RE: KTM X-Bow Production Halted
Monday 24th August 2009
Is it only the Brits that can make a decent fist of featherweight hardcore sports cars? Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM's ambitious plans for its X-Bow sports car appear to have been scaled back, according to reports in the Austrian press.
KTM X-Bow Production Halted
Austrian 'bike firm scales down ambitions for X-Bow as many cars remain unsold
Just one year after it built its first car, KTM has had to stop production of the X-Bow, after having sold fewer cars than expected.
KTM initially planned to build around 1000 X-Bows a year, but the global economic crisis has hit the pricey track toy hard, and KTM now says it is aiming to build between 200 and 300 cars a year for the foreseeable future.
For now, with 500 X-Bows built so far and 80 still unsold, KTM has stopped production at its Graz facility, although production is slated to resume in January 2010.
KTM had hoped that the UK would be one of its strongest markets. But despite plenty of critical acclaim (not least among those on the PH team who have been lucky enough to get a go in one), the KTM hasn't sold all that well here, with only 23 examples registered in the UK so far.
Discussion
Such a shame, but I have to agree, it'll be the price that scuppered it. Although not as pretty (but who cares "that" much about looks with a stripped out, arse on the floor, trackday go-kart) the Caterhams offer a fairly similar experience for roughly half the price of thier bottom of the range model (50k) I didnt realise until today, they did an 80k model!!! 80k!!!! 
Plus the 2-11 out handled it for less money too and there's the Atom which is a similar price to the 2-11 but even more bonkers in a straight line (although not round the corners).
As above price and timing didn't help it but lets not forget they are only scaling production down, not killing it.
As above price and timing didn't help it but lets not forget they are only scaling production down, not killing it.
It really is too much money. £80k will get you a GT3 for goodness sake! Expecting them to be just a bit more than the average quick Caterham, I was hoping to get an X-Bow before they announced the price. £30k-£50 would have made it a far more viable prospect as a weekend toy. It also needed just a little more power, which I know ABT have been able to deliver.
Such a shame, because in my opinion, the X-Bow is the coolest looking of all its rivals. I really hope KTM are able to make what ever changes they need to make to keep the X-Bow viable.
Such a shame, because in my opinion, the X-Bow is the coolest looking of all its rivals. I really hope KTM are able to make what ever changes they need to make to keep the X-Bow viable.
That's a shame, but predictable.
I test drove one of these last year at a KTM-organised day when i was thinking of buying one as a track-toy, but thought better of it.
Its fair to say that the odds were stacked against it:
- Way too expensive for its performance versus Lotus 2-11, Atom and Caterham R500
- Price kept creeping up before launch and more and more equipment became 'compulsory optional extras' so that you couldn't buy one for less than 55k or something.
- With all the carbon fibre bits (as normally pictured in the media) full price was about 85k
- Despite all that expensive carbon and the extreme no roof/doors style the car weighed as much as an Exige
- KTM wouldn't allow test drives on the road and insisted you pay for a 400 quid driving experience day which they would refund if you bought one. That put some people i know right off.
- My personal view was that the whole car was too wide, heavy and 'safe' with the excitement engineered out. Typically slow throttle repsonse from the Audi turbo engine. No 'character' or wild engine note. The looks were extreme but its felt a lot like driving an Audi! (in a bad way!)
Of course, we're spoilt in the UK because we can buy Atoms, R500's etc which aren't approved elsewhere in Europe. But KTM seemed to think they'd discovered some magic formula and ignored the competition, producing something quantifiably heavier, slower, less practical and more expensive to run than cars already for sale - at twice the price!
I still think it looks visually awesome though
RIP
I test drove one of these last year at a KTM-organised day when i was thinking of buying one as a track-toy, but thought better of it.
Its fair to say that the odds were stacked against it:
- Way too expensive for its performance versus Lotus 2-11, Atom and Caterham R500
- Price kept creeping up before launch and more and more equipment became 'compulsory optional extras' so that you couldn't buy one for less than 55k or something.
- With all the carbon fibre bits (as normally pictured in the media) full price was about 85k
- Despite all that expensive carbon and the extreme no roof/doors style the car weighed as much as an Exige
- KTM wouldn't allow test drives on the road and insisted you pay for a 400 quid driving experience day which they would refund if you bought one. That put some people i know right off.
- My personal view was that the whole car was too wide, heavy and 'safe' with the excitement engineered out. Typically slow throttle repsonse from the Audi turbo engine. No 'character' or wild engine note. The looks were extreme but its felt a lot like driving an Audi! (in a bad way!)
Of course, we're spoilt in the UK because we can buy Atoms, R500's etc which aren't approved elsewhere in Europe. But KTM seemed to think they'd discovered some magic formula and ignored the competition, producing something quantifiably heavier, slower, less practical and more expensive to run than cars already for sale - at twice the price!
I still think it looks visually awesome though
RIPSad, 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.
rhinochopig said:
Wonder if it would have worked commercially if they sold it for between £25/30k in terms of potentially hugely increased unit sales?
I doubt it in this market. the 2007 one may be, but not today.When i first saw this at LM a number of years ago i was actually quite excited as i saw it as being perhaps the modern answer to Mr Chapmans splendidly honed basic design. When i saw the price i thought it was a joke at first. Seriously they would have got away with a halo model and a 'club' spec basic one at £35-40k but when you are up to £50k for entry model's you are talking serious competition as most who can afford £50k on a 'fun' car can usually stretch to the extra for something they can drive to the dinner dance as well as round the track.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff