KTM X-Bow GT-XR Spy Shots: New Supercar Derived from Race Car

Austrian motorcycle manufacturer KTM entered the automotive world in 2008 with the introduction of the original X-Bow.

The X-Bow has undergone numerous updates since then, the most significant being the X-Bow GT2 race car unveiled in 2020, which features an enclosed body and a 600 hp powertrain.

Currently, KTM is working on a supercar derived from the X-Bow GT2, and a prototype has been seen testing at the Nürburgring in Germany.

It is called the X-Bow GT-XR and, according to KTM, will essentially be a GT2 racer with additional requirements for public road use.

In other words, a 2.5-liter turbo 5 sourced from Audi will be mounted behind the cabin and drive the rear wheels via a sequential transmission. The engine is tuned to deliver 600 hp and 531 lb-ft of torque in the race car, but it is not clear if the road car can match this performance level. The Audi RS 3 delivers 401 hp.

It is possible that the road car will be similar in performance to the X-Bow GTX racing car; the X-Bow GT2 is a slightly more modest version of the X-Bow GT2, producing 530 hp.

The suspension of the X-Bow GT2 consists of pushrods with Sachs dampers. Stopping power is provided by a braking system with six-piston calipers in the front and four-pistons in the rear, with rotors exceeding 14 inches in diameter at all four corners. A similar setup is likely to be used for the road car.

The body and central monocoque structure will be made of carbon fiber, as in the race car. However, with all the additional elements needed to make the vehicle roadworthy, the road car will reportedly weigh more than the race car's dry weight of 2,310 pounds.

No release date for the X-Bow GT-XR has been mentioned, but a 2023 launch is favored in markets where KTM operates.