Motor Authority - blog Tag: KTM

Between the Ariel Atom, Lotus 2-Eleven, the various Caterham Lotus 7 derivatives and the KTM X-Bow, there's no shortage of excellent track-specific open-air and semi-open-wheel toys out there for those with a real need for speed. But so far, demand for the KTM X-Bow hasn't been enough to keep sales going, and KTM is shutting down production to help balance inventory.

Perhaps it's unsurprising that a niche sports car  should find itself in financial difficulty during the worst recession in decades, but on the other hand, the car was never intended to be a high-volume seller - only 1,000 of the cars were planned, even though several special...

Between the Ariel Atom, Lotus 2-Eleven, the various Caterham Lotus 7 derivatives and the KTM X-Bow, there's no shortage of excellent track-specific open-air and semi-open-wheel toys out there for those with a real need for speed. But so far, demand for the KTM X-Bow hasn't been enough to keep sales going, and KTM is shutting down production to help balance inventory. Perhaps it's unsurprising that a niche sports car  should find itself in financial difficulty during the worst recession in decades, but on the other hand, the car was never intended to be a high-volume seller - only 1,000 of the cars were planned, even though several special editions and a GT4-homologated race car are among the offerings. Only 420 have been sold to date, and there are close to 80 unsold X-Bows sitting in dealer and factory inventory right now, meaning the production run must be stopped at its half-way point for the time being. Those that had planned to get their track-day toy once the economy righted itself need not start cross-shopping Atoms and Caterhams, however, as KTM does plan to re-initiate productino next year, boosting output to 200 units annually to make up for the down time once people start spending again. [Le Blog Auto] Read More

KTM's X-Bow doesn't really need any help to be extreme. It is born that way. But MTM wasn't satisfied, so they took their tuning ways to the car's engine and brakes to make it even more of a trackday star.

The standard X-Bow only sports a 240hp (179kW) four-banger but it's strapped to a lightweight chassis that lets it spint to 60mph in under 4 seconds. The MTM X-Bow ought to knock even more time off that figure with its 318hp (237kW) and 310lb-ft of torque. The extra power comes by way of a special conversion kit the details of which MTM hasn't yet released.

Adding to the MTM X-Bow's performance ability is a set of four-piston Brembo... KTM's X-Bow doesn't really need any help to be extreme. It is born that way. But MTM wasn't satisfied, so they took their tuning ways to the car's engine and brakes to make it even more of a trackday star. The standard X-Bow only sports a 240hp (179kW) four-banger but it's strapped to a lightweight chassis that lets it spint to 60mph in under 4 seconds. The MTM X-Bow ought to knock even more time off that figure with its 318hp (237kW) and 310lb-ft of torque. The extra power comes by way of a special conversion kit the details of which MTM hasn't yet released. Adding to the MTM X-Bow's performance ability is a set of four-piston Brembo calipers, 305mm rotors and 18in alloy wheels. Nokian Hakkapelliita-4 tires in 245/40 provide the sticky. Top speed rises just a tick to 156mph (251km/h) - plenty fast in an open-cockpit car unless you've got GP-driver neck muscles. For those lucky Europeans with an X-Bow and money to burn, the MTM kit will add €7,310 ($9,670) to the price of the car, or €64,263 ($85,000) including X-Bow, tax and installation.KTM X-Bow by MTM Read More

If you want to go fast around a track, chances are you already know about the KTM X-Bow - but you may not know about the four new variants introduced today in Geneva. Even as the model range expands, however, KTM is drawing back production to meet the receding market.

The familiar KTM X-Bow is now the X-Bow Street - the everyday road-legal track-day car, and the least expensive of the bunch at €49,980 ($62,750). Its 240hp (177kW) engine and low 1,741lb (790kg) curb weight combine to make it the most efficient of the range as well.

