KTM X-Bow


The KTM X-Bow is an ultra-light sports car for road and race use, produced by Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM. It represented the first car in their product range and was launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 2008.

Specifications

KTM developed the X-Bow in collaboration with Kiska Design, Audi, and Dallara. The X-Bow uses a turbocharged four-cylinder 2.0 litre Audi engine. The 2008 model produces at 5,500 rpm and of torque between 2,000 and 5,500 rpm, and can accelerate from 0-62 mph in 3.9 seconds. Its top speed is 217 km/h.
In the 2011 X-Bow R model, the Audi engine is further tuned to produce and of torque at 3,300 rpm.
Originally, KTM planned a production of 500 units per year; however, the company increased production to 1,000 cars a year and built a new plant near Graz due to high demand.

Other features

The car has been raced at the Race of Champions all-star event since 2008.
The KTM X-Bow was raced in the Supersport category of the 2008 FIA GT4 Championship. Drivers Catharina Felser, Christopher Haase and Dennis Retera took a podium finish at Monza, and pole position in the wet qualifying session at Nogaro.
The FIA-homologated KTM X-BOW GT4 is available for racing purposes.
Marcus Clutton and Phil Keen won the supersports call of the 2009 British GT season, and Peter Belshaw and Clutton were the GT4 champions in the 2011 season.
The KTM X-BOW Battle race series started in 2010 and was a support event for the DTM German Touring Car series at Adria Raceway in 2010 and Lausitzring in 2011.
The GT4 X-Bow powered Brett Sandberg to the 2016 Pirelli World Challenge GTS Championship with multiple wins along the way.

Reviews

In a March 2012 episode of Top Gear, presenter Jeremy Clarkson drove a X-Bow around Donington Park circuit in England. He applauded the tyres' grip, saying during a James May-inspired session of doughnuts, "it's like driving on superglue", but both May and Clarkson criticised the complicated procedure needed to start the engine, calling it "idiotic".

Appearances in other media

The X-Bow R model recently appeared in the free DriveClub Ignition expansion pack, Real Racing 3, Forza Horizon 3, Assetto Corsa, The Crew 2, Gran Turismo Sport, while the standard model has appeared in other racing games too, such as the iOS game , CSR Racing 2, the PS3 game Gran Turismo 6, and Project CARS. The KTM GT-4 also was recently released in the mobile/desktop racing game Asphalt 8.

Awards and recognition