Currently reading: KTM X-Bow boosted to 592bhp in first update under new owner

More power and tech upgrade are first changes since Austrian motorcycle maker sold its sports car division

The KTM X-Bow GT-XR has been updated for the first time since the sports car division of the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer entered new ownership last year.

Officially named KTM X-Bow Onroad GmbH, the division was sold after financial headwinds pushed KTM into a period of ‘self-administration’ and eventually an acquisition by Indian partner Bajaj.

The buyer was a Belgian investment group led by rally driver Guillaume de Mévius, whose family holds a significant stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev, parent firm of brewers including Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois.

Chief among the updates to the X-Bow is the addition of new Factory 600 and Evo specifications, which extract yet more performance from the lightweight supercar.

The Factory 600 package brings an uprated intake manifold, turbocharger and intercooler, boosting the Audi-sourced 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine by 99bhp to 592bhp.

KTM X-Bow GT-XR rear

Meanwhile, the Evo aero kit is derived from that worn by the GT2-class X-Bow racer, with a more aggressive front splitter, canards and new louvres in its wings.

All X-Bows have gained a 7in infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, intended to enhance the appeal of the track-focused supercar when out on the open road, giving easier access to sat-nav and media.

The rear-view camera is no longer fitted as standard: the X-Bow instead gets traditional folding side mirrors, although the camera-based solution can still be had as an optional extra.

It has also gained the option of an exhaust system made by German firm Capristo.

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Charlie Martin

Charlie Martin Autocar
Title: Senior Staff Writer

Charlie plays a leading role in Autocar's coverage of new car launches and industry events. He’s also a regular contributor to its reviews and social media channels, creating content for Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook and Twitter.

Charlie joined Autocar in July 2022 after a nine-month stint as an apprentice with sister publication What Car?, during which he acquired his gold-standard NCTJ diploma with the Press Association.

He is the proud owner of a Mk4 Mazda MX-5 but still feels pangs of guilt over selling his first car, a Fiat Panda 100HP.