Established in 1934, KTM->ke1954 is one of the world's most renown motorcycle manufacturers, with products ranging from street bikes to off-road and racing two-wheelers. Recent years, however, saw KTM->ke2332 enter sports car->ke506 manufacturing, giving the auto industry a solid competitors for the likes of the Caterham Seven. Thus the X-Bow->ke2333 was born, an ultra-light vehicle with a turbocharged Audi engine mounted behind its seats. Weighing less than 1,800 pounds, the X-Bow spawned many iterations and even a couple of race cars, including an FIA-homologated GT4 track car. In 2015, seven years since its inception, the X-Bow enters a new era as KTM, together with Reiter Engineering, is developing a new racer that will be available to customers in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

Unlike its GT4-spec predecessor, the still-unnamed race car->ke148 features a closed cockpit and a conventional hood atop its mid-mounted engine. The track-exclusive machine remains recognizable as an X-Bow when viewed from the front, but the concept is entirely different from what we've seen from KTM in the past. Details are still scarce as of 12/18/2014, with only a few specs and teaser photos revealing some of the styling. However, KTM did announce the race car is being developed in conjunction with Reiter Engineering, and that's pretty big news.

If you're not familiar with the racing scene, Reiter Engineering is responsible for the Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 and the Murcielago GT1 race car, among other vehicles. The German team even went so far as to create a GT3 version of the Chevrolet Camaro.->ke248 Reiter is also one of the very few racing crews to develop a track version of the Lamborghini Diablo.->ke376 Need I say more? I do actually, because Reiter Engineering is also the company responsible for the KTM X-Bow GT4, which won the Supersport category for lighter cars against competition from Donkervoort and Lotus.->ke49

Updated 02/11/2015: KTM revealed the first official image of its new X-Bow GT4 and announced the model will be put on sale in April at a price of €139,000 - or about $157,000 at the current exchange rates.

Click past the jump to read more about the KTM X-Bow Racecar.

Updated history

Updated 12/15/2014: KTM unveiled a new teaser image and new details on its future X-Bow racer developed in cooperation with Reiter Engineering. Details after the jump.

Exterior

Based on the two renderings released as of December 2014, the new race car remains recognizable as an X-Bow when viewed from the front, sporting the same sculpted, V-shaped nose and massive, trapezoidal front grille. However, the headlamps are now protected by plastic covers and the turn signals have been replaced by air vents designed to keep the front brakes cool. A carbon-fiber splitter and a redesigned windshield improve aerodynamics.

Viewed from above, the concept is entirely different from what we’ve seen from KTM in the past. The GT4-spec X-Bow features a closed cockpit and a conventional hood atop its mid-mounted engine, while a massive carbon-fiber wing provides extra downforce. KTM should seriously consider building a street-spec version of this sleek-looking racer.

Interior

KTM has yet to provide info and photos of the interior, but we expect the X-Bow's cockpit to come in a FIA-approved, no-nonsense configuration limited to race-spec gear and a full roll cage.

Drivetrain

Motivation comes from the same Audi-sourced, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine seen in most KTM road cars. In this configuration, the mill is set to generate about 320 horsepower and send it to the wheels through a Holinger sequential six-speed transmission with paddle shifters. The track-prepped X-Bow also comes with a racing ABS system, but other than that, KTM has yet to unveil additional info.

Prices

Pricing details have yet to be announced, but KTM said this X-Bow will be priced "in the range of the SRO rules for GT4." The closed cockpit X-Bow will also be homologated for the Pirelli World Challenge series, meaning U.S. customers will get to hoon it on America's finest race tracks.

Competitors

Aston Martin Vantage GT4

The GT4 European Series is packed with all sorts of vehicles, ranging from rear-engined Porsche 911s to modified BMW M3s, Chevy Camaros and Lotus Evoras. Also competing in this series is the Aston Martin Vantage GT4, a gentleman's race car built to FIA GT regulations. Also eligible for the GTS class of the Pirelli World Challenge, the British coupe is motivated by a 4.7-liter, V-8 engine specifically prepped by Aston Martin Racing.

An unspecified amount of power travels to the wheels through either a six-speed manual or a Sportshift transmission that comes with a twin-plate cera-metallic clutch with lightweight flywheel. Aerodynamic upgrades include an adjustable carbon-fiber rear wing, a new front splitter and carbon-fiber canards fitted to the front bumper. Inside, there's a set of Recaro racing seats with Sabelt six-point harnesses, a quick-release steering wheel and an FIA-compliant extinguisher system.

Of course, the new X-Bow racer won't be able to race in the same category as the Vantage GT4, but the two will encounter each other on European tracks.

Cadillac ATS-V.R

Likewise, the X-Bow GT4 will get to race against a bevy of incredible cars in the Pirelli World Challenge, the newest of which is the Cadillac ATS-V.R. Designed to replace the CTS-V.R, the car that won three back-to-back season through 2014, the ATS-V.R is based on the company's newly unveiled BMW M4 fighter, the ATS-V Coupe. An extreme aerodynamic body kits sets this racer apart from its road-going sibling, while the interior features a host of GT3-spec gear, including bolstered seats with multi-point harnesses, a multifunctional steering wheel, an FIA-approved full roll cage, new pedals, and a race-specific shifter.

Powering Cadillac’s->ke18 brand-new track machine is the LF4.R powerplant, which is the racing version of the twin-turbocharged, 3.6-liter, V-6 engine found in the Cadillac CTS Vsport. The powerplant carries twin BorgWarner turbochargers, increased-capacity intercoolers, and a competition engine management system, which all do a part in increasing its output to 600 horsepower and 520 pound-feet of torque. The engine mates to a bespoke, Xtrac sequential six-speed transaxle and a limited-slip differential with a 3.13-to-1 final drive ratio.

Conclusion

The KTM X-Bow may not benefit from the heritage that made the Caterham Seven famous, but the Austrian sports car is slowly but surely climbing up the celebrity ladder. The X-Bow hasn't change much lately, although KTM continues to improve the car and squeeze more power from its engine, but this GT4-spec racer comes to revolutionize the concept behind the KTM sports car. The closed-cockpit configuration is obviously its main highlight, but this X-Bow has yet to reveal all the tricks it has in store. Fingers crossed KTM is pondering a road-legal version as well.