KTM X-Bow Arrow launched as Golf GTI-powered off-road machine
KTM has expanded its lineup of four-wheeled vehicles with the new X-Bow Arrow, a side-by-side to take on Polaris and Can-Am, but with serious firepower.
The side-by-side market has a new player, with renowned motorcycle manufacturer KTM joining the club with this: the X-Bow Arrow.
Utilising the X-Bow name which was first affixed to its roofless track car and later used on the racing GT2 and GT4 machines, the Arrow is designed for off-road use only, lining up against rivals from Polaris and Can-Am.
Technically produced by KTM X-Bow (now its own brand) rather than KTM itself, the Arrow is based around a chromoly steel chassis, running on Reiger dampers which – combined with its springs – provide 60cm of suspension travel.
Base Arrows get manually adjustable dampers, while the 500-unit run Black Limited Edition features electrically adjustable dampers and active anti-roll bars.
The design of the Arrow is a mix of what we’ve already seen with the standard X-Bow and what we’ve come to expect from side-by-sides, with slim headlights and tail lights, a fully enclosed cockpit (for the top-spec model), and exposed 15-inch wheels with 32-inch tyres.
KTM has relied on a familiar recipe for the X-Bow Arrow, which utilises the Volkswagen Group’s EA888 turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine to provide power.
Found in the Volkswagen Golf GTI and R as well as the Audi S3 among many other models, the engine in the Arrow produces 209kW in standard trim, or 246kW in the Black Limited Edition.
Power is sent to all either the rear or four wheels via VW’s seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The standard Arrow gets a rear spool differential and a limited-slip front differential, while an LSD is added to the rear of the Black Limited Edition.
Tipping the scales at 999kg, the base Arrow is about 100kg lighter than the Black Limited Edition.
The interior features Sabelt sports seats and harnesses, while a 10-inch digital instrument cluster sits in front of the driver, alongside a 10-inch infotainment and control screen in the middle of the cabin.
KTM’s flagship Arrow Black Limited Edition adds on a premium sound system, windows for an enclosed cockpit, as well as air-conditioning and a rally-style handbrake.
Only confirmed for the US for now, prices will start there from US$59,800 (A$87,400), while the Black Limited Edition is priced from an eye-watering US$98,600 (AU$144,100).
