Fascination and Hi-Tech
An aggressive design and sporty potential: the X-Bow is not merely a milestone in the KTM brand’s more than 50-year history, it’s also a new citation in the small, but elite segment of radical, lightweight sports cars. This exceptional position is the result of the concept: for their first car, KTM employs the finest materials, high-tech and the know-how of respected development partners such as Audi and Dallara. The result is a street-homologated sports car with racing technology, like an avantgarde, carbon fibre monocoque. Thanks to the basic version’s light weight and the 177 kW (240 hp) Audi TFSI engine, the performance values of the KTM X-Bow outstrip those of super-sport cars with more than twice the power: with a deadweight of approx. 790 kilos, the KTM X-Bow accelerates to 100 kph in just 3.9 seconds.

But the X-Bow isn’t just a racing machine, even if it is going to accomplish spectacular performance feats on racing circuits. With its modern technologies and exceptional solutions, it’s much more oriented towards sporty drivers who seek a purist’s driving experience. By foregoing electronic assistants and today’s standard comfort features, the X-Bow offers an unfiltered adventure – aided by its standalone wheels in the style of monoposto racing cars, transparent technology and the car’s reduced concept, i.e. no roof, doors or windscreen. The sports car has only a 70-millimeter, transparent wind deflector. With all these unique features, driving the KTM X-Bow becomes an experience with an immediacy that otherwise can only be felt when riding a motorcycle.
  
Stepping into the future
For the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer – Europe’s second largest – the decision to expand its business focus to the car market has been of significant strategic importance. This expansion has been made possible by the exceptionally dynamic growth of the company over the past 15 years: since 1992, the company has succeeded in increasing its vehicle sales by an average of 21 percent, as well as increasing turnover by 25 percent. KTM is now a world market leader in the off-road sector and has over the past few years gradually been expanding its range of models to include standard road vehicles. “This step into the automotive sector is the logical continuation of this strategy. With the X-Bow, KTM can now also offer anyone without a motorcycle licence a driving experience typical of the brand”, is the reason Stefan Pierer, CEO of the listed company KTM Power Sports AG, gives for this investment in the future of the company.
   
Successful premiere at the Geneva Motorshow, Production start in the first half of 2008
The extremely positive reactions to the world premiere of the KTM X-Bow at the Geneva Motor Show 2007 gave the green light: the Upper Austrian company produces its lightweight sports car in series.

The production started in the first half of 2008, with the first deliveries to customers in August 2008. In order to meet the high demand KTM will strive to reach the maximum annual production capacity of about 1000 units as soon as possible. In the years that follow, KTM expects a sales volume of more than 500 units per year.

Plans are still in place to produce the first 100 units as an exclusive special series. These introductory models have long since sold out and will be delivered with plaques showing their sequential numbering in addition to premium equipment.

The KTM X-Bow meets the requirements for road service as defined by the new EU guidelines for small series homologation. These guidelines have already come into effect in the following countries in terms of a national homologation: Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Austria. Switzerland will also be complying with the EU guidelines.

For the other states of the European Union, it is to be expected that the KTM X-Bow will be approved for road service in the year 2008. In all other countries outside the European Union, the KTM X-Bow is classed as a pure racing car for use solely on racetracks. As a basis for this, FIA homologation for the GT4 racing series is planned (and has been completed I believe). Applications may later be filed for approval for road service in countries outside the European Union or are still under scrutiny by the relevant national authorities.

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