Tuesday 11th November 2014

KTM plans new X-Bow GT4 racer

Latest customer racing project will see Reiter Engineering build an X-Bow coupe

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What with electric motocross bikes and its latest single-cylinder Enduros, KTM's eye has been away from the car game for a little while. But the X-Bow is very much still around, and the Austrian company has now detailed its plans to race its car again.

Well obviously it's orange

Again? Yes, the latest GT4 X-Bow is a follow-up to the original 2008 version, a car that in fact won the European GT4 Championship six years ago. As you can see, the new car carries the significant addition of a roof for the first time, presumably for aerodynamic benefit.

Reiter Engineering will build the car again but as yet there are no further details on the X-Bow GT4. Reiter is notable for having campaigned a Chevrolet Camaro GT3 to attract 'a younger public' than its Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 car. It seems like a good team to have building your racing car. Hans Reiter said of the news: "Now is the ideal time to introduce a revolutionary new vehicle concept into international customer motorsport... I'm convinced that the new model will attract a lot of interest and will be very successful internationally."

The X-Bow will be eligible to compete against a wealth of other GT4-spec cars in series like British GT and the GT4 European Series. The cars include Lotus Evora, Ginetta G55, Aston V8, Toyota GT86 and Porsche 911. KTM hasn't released a date yet for the GT4's release but here's hoping for a 2015 season debut.

[Fury1630]

Hopefully it'll look less like a transformer caught half way through unfolding

[jamespink]

Fury1630 said:

Hopefully it'll look less like a transformer caught half way through unfolding

There's a picture of the new car in the article, it does.

[scubadude]

Fury1630 said:

Hopefully it'll look less like a transformer caught half way through unfolding

:-)

Hard to believe it'll look any worse, fingers x'd they can fix the mistake of the first tone.

[darth_pies]

scubadude said:

:-)

Hard to believe it'll look any worse, fingers x'd they can fix the mistake of the first tone.

Seriously? The X-bow has some issues as a track-car proposition but looks are far from top of the list IMO.

Without the huge mass of an uninspiring Audi drivetrain, with some weather equipment and more focus on agility instead of massive grip, it could have been awesome. Oh, there was also the small issue that it was launched at a price north of 80 grand....

[usualdog]

Looks like a 21st century Dutton Phaeton.

[Amirhussain]

I think it looks awesome, and if I had the money I definitely would.

[Leggy]

A million times better looking than a Zenos.