Looks like the crotch-rocketing folks from KTM are serious about making the X-Bow track monster revealed in Geneva this year totally track-ready. One of Brenda Priddy's cadre of car spies caught this particular motor bike car at speed undergoing handling tests on the Nürburgring earlier today. The basic version of this orange roadster will be powered by Audi's two-liter four-cylinder engine with FSI direct injection and turbo, delivering 220 horses. Insiders state this will accelerate the car from 0 to 60 in less than four seconds. We're even hearing of an up-powered Audi-run model coming later that could hit 300 horses. With a homologation for small series, the KTM X-Bow will generally be a road-legal vehicle in Europe. But as these regulations are differently defined in the various EU-countries, registration for the roadster will only be available in Germany, Finland, Greece, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, and Switzerland. Full spy report after the jump and high-res shot here.
Just a few months after the official unveiling of the KTM X-Bow (read: cross-bow), the Austria-based motorcycle-manufacturer has more than 1000 confirmed orders for the vehicle. This is far more than ever expected.
The X-Bow can be ordered by telephone, internet or at one of over 700 KTM-dealers across Europe. Production starts in early 2008, and the first "cars" with deliveries beginning in the spring.
KTM plans to build around 1000 units in 2008 and up to 5000 X-Bows in each of the following years. The first 100 vehicles, which are long sold, will be specially equipped and will wear a number-badge to indicate they are one of the first 100 and part of a limited series.
While there are currently only a handful of photos so far - all showing the car r in standstill, here's proof KTM is dead serious about delivering their customers a refined product: Our shooters caught the car at speed undergoing handling tests on the Nürburgring earlier today.
The basic version will be powered by Audi's two-liter four-cylinder engine with FSI direct injection and turbo, delivering 220 bhp. Insiders state this will accelerate the car from 0 to 100 km/h in less than four seconds.
Down the line, an even more powerful version could make use of the Audi S3's engine and have an output of up to 300 bhp.