The GTX is The Newest, Meanest X-Bow From KTM

Back in February, KTM teased the X-BOW GTX, a range-topping X-Bow meant to compete in Stephane Ratel's new GT2 category of racers. Now, it's alive in the carbon flesh, having been unveiled officially two days ago.

Those are the parts that open.

Those are the parts that open.

And it's hard not to gawk at the car, not when the jet-fighter-like canopy assembly opens up like this. Yes, those are the window frames, all hewn from carbon much like most of the car, from the 80-kilogram monocoque to the wings and diffusers. Meanwhile, the back comes equipped with an FIA-homologated rollcage and a steel subframe that houses an uprated powertrain from the X-Bow GT4.

Inside is a 5-cyl engine from Audi, similar to the ones that have powered other X-Bows since 2008

Inside is a 5-cyl engine from Audi, similar to the ones that have powered other X-Bows since 2008

How much more power did KTM pull from their Audi-sourced 5-cylinder? 530hp, up from the 360 or so horses the GT4 car usually runs with. Mated to that is a Hollinger MF six-speed sequential gearbox that's rated to handle the 650newton-metres of torque that the engine can make, a prospective buyer gets to harness this power using SaReNi's new electric shifter unit.

Unfortunately, it has electric steering. Fortunately, the car does have 6-pot brakes in front and 4-pots at the back.

Unfortunately, it has electric steering. Fortunately, the car does have 6-pot brakes in front and 4-pots at the back.

And the list of names doesn't stop there: Recaro provides the bucket seats, Krontec contributes the car's onboard air-jacking system that props up the car on integrated stilts, Sachs brings along adjustable dampers and MoTeC packs in their ECU and data logger. Co-developed by Reiter Engineering, the X-Bow GTX is set to be the best car KTM can field on track and in official competition -- or even the road, as they've announced that they're open to making this car street-legal. Probably helps to have a Nurburgring-ready 120-litre fuel tank, then.

The front...eh, not feeling it.

The front...eh, not feeling it.

The cost? €230,000 (US$270,000), which is about in line with most GT3 and some GT2-competition cars today, and far cheaper to run and own than something like a Ferrari FXX-K, a car that Ferrari doesn't even let you keep.