Autoblog

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 has performed well during the X-Bow's campaign in the European GT4 Sports Light series, winning the championship in its inaugural season. In fact, the KTM X-Bow claimed the top three spots at the end of the 18-round series, and in the process, KTM's first four-wheeled street racer managed to beat out a slew of Donkervoorts and Lotuses. German X-Bow driver Christopher Haase piloted the KaTooM to a number of victories and won the driver's championship in the process. Somewhat amazingly, the angular little orange and black roadster was even able to pick on much larger and more powerful competition, like Aston Martins, Ford Mustangs and Corvettes.

We think it's fair to call the X-Bow a success for KTM, which now looks forward to bigger and better things. Up next is an even faster version of its racer as well as a range of city cars and off-roaders. Lest we should forget where the company's roots are, there are plenty of new sporting two-wheelers in the pipeline as well.

[Source: KTM]

Americans may be more familiar with the International Race of Champions, IROC for short, due to that race's popularity in the '80s and '90s and for the Chevy Camaros and Dodge Daytonas affixed with the badge. In the rest of the world, though, the more popular series is called the Race of Champions, but the idea is the same. Take top drivers from various racing leagues and pit them in similar cars against each other on a number of different race tracks. This year, the ROC's organizers are testing a bunch of cars to be used for the next event, including the track-ready KTM X-Bow and a wild-sounding contraption that uses twin Suzuki Hayabusa engines driving all four wheels. The actual race will take place in London at Wembley Stadium on December 14 and will feature Tom Kristensen (Team Scandinavia), Michael Schumacher (Team Germany), Sébastien Loeb (Team France), Andy Priaulx (Team Autosport Great Britain), Troy Bayliss (Team Australia), Mattias Ekström (Team Scandinavia), Jenson Button (Team Autosport Great Britain), Mark Webber (Team Australia) and Sebastian Vettel (Team Germany).


[Source: Race of Champions]

It was bound to happen, but it hurts nonetheless. The KTM X-Bow is hot off the presses, and it didn't take long for some brand new ones to show up on the 'Ring in Germany with their new owners behind the wheel. That hallowed circuit has led to the demise of more than a few machines, not to mention their drivers, and will inevitably continue to claim casualties as racers test their skills on its winding asphalt. The latest victim is one of the aforementioned German-powered, Austrian-built sportscars from KTM. According to reports, the car spent some time skidding on two wheels -- fitting considering KTM's motorcycle heritage -- before meeting the barrier and coming to an involuntary halt. Fortunately, it appears as if the carbon-heavy structure did its job well and protected the owner and passenger. It breaks the heart, but rest assured, it won't be the last. Click on the cropped pic for full-size shots of the carnage. Thanks for the tip, everyone!

[Source: The Sun]

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

Although KTM has been making motorcycles since 1934, it's new to the car business. Evidently, no one told them that if you're going to go back on something you said in the auto business, it's supposed to be really disappointing. Instead, KTM has announced its intention to bring the X-Bow track car to the United States and make it street-legal to boot, despite previously saying that the X-Bow would only be sold in Europe and Asia and that it would be confined to the track.

The announcement was made by KTM sales and marketing chief Hubert Trunkenpolz at the recent annual gathering of KTM bike dealers from across North America in Salt Lake City, Utah. Apparently the company has received some 600+ requests from American KTM dealers for the X-Bow to make the transatlantic trip. Trunkenpolz (now we just like saying Trunkenpolz) noted that they will need cooperation from Volkswagen/Audi, who supplies the running gear, and from local authorities, but that the company "will do whatever is possible to bring the car to the U.S. – that, I promise." Thanks for the tip, everyone!

