KTM enters the car market, and brings it to AUS
Sunday September 2, 2007
European motorcycle manufacturer KTM is launching into the Australian car market with its first motor vehicle, the X-BOW.
The Lotus-sized sports car debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March and will hit the Australian and New Zealand market in May 2008.
At a launch last weekend in New Zealand for the new 2008 bike range, grandson of one of KTM's founders, Hubert Trunkenpolz, said the KTM X-BOW would become the company's marketing tool to make the brand a household name here.
"Everyone knows Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda and Suzuki," Trunkenpolz said.
"In May next year, KTM will bring its first motor vehicle down under – the X-BOW – where we hope to branch out to become a household name."
KTM Australia PR and media manager Lizzie Doyle said the X-BOW would cost about $80,000-$90,000.
"They only made 200 units and thought they would sell about 400, but they've had orders for 1600, so they've had to make a lot more," she said.
However, interested Australian buyers can't test drive one at a dealership.
"Rather than being in dealerships, people just order it over the internet," she said.
Buyers must register an expression of interest directly to KTM on their internet site at
http://www.ktm-x-bow.com
"I believe there has already been some interest from Australian buyers," she said.
The car has been homologated in Europe and the UK for both road and track use, but so far it is only available for track use here.
"Testing is still needed but we don't see any problem in having it homologated for the road," Doyle said.
The rear-wheel-drive X-BOW is powered by Audi's award-winning turbocharged direct injection 1984cc four-cylinder petrol engine which develops 162kW/300Nm. When married to a six-speed gearbox it propels the X-bow from 0-100km/h in 3.9sec.
It comes with a Formula One-style racing steering wheel that can be removed via a quick-release mechanism to simplify getting in and out of the car.
The tiny 3.6m X-BOW sits only 1.1m tall.
It has no roof, doors, boot or windscreen and features a lightweight carbonfibre monocoque. All up, it weighs only 700kg.
Minimalist motorcycle styling also includes simple headlamps and embedded indicators flush with the cars contours.
And, like motorcycles, it has different rubber front to back. It is shod with 205/40 R17 tyres up front and 235/40 R18 on the rear.
Inside, the instruments are located on the hub of the steering wheel, the seat shells are integrated into the monocoque and the pedals are manually adjustable.
The KTM X-BOW doesn't have a luggage compartment, but it does feature a mobile storage box beside the passengers foot well for a first-aid kit, tyre-fit system and cover.
Two helmets can be fixed in the passenger's legroom.
Together with Italian motorcycle apparel company Dainese, KTM is developing a line of weather and crash protection clothing and helmets specifically for the X-BOW.
Helmets will contain "infotainment" functions such as sound and mobile telephony.
Doyle said the helmet and clothing would be available in Australia when the first models arrived.
KTM will also enter the sport ATV with the ATV 450 and 525 XC in dealerships late next year.
KTM is better known for its four- and two-stroke off-road bikes which have won worldwide enduro, motocross, supermoto and supercross championships.
In more recent years KTM has branched into road bikes and entered the 125cc and 250cc motorcycle grand prix championships.
Trunkenpolz said plans were "in the pipeline" for a 690 Enduro off-road bike, plus a new 690 Duke for street riders and 690 Supermoto.
KTM Australia expects the Enduro and Duke to arrive in March-April but has not yet confirmed the Supermoto.
For the 2008 model year, every KTM EXC model will fulfil Euro 3 emission regulations.
In the past financial year, KTM sold more than 7100 motorcycles in Australia and New Zealand.
Worldwide, KTM vehicle sales have risen an average of 21 per cent each year, since 1992.
KTM X-BOW
ENGINE: inline, 4-valve, 1984cc 4-cylinder, with direct fuel injection system, turbo-charger and intercooler
POWER: 162kW @ 5900rpm
TORQUE: 300Nm @ 2200-4000rpm
BORE x STROKE: 82.5 x 92.8mm
EMISSIONS: Euro 4
TRANSMISSION: rear-wheel-drive with mechanical slip differential, 6-speed-manual
KERB WEIGHT: 700kg
DIMENSIONS (mm): 3670 (l), 1870 (w), 1160 (h), 2430 (wheelbase)
TRACK (mm): 1644 (front), 1624 (rear)
TURNING CIRCLE: 10.8m
FUEL: 35-litre tank
BRAKES: 305mm 4-piston-caliper (front), 262mm 2-piston-caliper (rear)
TYRES: 205/40 R17 (front), 235/40 R18 (rear)
ACCELERATION: 3.91sec, 0-100km/h
TOP SPEED: 217km/h
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Originally Posted by linuxrunner
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