KTM has facelifted its bonkers X-Bow GT-XR by removing the roof and fitting wing mirrors

KTM has been in the trackday supercar game for years. You’ll remember its first bug-eyed, windscreenless X-Bow from all the way back in 2008, and then in 2022 it made a triumphant return with the hard-topped, five-cylinder X-Bow GT-XR.

But financial problems in the last couple of years forced the Austrian motorcycle maker to sell off its sports car business, and in August 2025 it was announced that the four-wheeled side of the company had been bought by a Belgian investor group led by rally driver Guillaume De Mevius. His family was one of the original founders of AB InBev – now the world’s largest beer and brewing company. Wonder how many pints he’d had before buying himself a car company?

Anyway, the newly formed and clunkily titled company ‘KTM X-BOW Onroad GmbH’ has been operational for 12 months now, and it would seem as though it has spent that time tweaking and updating the X-Bow GT-XR.

So, from now on every X-Bow will get a new Capristo exhaust and carbon wingmirrors as standard, although you can still have the previous camera-based rearview system as an option. Every car will also get a 7.0in central screen with an integrated sound system and even Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Yep, in an X-Bow!

Although we’re also told that on track you’ll be able to use it to display ‘essential performance data’ like a G-meter, lap timer and temperature readouts. Probably more useful than your podcasts or unread WhatsApps.

But that’s not all, because De Mevius and co have also unveiled two new variants of the GT-XR. One is the X-Bow GT-XR Spyder, with removable roof panels and space to store them in the luggage compartment. How very practical.

The other is the X-Bow GT-XR EVO, which combines the previous ‘Factory 600 Package’ and the ‘EVO Aero Kit’. In non-KTM speak, that means you get a new front splitter and extra dive planes, while the 2.5-litre turbo engine from the Audi RS3 now puts out 592bhp and 502lb ft of torque. That’s up from 493bhp and 429lb ft as standard thanks to a bigger turbo and new intakes. Nice.

We’re also told that new KTM is launching its ‘ICONIX Programme’ which will allow potential customers to get over-excited on a configurator and personalise their perfect X-Bow. Think unique materials inside, bespoke paint colours outside and ‘personalised plaques’ as an excuse to spend more money.