KTM – Europe’s second biggest motorcycle manufacturer – will introduce the first ever car in the company’s 50-year history: the X-Bow. The background for this step can be found in the dynamic development of the company. An annual growth rate of 21 percent in sales and 25 percent in turnover has been achieved since the new start-up of the motorcycle production in the year 1992. The company’s output in 1992 was 6000 motorcycles with 160 employees while in the last financial year production was 84,421 motorcycles with 1697 employees.
Since the beginning of the new century, KTM, as the world market leader in the offroad segment has successively expanded its range of business activities into the street segment. The first step into the automotive sector is therefore a logical extension of this strategy. With the X-Bow, KTM can offer all those who do not have a motorcycle license a driving experience that is typical for the brand.
The Philosophy: Ready to Race
As different as cars and motorcycles may be, KTM has managed to transfer its development principles from two wheels to a sports car in every way. In this way the unique driving experience and the spectacular merits of the drive are not just dependent on the performance of the engine. Just as they have managed to do with motorcycles, the KTM developers have kept the weight of the vehicle extremely light by using the latest materials, an intelligent construction and a purist styling. The car will weigh only about 700 kg.
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
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本帖最後由 polonixm 於 2007-8-11 01:25 編輯 ]
