KTM Announces 2011 X-BOW R Model

Austrian motorcycle specialist KTM is hard at work on the 2011 model year version of its X-BOW track-focused sports car, which will gain a higher performance R model. The original 790 kg (1,742 lb) X-BOW is powered by an Audi-sourced 240HP 2.0-liter TFSI. Around 500 have been sold worldwide since it was launched into the market in 2008.
The R model will have an additional 60 hp (45kw) over the standard model thanks to the adoption of the more powerful 2.0 TFSI from the Audi S3, which features changes to the engine electronics and peripherals to bump output to 300-horsepower.
It will be available in two equipment packages: a road legal / homologated "Sport" package and a more track orientated "Race" pack.
Many of the parts that go into the R will be available through X-BOW's PowerParts, so owners can tune their existing X-BOW to Sport and Race specifications.
Pictured in our gallery is a prototype version of the 2011 X-BOW R with the new parts installed undergoing testing at the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
More detailed information, including pricing, will be released early next year.

photos

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2011 KTM Sport Cars X-Bow R Exclusive Class

KTM is developing another variant of its X-BOW model called the X-BOW R for 2011. The prototype of the model is featured in the photographs published here doing some testing. Pictured above is a prototype of the new X-Bow R taken at its first test outing at the Nurburgring circuit in Germany. The 2011 KTM Sport Cars X-Bow R Exclusive Class will be a sportier version of the current X-BOW from the boutique Austrian automaker (KTM is mainly a motorbike and bicycle maker) which has been available since 2008.

As far as streetable open-track cars go, the KTM X-Bow is in a very exclusive class, kept company primarily by the Ariel Atom and the Lotus 2-Eleven. But KTM is reportedly planning to up the ante with a pair of new models, including a race-bred R model and a more practical T model. The R model will likely be an evolution of the GT4 car.

The T model will up the comfort and practicality factor a bit for folks looking to get more double-duty out of the X-Bows, adding a windshield to divert air over the cockpit. That will no doubt be a welcome addition for those that would like to drive the car without wearing a helmet all the time. The X-Bow T will wait until 2012 to hit the streets.

After having been on the market for approximately two years now, the 2011 KTM Sport Cars X-Bow R Exclusive Class line-up will be supplemented with the introduction of the “R” model in the upcoming year. The engine for this even more powerful version comes again from Audi – but it will be exactly the same engine used among others in the actual Audi S3.

The X-BOW R will boast a 2.0-litre TFSI engine from the Audi S3, and this motor is good for 221kW of power. All of this will fit into the 790-kilogram body which boasts an upgraded suspension which is lowered, and better handling — thanks for a new engine mount setup. The two-seater will include a road-legal Sport package and a Race kit for the track only version.

At the moment KTM Cars is working intensively on the 2011 model of its super sports cars X-BOW. The first ever small series manufactured and street legal homologated car with a carbon fibre monocoque has been sold around 500 times since its launch in 2008. Around 50 X-BOW partners throughout Europe and currently ten importers globally look after sports cars enthusiasts all over the world in order to supply the only 790 kilogram light, 240 horsepower strong extreme athlete.

Electric bikes ignored?

When the UK government announced earlier this week it was ring-fencing £43 million for Plug-in Car Grants, there was a mostly positive response from the motor industry.

However, the exclusion of electric motorcycles from the scheme has been met with criticism. The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) is not too happy, and it has already contacted the Department for Transport demanding an explanation for the omission.



Quite rightly, the MCI points out that electric bikes beat congestion better than any car and so reduce journey times. Its stance is that the government should therefore be encouraging them, not ignoring them.



There is already a selection of electric motorcycles and scooters available on the market. These include the Econogo Yogo and the Zero range, with more - such as the KTM Freeride - coming soon. In general, these bikes are more expensive than their petrol-powered counterparts, due mainly to the cost of the batteries. Therefore, some cash from the government would help to narrow the price gap.

But maybe the government feels that as two-wheelers usually emit less CO2 and use less fuel than cars, the benefits of getting riders to switch to electric won’t actually be that great?



Or perhaps it’s a question of economics. One of the objectives of the Plug-in Car Grant is to encourage the development and manufacture of low emissions vehicles within the UK.



With the likelihood that the majority of electric bikes (especially scooters) would come from the Far East, the government may have already determined that including motorcycles will be of little advantage to the UK. And after all, why should it spend taxpayers’ money on grants that effectively subsidise imported products?

Electric KTM Freeride

Austrian manufacturer KTM has unveiled its Freeride electric bikes at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show.

Available as either an off-road enduro or a street-orientated supermoto, both versions share the same battery and motor technology. That means a peak 30 horsepower and a top speed of 43 mph (70 km/h). Performance is helped by the two bikes being so diminutive - total all-in weight is only 90 kg, including the battery pack.

As with most electric vehicles, it’s the battery that will be so critical to the success of the product. Price, performance, range and recharging time are all directly influenced by it.

According to KTM, the Freeride’s 2.5 kWh battery should be good for one hour of off-road riding. After that, it’ll take 90 minutes to fully recharge, although alternatively it can simply be swapped over for another one - assuming the rider can afford the cost of a spare.

KTM is planning to commence European Freeride sales in spring 2011, with a price expected to be ‘under €10,000’ - that’s around £9,000 at today’s exchange rates. By comparison the KTM 125 SX, a two-stroke petrol-powered enduro, is £5,256. Such a difference can partly be explained by the money spent on developing the Freeride, but it’s mostly down to the cost of that battery.



There are already a few electric scooters on the market, but the Freeride’s main competition will probably come from the Zero Motorcycles range.



Zero’s X and MX off-roaders are less powerful than the Freeride, producing 23 hp from a 2.0 kWh battery. However, they do only tip the scales at 73 kg and 78 kg respectively, so that weight advantage should help to overcome some of the power deficit versus the KTMs.

UK prices are also much less than those envisaged for the Freeride, with the X starting at £5,995 and the MX at £6,595. The other Zero models are the S supermoto and DS dual-purpose. Both cost £7,995, and use a more powerful 4 kWh battery that allows a top speed of 67 mph and a range of 50 miles (80 kilometres).

The current state of electric vehicle technology means bikes like KTM’s Freeride seem expensive. But they may safeguard the future of off-road motorcycle sport, because of their virtually silent running. True, reduced carbon emissions are a benefit, but noise is often a real problem. It causes objections from nearby residents which, combined with local regulations, often mean it’s difficult to stage events or build a track.