Ktm's Supersport...Car!
KTM'S SUPERSPORT...CAR!
CURIOUS RUMORS FROM Europe last year suggested KTM was going to build a very sporty car to go up against the likes of the Lotus Elise. Just such a car now exists and was shown at the Geneva Auto Show this past March.
Developed in conjunction with Formula One car specialists Dallara, the X-Bow (say "Crossbow") features a carbon-fiber mono coque chassis with an F-iinspired "crash box" and downforce-producing aerodynamics, including a rear diffuser. KTM turned to its own subsidiary WP for suspension and to Brembo for the four-wheel disc brakes. Power comes from a direct-injection, variable intake-cam, turbocharged Volkswagen/Audi inline-Four tuned to produce 220-300 horsepower, working through a six-speed gearbox. Projected
weight is about 1550 pounds, likely allowing the car to turn sub-4-second 0-60 mph times. The X-Bow name appears to be a play on Cross Industries AG, KTM's largest shareholder. Could KTM's breaking off with Polaris/Victory of the pos sible majority purchase deal (Polaris still owns 25 percent) stem from the Austrian compa ny's desired strategic push into the four-wheel market, a la Honda, BMW and Suzuki? Growth at KTM has been huge: In 1992, production was 6000 motorcycles by 160 employees, while in the last financial year, production was 84,421 bikes built by 1697 employees. "Today, KTM is Europe's second-largest motorcycle manufacturer, very close to BMW and far ahead of all the others," said a spokesman in Austria. "So after conquer-
ing the motorcycle Street segment, it seemed to be a logical Step to go into the sports car business-with a radical lightweight machine that can be considered a bridge between car and bike." A pilot run of 100 Dallara-built X-Bows with special extra equipment is expected to be produced by year's end. If successful, production X-Bows will be built in Austria, price in Europe projected to be 40,000 euros (about $53,000). Initial plans do not call for sale in the U.S., but don't bet against it in the long run. -Mark Hoyer
