MTM tunes all things Audi, so it didn't take long for the firm to tweak the KTM X-Bow (with its VAG-sourced inline-four) and the all-new Audi TTS. Of the two, the X-Bow gets the milder tuning (if that's possible), with the 2.0-liter TFSI four-pot getting a boost in output from 240 to 318 horsepower. Torque rises accordingly, with 310 lb-ft on tap, sent through a modified six-speed manual transmission to the rear wheels. Four-piston Brembos with 305 mm discs are nestled within 18-inch wheels coated in Nokain Hakkapeliita-4 rubber sized 245/40. Although MTM doesn't cite a revised 0-60 mph time, it claims a top speed of 156 mph (one mph more than stock).

For those who are looking for a more friendly daily driver but aren't willing to wait around for the TTRS, the MTM-tuned TTS boasts 380 hp and 364 lb-ft of torque from an upgraded turbocharger that huffs 22.5 psi of boost into the 2.0-liter's four cylinders. A new intake and exhaust manifold is fitted, along with eight-piston Brembos clamping onto 380mm discs, with 20-inch wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 (245/30) tires. A 330 hp version is also available, starting at €63,103 ($85k USD), while the full-bore 380 hp package will set you back €73,715 (a cool $99k USD).

Think of the most extreme vehicles on the road, and if you're brushed up on your adventurous automobiles, the KTM X-Bow should come to mind. Made by the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer and looking something like a Transformer caught between car and robot modes, the X-Bow is about as extreme as they come. So ABT has decided to tinker with it a bit.

The result of the German tuning firm's poking and prying is a boost to the 2.0-liter TFSI mill from the standard 240 horsepower, which was good enough to propel the lightweight track-day special to 60 in 3.9 seconds, up to 300 horsepower, which should be enough to tear your face right off. Now if you're thinking that the X-Bow is already in such high demand that ABT isn't likely to get its hands on one, think again: the tuning house will act as the X-Bow's official sales and service agent. Hilarity, in the form of wicked tail-slides and curb assaults, should ensue.


[Source: ABT Sportsline]

Click above to view the KTM X-Bow at Wembley in high resolution

One look at the KTM X-Bow should tell you it's about as close to a race car for the road as you're ever likely to see. Add to that the European GT4 Sports Light championship and it pretty much seals the deal. But if that still isn't enough, here comes the news that the 2008 Race of Champions has chosen the super-light Austrian track car to compete in this year's event.

For the uninitiated, the Race of Champions takes place every year, fielding a roster including some of the best racers from various motor sport disciplines on two wheels and four against each other on identical machinery. Each year the list of vehicles is changed, and has in the past included Ferrari, Aston Martins, Porsches, Renaults, Abarths, various rally cars and a specially-made sprint car. Last month, RoC officials took a look at the X-Bow, alongside a 4WD racer powered by a pair of Suzuki Hyabusa motorcycle engines, but the final decision just came down. You'll be able to watch the X-Bow, along with the rest of the motor-pool, being man-handled by some of the world's greatest, including F1's Sebastian Vettel, WRC's Sebastien Loeb, DTM's Mattias Ekstrom and WTCC's Andy Priaulx along with recently retired legends Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard at Wembley in London on December 14. More info in the press release after the jump, and images in the gallery below.

[Source: Race of Champions]

KTM and its four-wheeled racer, the X-Bow, had an incredibly successful season, dominating the GT4 Sports Light class in its inaugural year. With a serious campaign under its belt, KTM is finally making its "Race" version of the X-Bow available to consumers, and the bike-manufacturer-turned-automaker has big plans for the future.

Over 30 modifications were made to the standard X-Bow – ranging from semi-slick tires to an adjustable brake balance controller – to bring it up to GT4-spec, and if the €82,900 cost of entry isn't enough, KTM is offering a variety of optional "PowerParts" to take the X-Bow to the next level. Adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars, central-locking wheels, an airjack system, Kevlar front panels, a carbon fiber tonneau cover and a revised rear bumper are available for track addicts abroad. But that's not all.

KTM is launching a new program billed the "Customer Racing Concept" which allows owners of the X-Bow "Race" to campaign in a number of events throughout Europe with full support provided by the KTM crew. For around €3,000 per race, CRS will take care of all the logistics on race day, including transport, race service, spare parts, hospitality, tires, fuel, driver and team equipment, making it easy – if not cheap – to campaign an X-Bow in a number of European series.

In 2009, KTM will launch the X-Bow Super Sport Cup, with two separate competitions. The SSC North will cover Germany, the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands, while SSC South covers France, Spain and Italy. A number of races are planned throughout the year, and there's talk of extending the program to the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Dubai, Bahrain and Qatar, and even the possibility of bringing it to the States.

Hit the jump for all the details in KTM's lengthy release.

Click above for a high-res gallery of the KTM GT4 X-Bow

In just under a month, KTM will be campaigning two race-prepped versions of the X-Bow in the FIA GT4 European Cup Sports Light class, and the purveyor of our newest track tool obsession has finally released images of its race-ready X-Bow. As detailed before, the GT4 version only receives a few modifications for track duty, including a steel rollover bar that replaces the production model's aluminum units, some added zylon fibers to cope with road debris, modified wheel covers and a Sparco integrated impact-absorbing head restraint system. Aside from those few safety-regulated changes, it's the same X-Bow you'll be able to pick up when sales begin this summer -- right after the GT4 version debuts at Silverstone on April 20th with Loris Bicocchi and Catharina Felser behind the wheel.



[Source: KTM]