KTM reveals new details of the X-Bow
KTM has recently revealed the new detalis and new pictures of X-ow car which will be presented at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show. KTM's new press release is below:
Premiere at the Geneva Motor Show
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 162 kW (220 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. 700 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.
The Next Step into the Future
For the Upper Austrian motorcycle manufacturer – Europe’s second largest – the decision to expand its line of business into the automobile market was of great strategic significance. It was made possible by the company’s extraordinarily dynamic growth over the past 15 years. Since 1992, KTM vehicle sales have risen an average of 21% each year, while the volume of sales even climbed to 25% each year. Today, KTM is the world’s leading brand in the offroad segment and in recent years has successively expanded its model portfolio into the street sector. “Moving into the automotive sector is the logical continuation of this strategy. With the X-Bow, KTM can now offer the classic KTM driving experience to all those who don’t have a motorcycle licence,” says Stefan Pierer, CEO of the listed KTM Power Sports AG, explaining this investment in the company’s future.
Carbon Fibre Monocoque: Racing Know-How from Dallara
Carbon fibre monocoques have been the Formula 1’s safety net for years. On the road, this technology was formerly reserved for the elitist, supersports cars in the highest price classes. KTM would now like to be the first to offer this solution in a much more affordable environment.
KTM has thereby been able to call upon the expertise of its development partner, Dallara. These specialists from Varano (near Parma) in Northern Italy have long been acclaimed as carbon technology experts, from the conception to the production of components made of this light, yet rigid material. The monocoque developed for the KTM X-Bow is not only extremely robust it is also safe, thanks to an integrated crashbox. And yet it weighs only about 70 kilos and is therefore a crucial factor in the vehicle’s spectacular performance.
The Engine: TFSI Technology from Audi
KTM was able to gain Audi AG as its partner in developing the drive unit. The four-cylinder TFSI engine represents the X-Bow’s construction principles in an ingenious way: by featuring lightweight, high-performance and intelligent technologies.
The engine’s outstanding attribute is its gasoline direct injection technology, FSI. In this case, it’s combined with an exhaust turbocharger plus an intercooler. Thanks to FSI, the engine can utilize fuel better than one with ordinary intake manifold injection and it even gets by on less fuel in the frequently used partial load range.
The injection takes place at a pressure level between 30 and 110 bar, valves in the intake system direct the inflowing air into a cylindrical movement. A continuously variable intake camshaft ensures optimal cylinder charging at any speed. Two balancer shafts compensate the second order inertia forces and so guarantee superior, low-vibration operation.
The KTM X-Bow’s long-stroking, four-valve engine delivers a powerful performance: 300 newton-metres of torque peaks at a level between 2200 and 4000 rpm. The peak performance of 162 kW (220 hp) is achieved at 5900 rpm. Even more powerful engine variations in the 300-horsepower range are planned at a later date.
The drive unit package is complemented by a manual 6-gear transmis
8 votes
