Quote :

"This time last year, rumors of a joint collaboration between Audi and motorcycle manufacturer KTM to build a lightweight, street-legal, track toy began to surface. Finally, after a year of speculation, a series of miscalculated renderings and a few hard facts, it's official: KTM will be unveiling the X-Bow in Geneva next month. Notice however, that we only said KTM. According to Brit-pub EVO, Audi contended that if the four-rings were affixed to the bonnet, the lil' track terror would have to be weighed down with pesky safety equipment, like airbags. KTM wasn't wiling to let their baby go down like that, so they took it upon themselves to continue the project sans-Audi. EVO has seen the X-Bow and says that there are three prototypes that are currently being built. The first is for chassis tuning, the second is doomed to crash tests and the third will be slobbered on by those of us attending the Geneva show. As for the techy-tidbits: the six-speed manual version will tip the scales at just over 1,500 pounds, with an Audi-sourced DSG adding an additional 44 pounds. Power will come from Audi's 2-liter, inline-four turbo which should be producing anywhere between 220 and 300 HP and the engine will be placed in such a way that the added weight of the driver will balance out the chassis. You'll also notice that the X-Box lacks a windshield, due to the fact that European law requires that if there were a windshield, the manufacturer would have to add wipers and a defogging system. Instead, buyers will get a set of custom helmets to protect them from the elements, and when not in use they can be stored in a little cubby in the cabin. Testing has already begun and EVO reports that sales will begin during the latter half of 2007, with a one-make race series coming in 2008. Salivating much? We are."

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/03/ktm-x-bow-scheduled-for-geneva-debut


video: fast lane daily episode, ktm is at the 1:37 mark http://tinyurl.com/2zo37e
video: german test track review http://tinyurl.com/2fvu7f
video: ktm's x-bow promo http://tinyurl.com/yqsf7n
http://www.ktm-x-bow.com/


daddy like!

[Edited on March 27, 2007 at 5:26 PM. Reason : ]

3/27/2007 5:18:49 PM

how much!?!?!?!?

3/27/2007 5:22:58 PM

nice!

i got mad props for KTM in general, they bring new trends over here long before japanese get on the ball. granted they are higher priced and orange as fuck, but they are on top of shit

3/27/2007 5:24:28 PM

~$50,000. one blog said 300+ hp engines are expected later on.

3/27/2007 5:24:38 PM

windshields are for the birds... and that thing looks pretty bad-ass

3/27/2007 5:47:11 PM

Damn, me want... looks much better than the atom IMO

3/27/2007 5:48:24 PM

the front-end is "premature ejaculation" hot.

3/27/2007 5:59:16 PM

the rear end screams "batmobile" haha

3/27/2007 6:11:40 PM

damn, that's actually an attainable price... still alot to pay for an oversized go kart though.

3/27/2007 6:47:52 PM

so like the ariel atom?

3/27/2007 6:49:32 PM

$50k is attainable for you? damn

3/27/2007 6:52:34 PM

3/27/2007 6:56:01 PM

Yeah... and this way, you won't loose a leg from it... hopefully...

Do some drug deals, that's how u get the $$$ for it.

3/27/2007 6:58:31 PM

well, i was speaking more in terms of the masses... dropping 50k on a vehicle isn't common, but it's not exactly uncommon either.

[Edited on March 27, 2007 at 7:00 PM. Reason : .]

3/27/2007 6:59:21 PM

Quote :

"You'll also notice that the X-Box lacks a windshield"

Ha

That car looks ridiculously neat. Looks like a delightful deathtrap.

3/27/2007 7:06:23 PM

isn't common, but not uncommon? so your left with an "un"?

3/27/2007 7:06:35 PM

KTM = bring out yer wallet.


Love 'em. But hate 'em.

3/27/2007 7:17:36 PM

$50k for a carbon fiber monocoque vehicle is unheard of. I can't think of one that's available for less the $100k... or even $300k for that matter.

3/27/2007 7:35:11 PM

If it gets cheaper, I think I would want something like this.

3/27/2007 8:20:02 PM

wont be street legal in the us without airbags

3/27/2007 8:25:33 PM

Quote :

"isn't common, but not uncommon? so your left with an "un"? "

nah, somewhere in between...

