KTM planning closed coupe and off-road versions of X-Bow
by Damon Lavrinc on Feb 25th 2008 at 3:29PM 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the KTM X-Bow
The unveiling of the production KTM X-Bow is just a week away, but the biker builder has bigger plans to expand its foray into four-wheeled conveyances. KTM's head honcho, Stefan Pierer, has revealed to CAR that the future of the X-Bow will include five different versions of the lightweight roadster, and that KTM is looking to take on Lotus as a manufacturer of specialty performance vehicles.
With over 2,000 orders for the X-Bow already placed, KTM has a hit on its hands. So aside from the base model and a race-spec version that will be campaigned in the FIA GT4 lightweight class, KTM also plans to offer another road-going variant that will be sporting a set of doors and a roof. From there, it's looking to upgrade the stock mill with a 330-hp V6 pulled from the Audi S3, and since the architecture of the X-Bow has been designed from the onset to handle the rigors away from the tarmac, an off-road version is underway that may compete in the Dakar Rally.
Gallery: KTM X-Bow
[Source: CAR]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John Johnson 3:34PM (2/25/2008)
Do want.
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FotoGenetix 3:39PM (2/25/2008)
i prefer the looks of an atom
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Alex 3:40PM (2/25/2008)
bad ass!
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porschedevotee 3:41PM (2/25/2008)
I can't wait to see someone pit it against an Atom. This has more power, but also weighs 1 1/2 times as much. I'd love to see how this thing destroys Clarkson's face.
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lovice 4:55PM (2/25/2008)
Since when X-Bow has more power than the Atom?
As far as I know the top spec Atom has 300bhp in both UK version and the US version.
On the other hand, the top spec X-Bow only has 265bhp with its 2.0L TFSI S3 engine (S3 never had a 330bhp V6).
So this KTM X-Bow is not even in the same league as the Ariel Atom. Its spec and performance is more likely to compete with the latest Lotus Exige.
Both the Exige and X-Bow have 265bhp. Both of them weight at around 800kg. Both of them cost more than Ariel Atom...
porschedevotee 5:08PM (2/25/2008)
Iovice, you're right. I forgot the US only gets top spec. I was also being lazy and going with the 330 hp number being bandied about in this post. Still, it would be fun to see a comparo... kind of like the Ascari A10 vs. Daihatsu Materia :D
P.S. For those of you that don't get the reference, for the love of God, start watching Top Gear! That ought to be a prerequisite for anybody reading Autoblog.
porschedevotee 5:11PM (2/25/2008)
Oh, and sorry I misspelled your name, lovice. Damn sans-serif is messing me up!
Duncan 3:48PM (2/25/2008)
Too bad the S3 has never had a V6.
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jjpg2000 4:02PM (2/25/2008)
Damon Lavrinc added the V6 incorrectly. The S3 has a 2.0L FSI engine (rated at 265PS in stock form).
Bruxell 3:50PM (2/25/2008)
No this is my kind of crossover...
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C\\\'Est Raoul 4:10PM (2/25/2008)
A light buggy "a la beetle" would be a fantastic toy. There is a huge market for it, and it's not addressed except by very small firms. Could be interesting. I'm looking forward to see any of those on the road or off the road. Nice work KTM.
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minty 7:30PM (2/25/2008)
Check out the Yamaha Rhino, it's awesome. I have one and I get the feeling that it'll never break. I've heard that some dudes race Baja in them, with some mods though.
wade 4:18PM (2/25/2008)
VW missed the boat with that three wheeler they declined to pursue.
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fizzandpop 4:45PM (2/25/2008)
NO, NO, NO I say. As soon as you add doors and a roof, it all goes wrong. Making a door shut correctly will take twice the hours it took to design and build this thing from scratch. Stick to what you know, as soon as you add doors and a roof, people start harping on about build quality and NVH. Use you resources to tweak chassis and suspension, not shut lines.
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montoym 8:25PM (2/25/2008)
The new S3 does not have a V6, but the previous-gen one did. It was basically the same powertrain as the V6 TT and Mk4 R32. That engine made 240HP and I'm assuming they would just upgrade it to 330HP, through forced induction I suppose.
However, using the newer S3's 2.0T would be a good option, lighter and more easily upgraded to 330+HP since it already has a turbo.
Paul 11:09PM (2/25/2008)
i have a KTM 530exc and it is a fantastic bike. If this has the same built quality i am sure it will be awesome. I can't wait to see KTM's new toys. Look out bank here i come
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barry 9:30PM (3/01/2008)
Well. I have driven the Atom and toured the plant and I have nothing negative to say about either, but I am going with the x-bow, because they are a stronger company with more engineers. Having watched the rebirth of the American Motorcycle industry for 45 years until Polaris did what was needed, I see that only the strong survive their initial mistakes.
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