2023 KTM X-Bow GT-XR revealed

KTM has turned things up a notch, revealing a road-legal version of its high-performance X-Bow GT2 racer.

Dubbed X-Bow GT-XR, this sports car is the “closest you can get to a purebred racer in a road-legal vehicle”, according to KTM.

A spokesperson for Australian distributor of KTM cars, Simply Sports Cars, said it’s in active discussion with head office in regard to homologating a right-hand drive version.

Power comes from a 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder engine sourced from Audi. This engine is shared with the Audi RS3 and TT RS.

But in the X-Bow GT-XR it produces 368kW of power and 581Nm of torque, which is 74kW and 81Nm more than the RS3. It’s also 73kW and 139Nm less than than the track-only X-Bow GT2.

This engine is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with drive sent through the rear wheels only. There’s also a mechanical limited-slip rear differential.

KTM claims the X-Bow GT-XR has a top speed of 280km/h.

The X-Bow GT-XR comes with a MoTec engine control unit that includes a MoTec data logger for data analysis.

There’s a 96-litre fuel tank, with KTM claiming a total mileage of up to 1000km on one tank of fuel.

The X-Bow GT-XR is built on a carbon fibre monocoque chassis and features a safety cell that weighs 89kg. Overall dry weight is 1130kg.

It measures in at 4626mm long, 2041mm wide, and 1164mm tall, with a 2850mm wheelbase, which is roughly the same size as the Chevrolet Corvette, McLaren 765LT, and the Ferrari F8 Tributo.

On the outside there’s an electric fighter jet-style canopy with a soft-close function, ‘AirCurtain’ ground effect system, and a carbon rear wing.

On the inside there’s a removable steering wheel with an integrated display, adjustable pedal box system, digital rear-view mirror, a rear-view camera, as well as Quadlock smartphone bracket.

The X-Bow GT-XR also has a 160L boot, which KTM claims is large enough for two bits of hand luggage and a handbag.

KTM first launched the roofless X-Bow in 2008 at the Geneva motor show as part of a collaboration between Kiska Design, Audi, and Italian race car manufacturer Dallara.

A GT4 version of the X-Bow began racing in a variety of series in 2015, and was given an update in late 2017.

The X-Bow GT4 was the first X-Bow variant in the lineup to feature a closed cockpit design in order to comply with stringent GT4 regulations.

One of the most significant X-Bow updates came in late 2020 when KTM unveiled the track-only X-Bow GTX and GT2.

MORE: 2023 KTM X-Bow GT-XR spied at the Nurburgring