IS THE ALL-NEW KTM GT-XR THE ULTIMATE TRACK DAY WEAPON?
KTM has legions of fans the world over, you can’t spend more than 10 minutes in traffic without seeing a bright orange KTM sticker on the back of a car or small truck, nevermind seeing someone splitting lanes on a KTM of some kind. These stickered cars are mostly fans of the two-wheeled offering though, very few people in this country are aware of the 4-wheeled, track-focused cars that KTM produces. There are a few X-Bows scattered around SA, and the ones we know of are all pretty decently modified too. One of the popular cars is the track-oriented GT2 which is a racer that has some precision handling and enough power to run at the front of the weekend warrior pack. What you see here is the all-new KTM GT-XR, a street-legal version of the GT2. Well, it is streetable, but it too will likely be seen on racetracks around the world more often than on public roads.
The Austrian-based firm usually uses different engines in their 4-wheel creations and it’s no different for the GT-XR that sees fitment of Audi’s 2.5 TFSI powerplant derived from the iconic TTRS, albeit slightly tweaked to produce a healthy 368 kW (493 hp) with torque measuring in at 581 Nm. A 7-speed DQ500 transmission fitted with a limited-slip differential was also sourced from the VAG suppliers - it’s built strong enough to handle the power and torque and it also runs off its own management system and can be properly programmed to work optimally in both circuit and street applications. When you combine these specs with the dry weight of 1 250 kg and having all the power being sent to the rear wheels, the KTM X-Bow GT-XR is claimed to get to the 100km/h mark in a claimed 3.4-seconds with a max top speed set at 280 km/h.
You have to agree that this X-Bow GT-XR is a good-looking combination of composites and metal. That cabin is amazing, and the electronically-operated vertical opening of the roof is as futuristic AF and we love it. It features a soft close function too, so there’s no slamming the cockpit closed to drive off in anger. The XR rolls on a combined set of lightweight 19 and 20-inch OZ Racing wheels, and that bodywork is hand-painted so the end result is something bespoke, and awesome. The cabin feature carbon fibre all over the place, there’s just so much of it, and that’s not a complaint. Note the wing mirrors aren’t in play, there’s a screen on each side of the cabin broadcasting the outside, in. This is an amazing package, and we’re sure to see modified versions popping up at track days across the world. It’s a pricey toy with the list price at a very steep R5 000 000 - and that’s without options and shipping.
Take a look at the YouTube video showcasing the latest 4-wheel creation from the guys know for their two-wheeled exploits. The all-new KTM X-Bow GT-XR looks set to be one of the coolest, most focused weekend track day toys on the market: KTM X-BOW GT-XR – A CAR LIKE NO OTHER | KTM
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