Monocoque carbon fiber: Racing Dallara expertise
Carbon fiber monocoque have been a safety net of Formula 1 for many years. Along the way, this technology was reserved for the elite super sports cars once in a class of higher price. KTM would now like to be the first to offer this solution in a much more affordable.
KTM was able to call upon the expertise of the development partner, Dallara. These experts Varano (near Parma) in Northern Italy have long been lauded carbon technology experts, from design to production of components made of this lightweight, but rigid. Monocoque developed for KTM X-Bow is not only extremely robust it is also safe, thanks to an integrated Crashbox. Yet only weighs about 70 pounds and is therefore a crucial factor for the spectacular performance of the vehicle.
KTM was able to gain Audi AG as a partner in developing the drive unit. The TFSI four-cylinder engine is the design principles of X-Bow, in an ingenious way: by featuring lightweight, high performance and intelligent technologies.
The engine is an excellent feature of its direct injection technology FSI. In this case, is connected to the exhaust gas turbocharger and intercooler. Thanks to FSI, the engine can use more fuel than conventional intake manifold injection and it gets even further with less fuel is often used partial load range.
The level of injection pressure is between 30 and 110 bar, suction valve system directly from the air flowing to the movement of the cylinder. Camshaft infinitely variable suction ensures optimum charging of the cylinder at all speeds. Two balancer shafts compensate the second order inertia forces and so guarantee superior, low vibration.
The long run KTM X-Bow, four valves per cylinder provides powerful performance: 310 newton-meters of torque peaks at a level of between 2,200 and 4,000 rpm. The maximum output of 177 kW (240 hp) is achieved at 6000 rpm. Variations even more powerful engine of 300 horsepower range are planned at a later date.
The drive unit package is complemented by a 6-speed manual transmission, which is also made by VW and can be equipped with a limited slip differential if so desired. An optional S tronic transmission will also be offered. The player comes from behind.
Chassis: Direct and competent
The X-Bow performance gain not only driving the car a low center of gravity, but also an excellent platform, based on racing technology, its basic principles. Suspended double triangular wishbone axles, the wheels feature suspension and damping elements by WP Suspension, with the tip in front of the engine available.
The Italian manufacturer Brembo can also be proud of its reputation for excellence. KTM is also expanding this partnership (which began in the area of motorcycles) in the kingdom of the car. X-Bow powerful braking system consists of 305 front discs and 262 mm discs mm at the rear. The interaction of low weight of the car, the ideal balance, low center of gravity and a mixture of results 17-/18-inch bridge in spectacular braking performance: when the brakes are warm, the KTM X-Bow n 'needs than 33.1 meters to decelerate from 100 km at a standstill.
The main development objectives of the 2008 KTM X-Bow was not to reach extreme speeds final, but in the optimization of driving dynamics. The sports car is made easier by an ingenious aerodynamics, the result of many hours in Dallara wind tunnel. The most crucial element in this area is the basement, which is equipped with a diffuser leading to the rear. To make this work even more efficiently broadcaster, the connection points for the rear suspension as high as possible. This enables the KTM X-Bow to achieve a phenomenal downforce of about 200 kg with a speed of 200 km / h - about three times more than most other supersport cars.
In combination with high-performance chassis, the great support that makes possible the extreme curve speeds. The lateral acceleration of 1.23 g can be achieved significantly exceeds the usual values achieved by street cars sports certification.
The aerodynamic concept was a big challenge for the designer. This meant that sufficient air had to be fed to the inputs to the sides, behind the passengers. The radiator is also located in the rear of the vehicle to avoid having to install longer, heavier cooling hoses. This mission is carried out using special baffles, which are installed horizontally on the sides of the car, so passengers can also use them as aids boarding.
Safety: Racing Technology
The crucial element to protect the driver and passenger are solid carbon monocoque - safety technology straight from Formula 1 This structure is complemented by a crashbox in the nose of the vehicle. The silencer, which is integrated into the rear of the car, was also designed to act as a crashbox, it absorbs the force of an impact on the rear of the vehicle.
The driver and passenger are also protected by seat belts to four points, which were inspired by the racing world. If desired, this unit can be equipped with a fifth point of fixation. The two anti-roll bars are clearly visible. They not only seem to be fixed, they are ingeniously integrated into the monocoque structure.
Design: The floating
Gerald Kiska studio can take credit for the shape of the vehicle. Coming from Salzburg, he worked closely with KTM for the past 15 years and is entrusted not only to the design of motorcycles, but also with the appearance of the company itself.
For the concept of the first cars of the brand KTM, Kiska incorporated many features that are most closely associated with motorcycles than cars. Each part has a function, the technology remains transparent, the form is essentially simple. The body panels in orange are some "floating elements", such as motorcycles, and suggest lightness and simplicity.
Intentional reduction of all things includes the lights: simple headlamps and embedded indicators flush with the contours of the car and lights around her to give up superficial, spectacular effects. Instead of coal structure to the tasks of design, which means that the parties, which are often hidden in the car, such as the silencer, suddenly have an aesthetic purpose in addition to their normal functions.
Equipment: purist and functional
Because of its clear concept, the KTM X-Bow can do without many things that are usually added to the complexity and extra weight. Therefore, the narrow wind deflector makes a heating system and windscreen wipers unnecessary elaborate doors are not included in the design, due to low profile vehicles and extremely low side profile.
The seats are further examples of intelligent construction and simple X-Bow: the shells for the driver and passenger seats are already integrated in the construction of carbon fiber monocoque. An overlay provides a solid comfort. To provide the best ergonomics for drivers of varying heights, KTM X-Bow has manually adjustable pedals.
KTM X-Bow is not in the trunk. But it will feature an innovative, mobile storage box for the car documents. Devices Act, as a triangle, first aid kits and ring-fit system, considered as a space next to the passenger foot well. The lid must be kept in the same place, protects the interior of the car when parked. Two helmets can be connected to the passenger side footwell.
