supersportsp Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/24/ktm-x-bow-finally-on-sale-in-north-america/ http://www.britishracinggroup.com/main.html I will be very interested to see what these run when pricing is announced. It appears that these guys also import the Toniq. You could rather easily get 300 hp out of the 2.0 liter VAG turbo. It has 265 hp stock in the Audi TTS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 I really wouldn't want anyone referring to my engine as a VAG. Just saying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoPho Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 it will be around $95k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 I really wouldn't want anyone referring to my engine as a VAG. Just saying :jester: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 I really wouldn't want anyone referring to my engine as a VAG. Just saying I really wouldn't want anyone referring to my car's engine as a VAG, either.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Getting away from the unhealthy obsession with VAG.. Robert (Wallabyguy is his Britishspeed profile name) is the president of British Racing Group and is active within the LEO and PALS Lotus groups on the east coast. I have been pushing him to bring a Toniq along to one of the gatherings. He can also bring an xbow along now. It has taken them a very long time to get both of these cars up and selling here. I think they announced them as far back as 2007/2008? The first question - How does the xbow compare to the ariel atom? I think it has less performance and costs more money? The second question I have - Is an Xbow (or a Toniq) a seven or not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 In Car and Driver's "Lightening Lap" issue at VIR the Ariel Atom did a 2:57.6 and the X-bow a 2:52.3. As a point of reference, the Nissan GTR did a 2:55.6, and a BMW M3 ran a 3:05.4. I suspect the current Ariel wld be a bit faster given its ongoing development. I don't think either car qualifies as a se7en since you'd be hard pressed to pack your luggage in one and take a 5 day road trip, as I have done. It wld be interesting to see how one of the high-end Caterhams compared on the Lightening Lap.Maybe someone can volunteer their car for this year's test:). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supersportsp Posted February 25, 2011 Author Share Posted February 25, 2011 I don't think either car qualifies as a se7en since you'd be hard pressed to pack your luggage in one and take a 5 day road trip, as I have done. Yes, because the cavernous trunk of ours can swallow several pairs of jeans and some clean socks. People tour on motorcycles all the time. In fact, I am going to go way out on a limb here and say people tour on motorcycles much more often than they do in Se7ens. KTM even has bags for the X-bow. http://www.shop.britishracinggroup.com/KTM-X-Bow-Driver-Bag-XPP00000390.htm http://www.shop.britishracinggroup.com/KTM-X-Bow-Co-Driver-Bag-XPP00000400.htm http://www.shop.britishracinggroup.com/X-Bow-Steering-Wheel-Bag-X0012050001.htm To me it isn't a Se7en because it is not front engine/rwd. And, it has no resemblance what so ever to an original Lotus Seven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 We also have a top, "doors" and even "windshield washers/wipers", and a heater, unlike the X-bow and Ariel. I have to admit the differences are pretty small, tho, since I try to avoid the rain/cold in my car and most of my gear goes into the passenger space, wh/the comparo cars have also. Similarity includes that the "thinly disguised race car" description is apt for all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoPho Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 (edited) The second question I have - Is an Xbow (or a Toniq) a seven or not? No, XBow is an XBow and a Toniq is a Toniq, A WCM is a WCM, [canofworms]I don't understand why people here feel the need to classify everything as a 7. While other cars may be similar in concept, the only thing that is a 7 is a 7. "7" is the name of a car , not a concept as far as I am concerned. A Lotus 6 is a Lotus 6 not a 7 [/canofworms] In Car and Driver's "Lightening Lap" issue at VIR the Ariel Atom did a 2:57.6 and the X-bow a 2:52.3. As a point of reference, the Nissan GTR did a 2:55.6, and a BMW M3 ran a 3:05.4. Out of the box, Atoms are notoriously tricky to drive at the limit and take some effort to learn the car and set it up properly. By most accounts the XBow is really easy to drive, but not that exciting. The slow time in the Atom on the lightning lap had more to do with the driver not having the confidence ( due to lack of familiarity and the XBow had more downforce on the higher speed sections) to push it through certain sections of the track than the cars capabilities. I am sure someone with more seat time in the Atom could get more out of it. For better or worse, some cars are easy to immediately get in and drive fast Here is a (road) comparison test of the these cars done by Evo http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/cargrouptests/227709/ktm_xbow_v_lotus_2eleven_v_ariel_atom_v_caterham_r500.html I don't think either car qualifies as a