New KTM X-Bow Arrow heads off-road
We've all seen UTVs before - nothing quite like this though
There has been some kind of X-Bow for almost 20 years now, from the original stripped-out sports car to the very latest GT-XR road racers. Now it’s time for something very different; as the off-road sports car continues to gain traction (in every sense), so KTM X-Bow - a separate company from KTM bikes - is taking the idea to the extreme: this is the X-Bow Arrow. The perfect thing to go alongside a crossbow, of course, is an arrow…
While resembling a regular Utility Terrain Vehicle in these renders, the Arrow is a rather more specialist machine (not least as it has a Golf GTI engine in it). The more accurate comparison might be with an Ariel Nomad, with a similar kind of off-road, rally-raid feel. KTM X-Bow suggests that its latest creation combines ‘extensive automotive engineering and manufacturing expertise with high-tech solutions and components informed by experience in the world’s most demanding off-road competitions’.
The idea came from a guy called Guillaume de Mévius, an X-Bow owner and Dakar competitor with the vision of meeting the KTM two- and four-wheel offerings somewhere in the middle. The frame and chassis have been built tough by KTM Components, with Audi providing the power as it has done for KTM cars since the original X-Bow. Here the venerable EA888 is in the belly of the beast somewhere, providing 280hp or 330hp depending on spec. Which sounds like more than plenty given the size of the Arrow. While there is an enclosed cabin with what looks like quite a nice interior, complete with Sabelt seats, screens, levers, buttons and GoPro mounts, there’s clearly not very much vehicle here. In the region of 300hp and a dual clutch will be ample for around a tonne of welded tubular steel frame.
At launch, there will be an Arrow offered alongside a Black Limited Edition as ‘the ultimate expression of the platform.’ More than just the colour, it offers the 330hp tune and some useful off-road hardware upgrades. So there’s extra aluminium body protection (rather than plastic), beadlock rather than regular wheels, LSDs on both axles, electrically adjustable dampers, hydraulic bump stops and a winch. There will be just 500 of those available globally. All Arrows, however, come pretty well equipped for life in the rough, with 600mm of wheel travel from and rear (the dampers have been designed with KW Reiger), the giant Maxxis off-road tyres, low range built into the DSG and selectable four-wheel drive. KTM is also suggesting already that the Arrow will be compliant with rules around road use, at least up to US and T1b requirements for now.
KTM X-Bow Ambassador Puck Klaassen has lent a hand in Arrow development, bringing with her a wealth of rally raid and motocross experience. She said: “As a driver, what immediately stands out about the Arrow is how connected it feels to the terrain. You have the performance and responsiveness you expect from a competition vehicle, but with a level of comfort and refinement that makes it just as exciting to drive outside of a race environment. It feels like a completely different approach to what a side-by-side can be.” Sounds pretty exciting to us, especially at a price that doesn’t sound absurd as well. The Black obviously carries a premium, and will be offered first at $98,600; after that, though, the Arrow will be $60k. Already there’s a mention of prices in euros, which is encouraging, so it seems unlikely that this will be a US-only prospect. Our National Parks might not be quite as epic for off-roading, though there’d surely be demand if it really could cost around £50k.
KTM X-Bow CEO Michael Wolfing added: “The KTM X-Bow Arrow is designed to raise the standard in the premium side-by-side market, going beyond traditional expectations of what an off-road vehicle can be. By combining our automotive engineering expertise with our 20 years of experience from the world’s most demanding motorsport and off-road competitions, we are bringing a new level of performance, refinement and driver engagement to the segment.” Bring it on!
May have missed it in the blurb but only thing that would be nice is if it could be RWD / AWD switchable? Big part of the appeal of the Nomad is the ability to slide it about the place at will.
Whoever gets to do the test of this vs Nomad 2 vs Can Am Maverick is going to be a very happy boy (can I come
)
king yes!Nomad 2 is about the most appealing new car on sale for me right now (honourable mention to the Wells Vertige and Morgan Supersport) - if this gets released it is absolutely the top of my list as a 'daily'.
Absolutely bloody love it.
king yes!Nomad 2 is about the most appealing new car on sale for me right now (honourable mention to the Wells Vertige and Morgan Supersport) - if this gets released it is absolutely the top of my list as a 'daily'.
Absolutely bloody love it.
I'm a weird fella, and would not want it as an 'occasional toy' - I'd commute in it! So the ingress/egress of the first gen would be a challenge for me (tried it out prior to launch at FoS).
This, with enclosed cabin? Hell yeah!
king yes!Nomad 2 is about the most appealing new car on sale for me right now (honourable mention to the Wells Vertige and Morgan Supersport) - if this gets released it is absolutely the top of my list as a 'daily'.Absolutely bloody love it. 
At initial glance, you'd need to do a reasonable amount at the front end for edge/apertures, wheel covers obvs, and possibly there'd be some issues with windscreen wipers and such?
Removing the limiter will be easy, especially with that engine. Emissions 'should' be fine, although doubt it has any form of catalytic converter.
At initial glance, you'd need to do a reasonable amount at the front end for edge/apertures, wheel covers obvs, and possibly there'd be some issues with windscreen wipers and such?
At initial glance, you'd need to do a reasonable amount at the front end for edge/apertures, wheel covers obvs, and possibly there'd be some issues with windscreen wipers and such?
It's so early, there's no real indication of what their plans are other than US release and a pricing also stated in euros.
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