that but it needs to have a windscreen and a rudimentary soft-top to tempt my wallet into daylight!
So come on guys,
... Renault did it (Sport Spider)
... Ariel did it (Atom)
Fit a bloomin' windscreen!!
So come on guys,
... Renault did it (Sport Spider)
... Ariel did it (Atom)
Fit a bloomin' windscreen!!
GregL said:
Funnily enough no. The price isn't the problem. The climate is the problem for most people. I think this was raised earlier. It's not just X-Bow's people aren't buying. The poeple with the money for the high-end stuff (like the X-Bow) are still buying but they are more cautious about their investment.
My belief is that once we start to get some good news out of the unfortunate media-induced doom-and-gloom sales will increase.
It is worth noting that there are still cars selling in the UK & Europe.
The Atom and Caterhams are both good cars and have their markets. Those that compare them to the X-Bow should really drive both to see the differences.
Let's not pretend that the Atom/Caterham/X-bow are different markets. They're the same market. At the end of the day KTM made an inferior car to the two British offerings and they're surprised that the UK isn't taking to it? I saw one up close and was amazed at how wide it was, which was not only confusing (as in, er, why?) but ruined the styling. And not only could you pick up something infinitely quicker for less money (and let's not forget Lotus and Radical), if you wanted something genuinely innovative at the top end of the market you could buy an IFR Aspid. My belief is that once we start to get some good news out of the unfortunate media-induced doom-and-gloom sales will increase.
It is worth noting that there are still cars selling in the UK & Europe.
The Atom and Caterhams are both good cars and have their markets. Those that compare them to the X-Bow should really drive both to see the differences.
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