From craft-like bikes to race-spec cars, KTM now going all in with X-Bow GT-XR

Premium motorcycle brand KTM has a huge global presence with performance as its core ethos. The Austrian company has a wide range of motorcycles– from naked streetfighters to adventure touring machines to faired supersport– in its armoury. 

However, inconspicuous to many, the company also has a dedicated range of sports cars. The latest from its four-wheeler division is X-Bow GT-XR, based on the track-only X-Bow GT2 unveiled in 2020. The latter is a derivative of the X-Bow roadster which made its debut in 2008, featuring an open roof design.

Like the first generation X-Bow, the new GT-XR features a powertrain sourced from Audi. However, it is the first model from the X-Bow range to be street legal, unlike the previous supercars only meant for race tracks. The company will produce only 100 units of this limited-run model, although it's doubtful if any of those units will be available to Indian consumers.

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Design

The new KTM X-Bow GT-XR looks like a typical hypercar with shades of contemporary race car brands like Lamborghini and McLaren. Designed by the Austrian brand’s in-house subsidiary KISKA, X-Bow GT-XR adopts a minimalistic approach, relying on sharp edges, clear lines and smooth surfaces– draped in a carbon fibre body shell. 

It gets a double-seat layout cabin derived from Formula 3 race cars and underpinned by a monocoque chassis. The door opens in a spaceship-style canopy through the roof as a single-piece unit with hydraulic assistance. Other visual highlights include fin-like elements in the rear and a large wing spoiler, both aiding the car’s aerodynamic efficiency.

Thanks to the carbon fibre body structure and an aluminium space frame, X-Bow GT-XR weighs only 1,130 kg. Taillights are another piece of attraction with the four-piece units similar to the ones seen in Husqvarna motorcycles.

Interiors and features

A road-legal car, KTM has equipped the X-Bow GT-XR with creature comforts including climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, a glovebox and a digital instrument console. The driver’s display is mounted on the Formula One-style steering wheel that houses multiple control buttons. It also gets a trio of cameras, replacing the conventional side and rear-view mirrors.

The carbon-fibre bucket seats provide a racecar-like experience behind the steering wheel. When it comes to practicality, X-Bow GT-XR offers a 160-litre boot space, good enough for a couple of duffle bags. The supercar rolls on a set of OZ Racing wheels, measuring 19 inches up front and 20 inches at the rear.

Powertrain specs

Powering the X-Bow GT-XR is a 2.5-litre five-cylinder petrol engine sourced from Audi, tuned to develop 500 hp and 581 Nm of peak torque. The engine is mounted just in front of the rear axle, sending power to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and offering a 44:56 (front to back) weight distribution. 

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It benefits from a mechanical limited-slip differential therefore the rear-biased setup offers good grip around corners. As for performance, 0-100 kmph acceleration time is rated at a meagre 3.4 seconds whereas top speed has been electronically capped at 280 kmph. A 96-litre fuel tank ensures a total range of around 956 km on a full tank.

(Images courtesy: KTM)