Next up is the Clubsport, which adds a finer-tuned chassis and €10,000 to the price, though the... If you want to go fast around a track, chances are you already know about the KTM X-Bow - but you may not know about the four new variants introduced today in Geneva. Even as the model range expands, however, KTM is drawing back production to meet the receding market. The familiar KTM X-Bow is now the X-Bow Street - the everyday road-legal track-day car, and the least expensive of the bunch at €49,980 ($62,750). Its 240hp (177kW) engine and low 1,741lb (790kg) curb weight combine to make it the most efficient of the range as well. Next up is the Clubsport, which adds a finer-tuned chassis and €10,000 to the price, though the powertrain remains the same. It's still street legal, but it adds many race-car features, such as individually adjustable pedals, fire extinguisher and dry battery, double adjustable dampers and a mechanical limited-slip differential. All of the upgrades do add some weight, however, with the Clubsport tipping the scales at 1,774lb (805kg). Shaving weight is left to the Superlight model, which replaces the body panels with lighter-weight carbon fiber for real gains through added lightness. The features of the Superlight echo those of the Clubsport, but with significantly less weight: 1,730lb (785kg) at the curb. Lightness is one of the most expensive things in motorsports, however, and the price reflects that: the Superlight starts at €79,980 ($100,400). For a true race-car experience, you have to go for the GT4 edition, previously known as the 'Race', which as the name suggest is homologated to FIA GT4 standards. Extensive use of carbon fiber for aerodynamic and body elements offsets some of the weight added for homologation, but the car is still the heaviest of the group at 1,818lb (825kg). The GT4's price tag is a cool €82,900 ($104,000). Finally, there's the ROC, named for the Race of Champions - a special stadium-race held among the top finishers in motorsport around the world, from NASCAR to WRC to Formula 1 and more to sort out who's the best of the best. Features of the ROC are somewhere between the Street and Clubsport packages, with the LSD and adjustable pedals making for a fun and comfortable driving experience. Full ROC livery is also part of the package. Only 30 units of the ROC will be built, and its price reflects its limited status, at €69,980 ($87,900). Which brings us back around to KTM's decision to pull down production numbers. About 400 of the standard X-Bow have been sold so far, and KTM had envisioned output of about 1,000 per year. It has reduced its target to just 600 now, however, due to the fallen market. Nevertheless, the widened X-Bow range means there'll be something for everyone that wants to buy one, provided they can find one to buy.KTM X-Bow range Read More

Track lovers and auto geeks are intimately familiar with KTM's X-Bow, its raucous design the embodiment of a four-wheeled space craft. Now the company is promising two new models and a tiered lineup for its automotive range.

The prospect of what could be a more affordable and an even higher-performance set of cars to book-end the the current car is sure to get the juices flowing in speed freaks the world over, but for now, that salivatory response will have to go unsatisfied, as there's no photographic or spec-sheet details to go along with the news. The new cars will be revealed on March 3 at the Geneva Motor Show, says Edmunds,.

Talk of... Track lovers and auto geeks are intimately familiar with KTM's X-Bow, its raucous design the embodiment of a four-wheeled space craft. Now the company is promising two new models and a tiered lineup for its automotive range. The prospect of what could be a more affordable and an even higher-performance set of cars to book-end the the current car is sure to get the juices flowing in speed freaks the world over, but for now, that salivatory response will have to go unsatisfied, as there's no photographic or spec-sheet details to go along with the news. The new cars will be revealed on March 3 at the Geneva Motor Show, says Edmunds,. Talk of a possible city car and a low-emissions off-road vehicle has also been circulating, though those additions to the lineup would be more of a three-line setup than a tiered arrangement. A total of five models is KTM's eventual plan for its automotive lineup, however, allowing room for a set of three X-Bows and the two other cars. Whatever the outcome, it's sure to be outrageously styled enticing to drive, if the X-Bow is any indication of how the minds at KTM work.KTM X-Bow ‘Dallara Series’KTM’s new X-Bow roadster ready for GenevaKTM X-Bow Race Read More

Taking things to extremes is what car modification houses do best, so starting with the already extreme KTM X-Bow is, to a certain eye, an obvious thing to do. The tuners at ABT think it's not just obvious, but commendable, and have done just that, tweaking the track-day special to yield een more power and performance.