[Source: Dealernews via Hell For Leather]

Back in April, fellow Autoblogger Chris Tutor caught the Veritas RS3 heading out onto the Nurburgring for a photoshoot. Today, Chris took a brief break from his day-job to see what he could spy on the 'Ring's webcam and found the same trio of lightweight, track-tools that dance in our minds when we hit REM sleep. A Lotus 211, a KTM X-Bow and an Ariel Atom were all getting ready for their close-ups at the entrance to the Green Hell, likely a feature story for a European buff. There's no way to tell who's doing the shooting, but don't be surprised if a video begins floating around YouTube of the three track toys in the next couple of months. We'll keep an eye out.

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

As previously reported, KTM plans to expand its offerings beyond the X-Bow, with the introduction of a duo of new city cars and a lightweight off-roader. But KTM isn't content with leaving the X-Bow alone. When the Geneva Motor Show rolls around next March, the newest entrant into the four-wheeled world will get a healthy boost in output courtesy of the Audi S3's 261 hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged FSI engine. According to Autocar, the more powerful model could be joined later by a new variant sporting a full windshield and a removable roof, making the case for the X-Bow more compelling and allowing KTM to take aim at traditional track toys.


[Source: Autocar via NextAutos]

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

The crew at KTM is basking in the warm glow of victory after debuting its race-ready X-Bow in the European GT4 Sports Light series and taking home two class victories. The team campaigned a pair of X-Bows at the Silverstone circuit in the UK and aside from getting a one-two podium finish in its class, the team mixed it up with the rest of the 16 GT4 contenders, including Aston Martin N24s, Chevrolet Corvettes and Ford Mustangs. Among the 400+ hp racers, the X-Bow placing seventh and eleventh overall in Saturday's race, and fifth and sixth on Sunday. KTM is gearing up for the next race in Monza, Italy on May 17 and 18, and is looking to take another couple of wins before sales of the production X-Bow begins later this summer.


[Source: KTM]

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

KTM confirmed today what it announced during the reveal of the production X-Bow in Geneva: it will be campaigning a race-spec version of its four-wheeled track tool in this year's FIA GT4 European Cup in the new "Sports Light" class. The team will be operated by Reiter Engineering, the same outfit that worked with Lamborghini on the GT1, GT2 and GT3 races in previous years, as a way to remain focused on more consumer-oriented versions of the X-Bow.

Loris Bicocchi, who helped develop the X-Bow and has tested numerous vehicles including the Koenigsegg CCR, and Catharina Felser, a former Formula Ford and Formula 3 participant, will campaign the race-spec X-Bow during the series. The competition version of the car has been modified to meet FIA regulations with steel rollover bars (versus the production model's aluminum units), a revised exhaust system that uses a racing silencer, extended wheel covers, added layers of zylon fiber that aim to prevent penetration by track debris and a slightly retuned suspension that can hold up to the rigors of wheel-to-wheel action. All told, the modifications are minimal, which speaks volumes about how well engineered the X-Bow is right out of the box.

For those of you who've placed your orders for the production version, deliveries are still set for this summer.

KTM's full press release is posted after the jump.

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

A year ago, we had our first formal introduction to the KTM X-Bow concept. After a scant 12 months, the famed motorcycle manufacturer has officially unveiled the production version of the X-Bow, and over 2,000 people have lined up to get their hands on one of the most driver-focused vehicles to be released since the introduction of the Ariel Atom.

Not much has changed from the original concept. The same Audi-sourced, 220 hp TFSI four-cylinder engine is mounted out back and with only 1,500 pounds holding the carbon fiber track tool back, the sprint to 60 comes up in 3.9 seconds. KTM has smoothed out some of the rough edges, including the exhaust/intake systems, added a fully adjustable suspension and tweaked the bodywork and cockpit, but it's still minimalist motoring at its finest. Back in 2007 we called it better than the best rollercoaster around, and one year later, we're sticking with that assessment.

Our previous post on the production X-Bow and the 1,000 limited edition Dallara series models is available here and we've posted two galleries of the X-Bow below, including the concept from the 2007 Geneva Motor Show and the production version shown this year.