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Cars > KTM > KTM X-BOW R 2011

 By Ketan Patel View Comments

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KTM X-BOW R 2011

The KTM X-BOW R is the most powerful X-BOW version yet developed. The “R” is the result of concentrated further development of this spectacular lightweight sports car. In the rear of the "R" is a 300HP 2.0L TFSI engine from Audi with a maximum torque of 400 Nm and this ensures an unbelivable driving experience both on and off the racing circuit, because naturally the KTM X-BOW R is homologated for use on the road. The entire drive train unit has been lowered by 19 millimetres. As a direct consequence even higher cornering speeds and greater lateral accelleration of more than 1.5 g is possible and the handling of the KTM X-BOW R is significantly improved.



KTM X-BOW R is celebrating its debut and extends the product range

The X-BOW is a milestone in the over 50-year history of the KTM brand and at the same time a new reference in the small but elite segment of radical lightweight sports cars. This has been achieved right from the beginning of the project thanks to the practical design concept. KTM relies on premium materials, high tech and specialized know-how for the first car it has produced. The result is a sports car with purebred racing technology that is approved for road use. Included is an avant-garde monocoque made from carbon fiber such as is standard in Formula One, because of its weight and safety advantage.

Even when KTM CEO Stefan Pierer and designer Gerald Kiska came up with the idea of their first four-wheeled vehicle it was always clear that KTM’s company philosophy would play an important role. The X-BOW was destined to be a “Ready to Race” product regardless of whether it was for the road or the racing circuit. So it came to be that this radical idea for a revolutionary super sports car was developed and constructed in cooperation with the best specialists. Among others, the aim was a lateral acceleration of 1.5 g and the ability to reach down force of around 200 kilograms at 200 km/h. It was possible to achieve these ambitious specifications thanks to the know-how of Dallara and KTM Technologies and right from the beginning of its creation the X-BOW has been a hit both on the racing circuit and on the road.

The KTM X-BOW is aimed at drivers looking for a purist driving experience, advanced technology and extraordinary solutions. Through the complete omission of electronic assist systems or large and unnecessary comfort features, the X-BOW offers purist driving pleasure. Driving with the KTM X-BOW is an experience that can only find its equivalent in either riding a motorcycle or driving formula racing cars. Apropos racing car: even though the X-BOW is not only a racing machine, it is also at home on the circuit thanks to all of its racing technology. Here it also delivers an amazing experience at extremely low operating costs - a combination that makes many successful circuit vehicles look decidedly out of date.

“Ready to Race” doesn’t just apply to KTM’s motorcycle customers, instead it is certainly valid for all our KTM X-BOW owners,” commented designer Gerald Kiska, who is responsible for the unusual appearance and the radical nature of the KTM X-BOW. “With this it was clear to us that with the further development of our first car we had to move in the direction of everything to do with the overall performance. More extreme, even faster and even more impressive: these things were right on top of the list of demands that came from numerous customers that weekend after weekend have been and are active on the racing circuits.”

And what the customer wants is what KTM delivers. In 2011 the product range of the super sports car with the carbon monocoque includes the KTM X-BOW R, the most powerful version yet developed. The “R” is the result of concentrated further development of this spectacular lightweight sports car. In the rear of the "R" is a 300 h.p 2.0 Liter TFSI engine from Audi with a maximum torque of 400 Nm and this ensures an unbelivable driving experience both on and off the racing circuit, because naturally the KTM X-BOW R is homologated for use on the road.

At the German premium carmaker Audi, KTM chose one of the most efficient and powerful engines with a 2.0 liter displacement. This is all about an engine block that was used by the Ingolstadt-based company for a long time in the S3 model and which generated up to 265 h.p. there. It was later also used in the TT-S with 272 h.p. For use in the KTM X-BOW R, the reinforced block has a bigger turbo, an altered fuel injection system and the engine electonics have been additionally updated by Bosch Engineering Group (BEG). This means that the performance not only increases to 300 h.p but also the torque: to be exact 400 Nm are set free at 3,300 revs and results in a very smooth torque curve which provides impressive drive in all situations. This was how the KTM X-BOW evolved into the ‘R’ but it was far from complete. For the engineers, the additional power meant that the entire periphery – from the engine mounting to the suspension had to be reviewed. And that is why, in addition to the engine, very many other parts of the vehicle were either changed or completely newly constructed.

The stay of thetorque support armhas been completely changed

60 h.p more – a good 25 percent – caused far more extreme forces that meet and must be absorbed on the engine mounting points on the aulmimum rear frame. It was the aim of the development not simply to meet the additional burden but to strengthen the rear beyond that of the 240 h.p model. The solution was to reposition the torque support arm. Up to date this had been attached to the rear frame, now it sits directly on the carbon monocoque. With this, the torsional stiffness is significantly increased, especially when accelerating out of corners and the KTM X-BOW R handles even better on the road as its “little brothers” the X-BOW Street and Clubsport.

The entire drive train unit has been lowered by 19 millimetres

By relocating the torque arm and its connection, the developers then faced another demand. The entire engine unit should be lowered to lower also the center of gravity. The intial target could be even exceeded thanks to clever construction so that the drive unit now sits lower in the rear frame by a massive 19 mm. The main effect: the vehicle’s already impressively low center of gravity has been moved even further down towards the road surface so that the central center of gravity of the vehicle is lower by 15 mm. As a direct consequence even higher cornering speeds and greater lateral accelleration of more than 1.5 g is possible and the handling of the KTM X-BOW R is significantly improved.

The suspension has been significantly revised

25 percent more power, higher cornering speeds, greater G-loads. All this has resulted in a significant additional burden on the chassis, which in combination with the tires represents the final link in a long chain for achieving optimal contact with the road. The push rod suspension on the front axle, which comes directly from the Formula racing sport, but also the suspension on the rear axle has been revised. The first step was trying to reduce the friction on the wishbones of the X-BOW. For this purpose special Teflon washers have been used to reduce the friction and play, which at the same time improving the precision and the response of the suspension In addition to this the engineers devoted time to the springs and shock absorbers: stiffer springs in the front and rear suspension and new damping characteristics meant that the KTM X-BOW R is characterized by an additional increase in the handling, even more extremely exact and delicate than up to this stage of the development.

KTM X-BOW R 2011

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