KTM X-Bow R 2017 review | road test
- Price From $169,990
- Seats2
- Fuel cons.8.3L/100km (combined)
What we like
- Fast and utterly furious
- Unique in Australia
- A track-attack special you can drive to the track
What we don't
- Even a light sprinkling of rain will leave you in despair
- Safety kit non-existent
- An expensive toy
I know what you're thinking: "How is this thing legal?" And to be honest, somewhere between a rock flung from the tyre of a passing car colliding with my forehead like it had been fired from a pistol, and the pouring rain lashing my exposed face like a damp cat-o'-nine-tails, I'd begun wondering the same thing.
The answer is barely. The product of a years-long fight to overcome our import rules, this madhouse KTM X-Bow R is now finally free to roam Australian roads and racetracks - though, with sales capped at 25 per year to comply with the Specialist Enthusiast Vehicle Scheme.
The price? A slightly eye-watering $169,990. That's quite a lot, and places the X-Bow R miles above its closest lightweight, carbon fibre-tubbed competitor, the Alfa Romeo 4C ($89,000).
But then, the KTM X-Bow R is unlike anything else on the road today. Part super bike, part open-wheeler and all mobile madness, the 'Crossbow' is fast, furious and completely insane.
Expect no doors, no windscreen, no roof.
Expect no doors, no windscreen, no roof. On-board entertainment is limited to the turbo whistling behind your head, the car's standard safety list is as barren as the interior and the climate control is dependent on the temperature of the wind that's smashing into your exposed face.
And we couldn't wait to take it for a spin.
Verdict
Okay, so rain is not your friend. Neither is brutal sunshine, strong winds or any speed bump anywhere. There are probably a handful of times you'll want to drive it, and when you do you will definitely get hit in the face with rocks and bugs, and spend most of your time wondering just how the hell this thing is legal.
And yet, we are hopelessly, head-over-heels in love with it. It's an absolute weapon on a track, a joy on anything even resembling a twisting road and it is one of the few genuinely unique cars on the road today. And the fact it exists at all is a cause for absolute celebration.
Does the KTM X-Bow R's purity of purpose appeal to you, or is its performance focus just too narrow? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
Specifications
- PriceFrom $169,990
- Fuel consumption8.3L/100km (combined), 189g/km CO2 Tank 40L
- Seats2
- WarrantyTwo-year, unlimited-kilometre
- Engine2.0 4-cyl Unleaded, 220kW/400Nm
- Transmission6sp manual
- Turning circle10.8m diameter
- Dimensions3738mm (L), 1915mm (W), 1202mm (H)
KTM X-Bow R 2017 review | road test
What we like
- Fast and utterly furious
- Unique in Australia
- A track-attack special you can drive to the track
What we don't
- Even a light sprinkling of rain will leave you in despair
- Safety kit non-existent
- An expensive toy
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