se7en since you'd be hard pressed to pack your luggage in one and take a 5 day road trip, as I have done. We also have a top, "doors" and even "windshield washers/wipers", and a heater, unlike the X-bow and Ariel. I have to admit the differences are pretty small, tho, since I try to avoid the rain/cold in my car and most of my gear goes into the passenger space, wh/the comparo cars have also. Well my Caterham has none of those things and there is also no luggage space at all due to the boot being occupied by a fuel cell BTW, you can now get a windshield for the Atom and it has a luggage compartment in the nose Edited February 25, 2011 by MoPho Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted February 25, 2011 Share Posted February 25, 2011 Have to say I agree with Morgan on this one. The atom and xbow are not sevens. Not even 7ish. Wow, Mopho and I agreeing. :willy_nilly::willy_nilly::willy_nilly: Run for you life the sky is falling, the sky is falling. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supersportsp Posted February 25, 2011 Author Share Posted February 25, 2011 I don't really care whether it is considered a 7 or not, or even 7-like. I do care that they all are fun, light and powerful. The X-Bow is appealing to me largely because it was developed by Dallara. Dallara kind of knows what they are doing when it comes to developing quick cars. For example: http://img.infocoches.com/img/lancia/1983-LC2-Gruppo-C/lancia_1983-LC2-Gruppo-C-001_4.jpg http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/200602/1993-ferrari-333-sp-10_800x0w.jpg http://www.7extrememotorsports.com/lemans/cars/audi-r8-06.jpg The chassis technology on an X-bow is very, very impressive. It makes an Atom look like an original 7 by comparison. It is pretty damn spendy, and not terribly attractive, but I would still love to drive one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 What... no cupholders? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danilo Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Curiously there was lengthy article in the Dec 2009 issue of Top Gear Magazine. Seems two Top Gear editors drove an Xbow from London to northern Italy on a multi day 'road trip' (excuse) to deliver an 'award' to the the man responsible for it's exceptional handling. Seemingly they found it a better than expected car to spend several days in.. so much so they took an even more circuitous route home. Clearly they Really liked it's performance and even it's 'comfort' pretenses. Plus it didn't even once toss a road rock on their testicles .. as had the Atom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 ^ road rock on the testicles, eh? OUCH! I'm sure a rock to the testicles causes more pain than a rock to the VAG. hahahahah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusaNostra Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 (edited) Probably one of the ugliest car design i've seen. I can't figure if its a full armoured armadillo or toy's ur us transformer. I wonder if it can be converted to a zero turn commercial mower (i need a mower this summer). ...for sure it's faster than armadillo. Edited February 26, 2011 by BusaNostra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanG Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 The X-bow is horribly ugly in a large go-cart kind of way. It's kind of like how I feel when a 90 foot yacht has the same styling cues as a 20 foot runabout - disproportioned and out of place. An option for a more conventional body could do wonders for this car. I definitely prefer the styling of the Atom and Lotus 340R. I does seem to go well, which is in the end most of what this car is about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoPho Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Yeah, I think it is really ugly too, but most people seem to love it. I imagine it is one of those cars that looks better in person, it's got a lot of cool details. I thought the Atom was hideous until I saw it up close and now think it is great looking. The 7 is like that too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
escondidoron Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 I was in Austria last summer and an X-bow pulled into traffic behind me. It is really interesting to see one in a regular road traffic setting. Besides being low (even be Seven standards) they are quite wide. After we parked our car and were walking to the restaurant we came upon the X-bow as it was parallel parking. We got a chance to talk with the owner and sit in the car. I found the industrial aspect of it's design to be interesting. While I can't describe it as beautiful it is very well done. After seeing and sitting in both an Atom and the X-bow I'd prefer the X-bow from a comfort and finish perspective. However I still like the Seven better than either of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlumba81 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Just curious, since the x-bow is to be a street car where would you go to get collision repair if ever involved in an accident? The website says it has a carbon fibre monocoque with crash box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now