KTM X-Bow R lands in Australia

The KTM X-Bow R has become an official road-going fixture in Australia, priced from $169,990 plus on-road costs.

Tipping the scales at only 790kg, and fitted with an Audi-sourced turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine, the X-Bow R is closely related to the GT4 X-Bow we tested recently. The R is said to offer enthusiasts a new performance niche -- as a viable track day alternative to the best machines from Europe but also as a regular weekend car.

KTM Sportcar Gmbh ’s Australian distributor, Sydney-based Simply Sports Cars (the same outfit that imports and distributes Lotus) today confirmed it had secured limited-run annual production of X-BOW R models.

Under the deal, SSC will import and distribute up to 25 vehicles annually.

Simply Sports Cars chief executive Lee Knappett confirmed the X-BOW R would be available through SSC’s Sydney-based showroom, along with a separate Brisbane showroom run by MotorLine. Each vehicle will be backed by a two-year, unlimited kilometre warranty.

“I’m delighted to see the X-BOW complied and road registerable in Australia. It has been a huge effort from my entire engineering team to make this happen and I am extremely grateful to them for their perseverance.

“It’s a truly unique sportscar that uses racecar technology that you can use on the street, your favourite mountain pass or track. It’s fun to drive at 60km/h or 160km/h,” he said.

Largely unchanged since its debut in 2008, the X-BOW R features a full carbon-composite monocoque chassis, four-point safety harnesses and fully-adjustable open-wheeler-style pushrod suspension.

The X-BOW R’s centrepiece is a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder that is Audi-sourced, paired standard with a six-speed manual transmission. The teaming produces 220kW in standard guise and sends drive to the rear wheels via a limited slip differential.

The track-ready two-seater is available in one basic trim specification, but can be optioned with up to $40,000 worth of extras, including a fixed rear wing and semi-slick tyres.

In its most conservative setting, the X-BOW R can return a claimed 0-100km/h time of 3.9sec. That time can be trimmed as low as 3.2sec with options in place.

SSC is targeting owners with a lifestyle bent for the X-BOW R. They expect buyers to be regular track day participants.

“We are even going to take the first five buyers to KTM’s factory and test track in Austria,” Knappett said.

That doesn’t mean the X-BOW R is strictly a track-ready proposition, though discerning prospects will note the absence of antilock brakes, traction control and stability control – thereby governing SSC to a maximum of 25 imports annually under the Federal Government’s Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles Scheme (SEVS).

In order to gain road-ready approval for the X-Bow R, local stakeholders crashed two separate vehicles at an officially-sanctioned test centre in Europe. It’s hoped the move will in essence future-proof the KTM road car division in Australia.

KTM Cars Australia is hoping to carry a strong motorsport and track-day presence in the future, as seen with the marque’s recent participation in the GT4 category of the Bathurst 12 hour.