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First Look

Check out KTM’s new X-Bows

Austrian motorcycle specialists have made two harder, angrier track-honed cars

Published: 25 Nov 2016

Say hello to two newly facelifted breeds of the KTM X-Bow – the pretty hardcore X-Bow R, and the really hardcore X-Bow RR. You can tell the two Tic-Tac coloured cars apart thanks to the RR having a new, massive rear wing… plus many other little wings.

Both are track-orientated two-seat loonies powered by juiced up versions of Audi’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged TFSI engine. But the R is only turned up to 295bhp and 300lb ft, whereas its bigger RR brother has had the dial turned right up to 355bhp and 350lb ft.

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The RR gets forged wheels, Brembo brakes, unique suspension tuning and super sticky tyres compared to the R, but visually the differences between the two used to be slight. That was until KTM decided to bolt its new “Aerodynamic Package 4” onto the RR.

Ticking that box gives you fat gurneys on the underbody and wheel covers, an extended front splitter and that giant rear wing plonked on the back.

Through these, you garner a massive 30 per cent improvement in downforce compared to the normal 400kg of aero grip generated at 120mph. That's more than twice as much as X-Bow R. This, in conjunction with the sticky tyres, means that you can pull over 2.0G laterally – enough to jumble your organs into a right mess, basically.

Unfortunately, there are no confirmed performance figures to shout about yet. But with that slatty, insect-like face, and new mad rear wing, KTM’s carbon-heavy lightweight is looking crazier than ever. And the good news is that you can retrofit it onto your current RR if you have one. You lucky sausage.

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