Motorcycle manufacturer KTM has announced that its four-wheeled track-racer, the X-BOW (pronounced Crossbow) will soon be updated.
Joining forces with Reiter Engineering, KTM will renew efforts with a model it says will offer more speed and better handling than the already exhilarating X-BOW, but with a closed cockpit for all-weather comfort and a new "angular, chiselled and simply cool" look. Reiter Engineering owner, Hans Reiter, avoided specific details of his team's collaboration with KTM, instead providing "comparable information" in a press release answering frequently asked questions.
When asked if the model would be a GT3, GT4 or even GTE racecar, Reiter said "it's certain that the new GT car will set new benchmarks [for] its class regarding safety and technology. It will possess all the traits of a state-of-the-art GT3 racecar and fulfills all the safety standards of an LMP car. As you see, we have combined the best of both worlds."
Reiter added that the X-BOW replacement would in many ways resemble a "downsized McLaren MP4-12C" and said that like the expensive supercar would be built around "an extremely safe carbon monocoque".
To satisfy both road and FIA regulations the X-BOW successor would include a front crash structure made of carbon-fibre, an integrated rollover cage, and a seat position with integrated FIA removable rescue seat.
Reiter further hinted that the vehicle will be equipped with double wishbone suspension front and rear and GT3-standard anti-lock braking and a six-speed Holinger sequential race gearbox with steering wheel-mounted shifters.
It is expected the follow-up to the KTM X-BOW will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and will likely compete in race classes such as the SRO GT4 European Championship, British GT Championship or Germany's VLN (Veranstaltergemeinschaft Langstreckenpokal Nürburgring) Endurance Championship.
The price of the new model – which is not likely to arrive until at least next year – is expected to be "well below that of a Porsche 911 Cup car" which Reiter says will make it an "affordable motorsport possibility for its customers".
The original X-BOW tipped the scale at just 790kg, produced 177kW and was capable of hitting 100km/h in 3.9sec.