3/27/2007 9:20:23 PM

^damn you beat me. i think ole dually might be faster than the x-bow down the beltline

3/27/2007 9:23:27 PM

so somewhere between the 'u' and the 'n'? all I see is a void...

3/27/2007 9:24:13 PM

this was in EVO way way way back in the jan edition so.... this is december :old:

btw DSG OR 6 speed.


and if the word through the grape vine is right the big turbo stuff from APR is making enough power on the 2.0 to have them worried about liability....


[Edited on March 27, 2007 at 9:29 PM. Reason : .]

3/27/2007 9:26:38 PM

it was in CycleWorld last fall. the news is that it is gonna be actually mass produced. so no [old]

3/27/2007 9:29:04 PM

if it makes it to production and to america with out being tainted more than paris hilton's snatch... i'll buy one... mark my words... i will buy one. (street legal too)


[Edited on March 27, 2007 at 9:39 PM. Reason : .]

3/27/2007 9:38:37 PM

Quote :

"i think ole dually might be faster than the x-bow down the beltline"

lol.

my egt's were running high for some reason, i couldn't really lay in it...

3/27/2007 9:42:39 PM

if not, you can always go for one of the Lazareth's quads. look about the same, just as [non]functional in daily life and might even be faster

[Edited on March 27, 2007 at 10:06 PM. Reason : .]

3/27/2007 9:43:14 PM

it certainly wouldn't be my d.d.

[Edited on March 27, 2007 at 9:50 PM. Reason : i don't even need a d.d. fuck i live 500yrds from work]

3/27/2007 9:49:31 PM

yeah, wouldn't you have to have a license or something?

3/27/2007 9:50:45 PM

i get limited priv. in like 30 days

gg though

3/28/2007 6:57:44 AM

Could be street legal if they somehow deem it the same as a cycle. I've heard of people doing that with the Atom in Washington State or something like that.

I'd buy one.

3/28/2007 10:18:12 AM

its the crash part of it i'm worried about the motor will be fine.

3/28/2007 10:20:17 AM

Quote :

"the rear end screams "batmobile" haha"

my thoughts exactly , hot though

3/28/2007 1:49:47 PM

I'd drive it, but it sho is ugly.

3/28/2007 6:48:54 PM

ugliest thing I have ever seen

3/28/2007 6:54:59 PM

That.
Looks.
Awesome.

3/28/2007 7:25:29 PM

If there's anything we've learned about carbon fiber monocoques, it's great for ridiculously fast cars if you're interested in throwing them away as soon as you get into any sort of fender bender. Seriously, check the eddie griffin footage again. Many cars with that same fuckup would get repaired. Of note would be a corvette z06, whose carbon fenders would be toast, but the frame rails would probably be unscathed and the parts would be diddly by comparison...

4/4/2007 12:56:29 AM

you're wrong. most other cars would've been more fucked.

4/4/2007 9:31:55 AM

http://www.worldcarfans.com/news.cfm/newsid/2070420.009/country/ecf/ktm-x-bow-series-production-announced

KTM X-Bow Series Production Announced

Quote :

"Text & Photo edited by Frank de Leeuw van Weenen Source: KTM April 20, 2007 1000 units annual target The extremely positive reactions to the world premiere of the KTM X-Bow at the Geneva Motor Show gave the green light: the Upper Austrian company will produce its lightweight sports car in series. KTM’s partner for this production should be Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik in Graz, Austria – a partner with a long tradition and considerable experience in automobile manufacturing. A corresponding letter of intent has already been signed. This decision led to a change in plans for the start of the X-Bow production. Contrary to KTM’s earlier intentions to have development partner Dallara begin with a pilot series of 100 units, Magna Steyr will start the automobile’s assembly. KTM head Stefan Pierer explains that the reason for this switch is the possibility to react more quickly to the high demand: “At Magna Steyr, we will achieve a higher production output appreciably faster. Furthermore, this decision enables us to simplify the procedure: we have to start up only one manufacturing process.” Manufacturing begins at Magna Steyr in Graz in early 2008 So production will start in early 2008, with the first deliveries to customers expected in February. In order to meet the high demand – the company currently has around 600 orders - 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. "

4/20/2007 12:05:59 PM

that's not a lot of units.

i wonder if triangle cycles gets one on the showroom floor. probably not.

4/20/2007 12:07:36 PM