New car news

06 March 2007 - 16:00

Geneva show: KTM X-Bow

Austrian motorbike manufacturer KTM can usually be found showing off its two-wheeled creations at motorshows.

But this is the X-Bow, KTM's first shot at a four-wheeler and an impressive start in our book.

Originally developed in conjunction with Audi, KTM took full responsibility for the project after rejecting Audi's demands for more on-board safety kit.

However, the X-Bow is powered by an Audi-derived 2.0-litre TFSI that in base spec will develop around 220bhp. KTM says it can spice this up to over 300bhp, which should give phenomenal performance given the X-Bow's kerb weight of 700kg.

Like the Ariel Atom, it's a no-frills machine. The X-Bow doesn't even get such niceties as a windscreen, but helmets come supplied as standard.