Why not just call it the crossbow?
From Pistonheads.com
[Quote:]NEW CATERHAM RIVAL UNVEILED
Extreme trackcar to hit the tarmac
KTM X-Bow
There's a new Caterham rival about to arrive.
KTM, the Austrian dirt bike maker, is building a lightweight track car. KTM calls the X-Bow (or cross-bow) 'the bridge between bike and car' -- it's effectively an extreme trackday car.
KTM has kept the weight of open-wheel X-Bow low -- about 700Kg -- by using materials such as carbon fibre for the chassis, an intelligent construction and a purist styling.
It'll be powered by an Audi 2-litre turbocharged four-pot which in base tune delivers about 220bhp, although some 320bhp is possible, according to KTM. Expect the drive to go via a six-speed manual or DSG box to the rear wheels, although a sequential 'box is also reportedly under consideration.
The car doesn't actually exist yet, however. It's due for its first showing at the Geneva show in March, with production due to start mid-2007. it'll be low-volume, with just 100 planned. They'll be built by racing car maker Dallara in Italy, although production may shift to KTM's plant in Austria is demand warrants. The Dallara link-up means that the project gains considerable credibility, as the Italian company has 30 years' experience building track-focused vehicles, sports cars and open-wheelers alike. It's got wind tunnels and builds carbon-fibre chassis, for instance.
According to KTM, "the interaction between the sophisticated aerodynamic concept and a motor sports-oriented chassis makes the X-Bow clearly superior to a far higher performance sports car. Thanks to its open form of construction, the just 70mm high windshield and the free standing wheels after the style of a Formula racing car, it is not only the appearance, but also the driving experience that is immediately evident as entirely unique."
The background to the X-Bow's development can be found in the rapid growth the company's experienced. It's seen an annual growth rate of 21 per cent in sales and 25 per cent in turnover since it started in 1992. The companys output in 1992 was 6,000 motorcycles with 160 employees while in the last financial year production was 84,421 motorcycles with 1,697 employees. Effectively, there are limits on the rate at which it can continue to expand while just making bikes, so car-making is the next best thing. This move will also expose its brand to a new audience.
We look forward to seeing it...
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It looks interesting, and I was wondering if anyone had any further information on it. I had heard of it before, but assumed it was just a rumour. I assume wrong. I just hope that they don't opt for the sequential.