However, at the end of the day, its design is a little too impractical for regular use, especially in colder climates.
That’s why, according to KTM CEO Stefan Pierer, a model with a fully-enclosed roof and even a pair of doors will be launched next year.
Speaking with the print version of Top Gear, Pierer explained that the new roof won’t be a proper fixed unit as this would have been too expensive to engineer due to various homologation and industry design rules.
Instead, the enclosed version of the KTM X-Bow will feature a removable targa-style roof that can be driven with at speeds of up to 80 mph. Should you want to go faster, then the roof will need to be removed. Pierer didn’t say if the car will have an area for storage of the roof or whether it will have to be left in the garage. A fixed windscreen will also feature.
Of course, you don’t have to wait until next year to purchase a KTM X-Bow with a roof. Italian coachbuilder Montenergy already has a removable roof kit designed for the X-Bow and made entirely of carbon fiber.
Another option would be waiting for the launch of the Alfa Romeo 4C, also pegged for next year. Despite being manufactured by Maserati, the 4C is tipped to be based around the X-Bow’s platform but will come with a fully enclosed cabin.
In related news, KTM is reportedly considering entering a modified version of its X-Bow in Le Mans, in the LMP2 class. This modified version would feature a turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine lifted from the Audi TT RS in order to meet Le Mans regulations, and it may even a spawn a road-going version. The most powerful X-Bow at the moment is the X-Bow R, which develops 300 horsepower from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.