Power is boosted to 300hp (221kW) from the standard 240hp (179kW) via enhancing the tune on the 2.0L TFSI engine that come with the X-Bow. Little else has been revealed about the car at this point, with full details expected soon.

ABT is also taking on more than a mere tuning role: the tuning, modification and motorsports... Taking things to extremes is what car modification houses do best, so starting with the already extreme KTM X-Bow is, to a certain eye, an obvious thing to do. The tuners at ABT think it's not just obvious, but commendable, and have done just that, tweaking the track-day special to yield een more power and performance. Power is boosted to 300hp (221kW) from the standard 240hp (179kW) via enhancing the tune on the 2.0L TFSI engine that come with the X-Bow. Little else has been revealed about the car at this point, with full details expected soon. ABT is also taking on more than a mere tuning role: the tuning, modification and motorsports outfit will sell and service the X-Bow in Germany as KTM's official outlet partner for the car. The combination of factory-produced extreme motorsports at KTM and the ABT style of modification and tuning seems an apt fit. The standard KTM X-Bow is capable of 3.9 second dashes to 62mph (100km/h), so the up-rated ABT variant out to be even quicker.ABT KTM X-Bow Read More

Students of the FH Joanneum University of Applied Sciences in Graz, Austria have designed a set of six KTM-inspired concepts. Using the edgy, futuristic design language made famous in KTM's motorcycles and X-Bow roadster, the students have styled a high-performance buggy, an environmentally-friendly sportster, a water-borne motocross vehicle and more.

The most KTM-looking - at least for those familiar primarily with the X-Bow - is the KTM AX (pictured above), a four-wheel off-road buggy with a radically aggressive design. The layout, styling and coloration of the car are very similar to the X-Bow, and it gives the appearance of being every... Students of the FH Joanneum University of Applied Sciences in Graz, Austria have designed a set of six KTM-inspired concepts. Using the edgy, futuristic design language made famous in KTM's motorcycles and X-Bow roadster, the students have styled a high-performance buggy, an environmentally-friendly sportster, a water-borne motocross vehicle and more. The most KTM-looking - at least for those familiar primarily with the X-Bow - is the KTM AX (pictured above), a four-wheel off-road buggy with a radically aggressive design. The layout, styling and coloration of the car are very similar to the X-Bow, and it gives the appearance of being every bit as capable in the dirt as the X-Bow is on the tarmac. Next up is the SR85 Deuce. Designed as a lightweight and sporty yet environmentally-friendly vehicle, the SR85 Deuce is designed specifically for the Devon Run, a hypothetical future challenge for green vehicles powered by electric motors. The KTM 360 takes the same concept, but applies it to the motorcyle world and throws in a healthy dose of freestyle riding and trick capability. The final three concepts are not land vehicles at all - two take to the water, while a third flies. The KTM CX is a jet-ski-like device that's intended to 'bring the moto-x spirit to the water', but looks more like a snowmobile. The Barracuda, on the other hand, takes a more conventional boat-type design, but throws a twist at it by adding a set of hydrofoils for high-speed, low-drag cruising. Finally, the KTM Ascender flight vehicle promises gas-turbine-powered access to the skies in a small, highly mobile platform. Looking somewhat like a Cylon raider interpreted by KTM, it might be more frightening than inspiring to see one of these in action. All of these design studies are only in the theoretical stages at this point, with no plans for actual real-world construction. Nevertheless, they show what a little imagination and a lot of talent can do to expand on a simple theme.KTM’s new X-Bow roadster ready for GenevaKTM FH Joanneum Design Study Concepts Read More