Tuesday 28th September 2010

KTM Shows Off Extreme X-Bow R

Hardcore X-Bow snapped at the 'Ring

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This is the first working prototype of the new KTM X-Bow R, a hardcore version of the already pretty hardcore track car from the Austrian bike maker.

After a couple of years on sale, and 500 X-Bows down the line, KTM has decided that the time is right for a faster version, and has given the R 300horsepower - up from the original's 240hp.

In order to get the extra power from the Audi-sourced turbocharged 2.0-litre motor KTM says, rather endearingly, that it has made, "changes to the engine electronics and peripheral devices" to boost the engine to 300 horsepower.

The X-Bow R isn't just a matter of extra power, however; the engine has also been lowered in the chassis for an improved centre of gravity, and two optional equipment packages have been revealed. These are 'Sport' for road-going X-Bows, and 'Race', for those who don't want to compromise on-circuit performance in the cause of a pesky numberplate and tax disc.

KTM also says that its existing customers will be able to make many of the R upgrades to their own cars.

That's it for details for now - KTM promises more pics, prices and specs in the new year...

[BBS-LM]

So all KTM did was give the car a re-map. That just a lack of effort.

[Wollcage]

BBS-LM said:

So all KTM did was give the car a re-map. That just a lack of effort.

may i draw your attention to paragraph four...

[Mr Gear]

Am I right in thinking that the X-Bow has virtually killed KTM's profitability?

[Corsair7]

KTM Management: "How do we make the XBow more appealing?"

PR Guru: "I know, lets launch a more extreme track orientated version"

X-Bow owner "Isn't that what you sold me in the first place...? "

[WMP]

These are unfortunately never going to fulfil their promise.

Unless they get 450bhp out of the engine, dump 150kgs, make the handling more 'playful' and drop the price to £40k-£45k they won't sell enough to make it worth their while.

[RobM77]

They've lowered it and remapped the engine?! To me it seems like an effort to get more press exposure to be honest. I'm not normally cynical, but I read and watched all the reviews of this car and none of them were particularly good. Mine'll be a Lotus 2-11 supercharged please

[Sicob]

It was a shopping trolley before, so glad they have made the effort to make it a bit more track focussed.

[KrissJ]

Regardless of the lukewarm responses on here so far, I must pipe up and add that I think it looks absolutely stunning.

[cgt]

Corsair7 said:

KTM Management: "How do we make the XBow more appealing?"

PR Guru: "I know, lets launch a more extreme track orientated version"

X-Bow owner "Isn't that what you sold me in the first place...? "

...I was thinking exactly the same.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Mr Gear said:

Am I right in thinking that the X-Bow has virtually killed KTM's profitability?

They've certainly taken a bath on the thing with sales way below their hopes and expectations.

IMO making it more hardcore is the wrong direction for the company. In order to sell it to human beings they need to get a windscreen on it and a rudimentary rain cover (along the lines of Boxster Spyder).

There will only ever be a tiny number of people wanting to spend £50k+ on a trackday special.

[RobM77]

Ozzie Osmond said:

Mr Gear said:

Am I right in thinking that the X-Bow has virtually killed KTM's profitability?

They've certainly taken a bath on the thing with sales way below their hopes and expectations.

IMO making it more hardcore is the wrong direction for the company. In order to sell it to human beings they need to get a windscreen on it and a rudimentary rain cover (along the lines of Boxster Spyder).

There will only ever be a tiny number of people wanting to spend £50k+ on a trackday special.

Hmm.. I'm sure KTM would have expected similar sales to the Caterham 7 aeroscreened cars, Lotus 2-11 or Ariel Atom. The surprise for KTM was the car's poor reception. It just wasn't a driver's car apparently - turbocharged throttle response, not much feedback, and not particularly friendly handling - that was reported by almost all the journos that drove it. I don't think it's a bad car (Evo liked it when they took one to the Arctic Circle recently), it's just that the 2-11 and Caterham 7 are said to be better.

[[AJ]]

I love the X-Bow, but I really wish it was better. I needs more power, it needs to be lighter and it needs to be cheaper. With 300bhp, the power is now probably sufficient, but no doubt that will come at a further price increase. A fully specced car is pretty much up in GT3 money. That's crazy considering what you get!

As a track specific car, it's just not worth more than a far superior Radical, or twice a Caterham R500.

[300bhp/ton]

Corsair7 said:

KTM Management: "How do we make the XBow more appealing?"

PR Guru: "I know, lets launch a more extreme track orientated version"

X-Bow owner "Isn't that what you sold me in the first place...? "

[SpunkyM]

I remember being really excited about this when pricing was first announced a few years ago. Unfortunately it ended up being £20K more when it came to fruition. I'm not sure it ever needed more power. It needed a simple screen so you didn't have to wear a crash helmet every time and it needed to be under £30K. The supercharged atom seems to be able to do a decent throttle response.

You would hope that in materials cost it is significantly under £30K so really all they need to do is try to suck some dev cost back. So, what do they think is the best plan... sell 500 cars at £50K ech or 5000 cars at £30K. Go figure.

[RobM77]

I always liked the look of the Brooke. I had a short ride in one on a pouring wet track day once with an average driver, which incidentally was awful as it had no seat and I was moving around all over the place, but there seemed nothing basically wrong with it, and it looks great. I had a look at their website recently and they can offer a 400bhp model giving around 800bhp/tonne.

As above though, a 2-11 or an R500 is less money. That and that alone is the KTM's problem given how highly regarded those cars are.

[Nickellarse]

Not convinced at all. I'm not sure I see the benefits for the monies it will cost.

If someone is that concerned about low COG and tweaked handling then they buy a track only race car which is light, quick and agile.

What's the point in a tweaked road car that you can't take on the road?

[Mini1275]

I'd rather have an Atom thanks.

[nastywej]

Mini1275 said:

I'd rather have an Atom thanks.

Really?

Have you ever driven the X-Bow?

[Stephanie Plum]

I like them but you do need to spend decent money on a standard car to keep up with the competition. I nearly bought an Atom but then saw sense and went for the 2-11 If neither of those cars had existed then I might have bought an XBow, but the competition was just too stiff. However, production of the 2-11 is now finished - so maybe the X Bow does have a future if they price it right?

I hope it's lack of sales doesn't put other manufacturers off designing and building track cars though - life would be very boring without cars like this I think.

[anonymous-user]

So new engine mounts to lower the engine 5mm, switch the turbo and remap.

I guess I just expected more but it was always going to be difficult upstaging a car that was supposed to be very hardcore in the first place.