KTM X-Bow

The KTM X-Bow (pronounced crossbow) 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.

X-Bow
Overview
ManufacturerKTM
Production2008–present
AssemblyGraz, Austria
DesignerKISKA
Body and chassis
ClassTrackday only
LayoutRear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine2.0 L Audi turbocharged I4 (2008–2012)
2.5 L Audi TFSI I5 (2012–present)
Transmission6-speed manual
6-speed Holinger sequential gearbox
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,430 mm (95.7 in)
Length3,738 mm (147.2 in)
Width1,915 mm (75.4 in)
Height1,202 mm (47.3 in)
Kerb weight790 kg (1,740 lb)
The X-Bow's cockpit
A Kuwaiti-registered KTM X-Bow pictured in London

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 237 hp (177 kW; 240 PS) at 5,500 rpm and 310 newton metres (230 lb⋅ft) of torque between 2,000 and 5,500 rpm,[1] and can accelerate from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.9 seconds.[2] Its top speed is 217 km/h (134.9 mph).

In the 2011 X-Bow R model, the Audi engine is further tuned to produce 300 hp (224 kW; 304 PS) and 400 N⋅m (295 lbf⋅ft) of torque at 3,300 rpm.[3]

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.[4]

Other features
  • Tires front: 205/45 ZR17
  • Tires rear: 235/40 ZR18
  • Brakes front: Brembo 305 mm (12.0 in) diameter discs
  • Brakes rear: Brembo 262 mm (10.3 in) diameter discs

Racing

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.[5] Drivers Catharina Felser, Christopher Haase and Dennis Retera (for Reiter Engineering) took a podium finish at Monza,[6] and pole position in the wet qualifying session at Nogaro.[7]

The FIA-homologated KTM X-Bow GT4 is available for racing purposes.[8]

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.[9]

The X-Bow GTX was added to the lineup in 2020 with power up to 600 bhp.

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".[10]

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 GT Racing, CSR Racing 2, the PS3 game Gran Turismo 6, and Project CARS. The KTM X-Bow also was recently released in the mobile racing game Asphalt 6: Adrenaline.

Awards and recognition
  • 2008 Sports Car of the Year, Top Gear[2]

See also

References

Notes
  1. "TFSI Technology from Audi". KTM. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  2. "KTM X-Bow receives Top Gear's "Sports Car of the Year" award". 4wheelnews.com. 2008-12-15. Archived from the original on 2009-01-09. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
  3. Pollard, Tim. "KTM X-Bow R (2011) CAR Review". CAR Magazine. Bauer Media Limited. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  4. "KTM X-Bow gets own factory". Autocar.co.uk. 2007-09-21. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  5. "The Success Story - X-BOW Racing". Ktm X-Bow. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
  6. "Results: 2008 Round 2 - Monza". Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  7. "Results: 2008 Round 6 - Nogaro". Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  8. ""GT4" - Models - About X-BOW". Ktm X-Bow. Retrieved 2009-07-31.
  9. http://www.racer.com/pwc/item/135290-pwc-barkey-earns-gts-win-sandberg-takes-title
  10. Test of three stripped track cars, series 18, episode 6:
    • May: "How long have I got?"
    • Clarkson: "Take a week!"
    • ...
    • May: "This is idiotic!"
    • Clarkson: "Look, it's perfectly straight forward... Ignition 'On', key in, press 'stop' until there's a 'clonk', press 'mode' once it says 'ready to race', then put your foot on the clutch, then the brake - fully down - then press 'start' - then it begins."
    • May: "The 'stop' being the button to start it is - with the best will in the world - a bit misleading..."

Further reading
  • Pathmanathan, Thillainathan "Path" (2019). KTM X-Bow. Dorchester, Dorset, UK: Veloce Publishing. ISBN 9781787114333.
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