Body style: Convertible (spider/spyder, cabrio/cabriolet, drop/open/soft top)
Segment: Roadster & Convertible
Production years: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Produced by the motorcycle manufacturer KTM, the X-Bow was a two-seater roadster built for fun, with a turbocharged engine mounted on a feather-light chassis. It was in 2008.
After a constant battle for power, some niche manufacturers convinced their buyers that more important than horsepower is the power-to-weight ratio. In 2000, the American company Ariel started the revolutionary Atom roadster with the engine mounted behind the driver and a rear-wheel-drive. In 2008, KTM introduced its feather-weight vehicle, the X-Bow.
The X-Bow was late to the party with its invention. The world economic crisis started to bite the car-industry and the deep pockets started to shrink. But the aggressive look of the vehicle, with exposed chassis components and two, side-by-side, seats in the open-air cockpit was strange. A big bulge behind the driver protected the engine. The initial model was able to be registered on the road but later on the X-Bow was built for race-track only.
The design was a cooperation between KTM, Audi and Dallara. The final product was launched at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show and the look and the vehicle stunned the media. It was a true race-developed car adapted for the street. It didn't have a roof, a windshield, a radio or anything that was not needed for a race-car. It featured push-rod suspensions in all corners for greater cornering speed.
The carbon-fiber tubular chassis built by the race-car engineering company Dallara and the inline-four engine from Audi, could rocket the X-Bow in 12.3 seconds at 112 mph (180 kph).
ENGINE SPECS - R 2.0L 6MT (240 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 1984 cm3 |
Power: | 176.5 KW @ 6500 RPM 240 HP @ 6500 RPM 237 BHP @ 6500 RPM |
Torque: | 229 lb-ft @ 2000-5500 RPM 310 Nm @ 2000-5500 RPM |
Fuel System: | Direct Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Fuel capacity: | 10.6 gallons (40.1 L) |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 137 mph (220 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 3.9 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 6-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 205/40 R 17 // 235/40 R 18 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 144.5 in (3670 mm) |
Width: | 73.6 in (1869 mm) |
Height: | 45.7 in (1161 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 64.7/63.9 in (1,643/1,623 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 95.7 in (2431 mm) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.65 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 1774 lbs (805 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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Combined: | 29.7 mpg US (7.9 L/100Km) |
CO2 Emissions: | 187.23 g/km |