KTM X-Bow: Gearing up for Geneva debut

The Audi-powered 2.0T KTM X-Bow Roadster will be shown at the Geneva Motorshow.

Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM has released more details and detailed scale design model photography of their upcoming entry into the automotive market in the form of the X-bow, a super lightweight open-top powered by Audi’s 2.0T FSI engine.

KTM’s X-bow is the very same lightweight sports car project mentioned in previous speeches by then-boss of Audi AG Dr. Martin Winterkorn. At the time, most expected the X-bow to be sold also as an Audi, though a new report from the British-based EVO magazine suggests that plans to affix a four-ring badge on the X-bow fizzled when the Ingolstadt-based car manufacturer decided that production of such a car without certain safety features such as airbags was a deal-breaker.

This and further details were also reported in the UK car magazine following a visit by their staff to KTM’s facilities. Also confirmed was that three prototypes of the X-Bow are now in production, including one for homologation and crash tests, one for chassis tuning and the third as a show car that will be used in the car’s Geneva debut. This report also suggested an on-sale date in the latter half of 2007 with a one-make KTM race series to follow in 2008.