The result is the The KTM KTM X-Bow is the product of Austrian motorcycle maker KTM sensing a chill in the air.
Having established itself as a respected maker of off-road and competition motorcycles, it dipped its toes more deeply into the road bike market with some predictably hard-edged, high performance models.
However, the slow but relentless decline in the number of motorcycle licences across Europe spurred the firm on to try its engineering hand at building a four-wheeler.
KTM X-Bow, a roofless, two seat mid-engined sports car designed for road and track, which drives it firmly into the virtual paddock occupied by the Ariel Atom, Lotus 2-Eleven and various Caterhams. But it is so outlandish in its design that, even next to the established track-day-inspired oddballs, it looks like it's from another planet.
Much of the KTM X-Bow is carbonfibre, and it comes either in black, black and white or black and orange, the trademark colour scheme of its makers. It's powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre TFSI engine from Audi, complete with six-speed gearbox.
Structurally, the core of the KTM is an immensely strong carbonfibre tub, much of it exposed. It’s also possible to specify ancillary bodywork in matching carbonfibre. The body generates up to around 200kg of downforce at 124mph and it’s suspended by pushrod-actuated double wishbone suspension.