Review by CoMod Lotus of the KTM X-Bow
(analog 27248):
The Love-Hate Relationship… There
are slot cars that you’d never buy. You’ve seen pictures of the real thing, and you just don’t like the look of it. Too weird, too ugly, too unusual. The X-Bow is one such car. I just think it’s ugly. Even if someone gave me the real thing as a gift, I wouldn’t want it.
The original was first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2007. Limited to 100 units for now (and already completely sold out), the X-Bow is a no-compromise machine. It features Audi four-cylinder turbo engines ranging from 220 to 260 PS, a carbon-fiber monocoque, and a Brembo braking system. You won’t find any useless child’s toys like air conditioning, a radio, etc. But the X-Bow does have a very unconventional look. And that’s exactly why I would never buy an X-Bow. For me
, a sports car is also all about design. And now I’m supposed to test it as a slot car. Okay, I’ll admit it—the body is outstanding and absolutely true to the original. And the matte black and orange color combination just looks great. The minimal decals are neatly applied, and the body overall feels very sturdy, making it suitable even for children’s hands. A nice touch: the rims with the treaded tires.
Let’s take a look at the technical specs: The car weighs 86 grams, making it one of the lightest models fromCarrera
. The distance between the guide keel and the rear axle is m.E
. perfectly executed. The guide keel is too stiff for my taste; in such cases, I remove the guide keel spring, though this naturally means the keel will no longer return to its original position. The dual sliders have Carrera
proven themselves in this model and are easy to replace. The removable rear axle assembly isn't to everyone's taste, but it makes replacing the axle much easier. Loosen two screws, fold out the entire assembly, unclip the axle, and the new parts are ready to be installed.
If you want to completely disassemble the car, you’ll have to remove the axle unit first anyway; the screw for the base plate is located under the rear axle. Due to the chassis design, space is very tight inside. When reassembling, you should therefore be careful not to pinch any wires.
Now let’s talk about handling:Despite the very narrow tires, the KTM stays on the track like a board. The tires have excellent grip; with the magnet in place, it’s almost impossible to knock it off the track. The car handles like aGo go-kart—crashing is nearly impossible. But if you remove the rear magnet, things get really fun. Drifting right up until a (late) crash—this thing is just plain fun.
Conclusion: : For me, this is the vehicle with the highest fun factorCarrera
currently in the lineup, suitable for fathers and sons alike. If only it weren't so ugly… :-)
CoMod
Lotus -----------------------------------------------------------------------
-Test report by CoMod JoergW on the KTM X-Bow “
(analog 27248)”
1. Appearance:
You can really tell from this orange-and-black “flounder” that it’s tuned for speed, even though the name “Speedster” is already taken. No superfluous parts that even remotely detract from the pure driving pleasure have been installed on this vehicle. This orange sports car could even make it to the finals—purely based on its looks. The vehicle polarizes opinion. You either like it or you don’t—I like it.
For approx.Carrera
For just 1 per mille of the 1:1 price , the risti can
enjoy his track—and that means not only visual enjoyment but also the thrill of driving. One “advantage” of slot car racing becomes particularly clear here… you’re not sitting in the car and getting back problems, but can relax and aim for the lap record on your home track.
2. Technology:
Here, proven technology is combined with the new rear axle removal feature. In the case of the KTM X-Bow, however, it’s important to note that the rear magnet must first be removed; the screw for releasing the rear axle is located underneath it. Once the chassis has been disassembled, reassembly should be done carefully to ensure no cables get pinched. The vehicle is not equipped with lights, which may be due to the rather tight space constraints.
3. Build
Quality: The car is detailed but not too delicate. This makes it suitable for children’s hands—if Dad is willing to let go.
4. Handling:
Weighing in at 88 g, the orange-and-black X-Bow is the lightweight of the field and could certainly be “optimized” further. Personally, though, I’d find any modifications too radical. The narrow tires offer very good grip—only “slightly” less than onGo the lf GTi. The chosen version with tread looks very appealing. Since the same tire material as on Go the lf was apparently used, the reason for the slight difference in tire width and the general differences in the vehicle’s construction might be the cause. With both magnets, even beginners can navigate the X-Bow around the track with no trouble at all, but it only gets really fun with the center magnet. Drift to your heart’s content until you hit the limit. Definitely a fun car that can be driven quickly even on twisty home tracks with a high proportion of Turn 1s!
5. Miscellaneous:
A generally well-suited selection of vehicles to complement the 1:32 lineup. On the track, the orange and white versions almost look like the teams in an international match between neighboring nations. Two more bold, highly visible colors could be added next year to expand the starting field.Carrera However, if the club were to release a kit with 2–3 interchangeable upper body parts or bare bodies in different colors… well, then there would be possibilities. That would really be a different kind of idea for a “Limited” 1:32 model.
CoMod JoergW
(analog 27248):
The Love-Hate Relationship… There
are slot cars that you’d never buy. You’ve seen pictures of the real thing, and you just don’t like the look of it. Too weird, too ugly, too unusual. The X-Bow is one such car. I just think it’s ugly. Even if someone gave me the real thing as a gift, I wouldn’t want it.
The original was first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2007. Limited to 100 units for now (and already completely sold out), the X-Bow is a no-compromise machine. It features Audi four-cylinder turbo engines ranging from 220 to 260 PS, a carbon-fiber monocoque, and a Brembo braking system. You won’t find any useless child’s toys like air conditioning, a radio, etc. But the X-Bow does have a very unconventional look. And that’s exactly why I would never buy an X-Bow. For me
, a sports car is also all about design. And now I’m supposed to test it as a slot car. Okay, I’ll admit it—the body is outstanding and absolutely true to the original. And the matte black and orange color combination just looks great. The minimal decals are neatly applied, and the body overall feels very sturdy, making it suitable even for children’s hands. A nice touch: the rims with the treaded tires.
Let’s take a look at the technical specs: The car weighs 86 grams, making it one of the lightest models from
If you want to completely disassemble the car, you’ll have to remove the axle unit first anyway; the screw for the base plate is located under the rear axle. Due to the chassis design, space is very tight inside. When reassembling, you should therefore be careful not to pinch any wires.
Now let’s talk about handling:Despite the very narrow tires, the KTM stays on the track like a board. The tires have excellent grip; with the magnet in place, it’s almost impossible to knock it off the track. The car handles like a
Conclusion: : For me, this is the vehicle with the highest fun factor
CoMod
Lotus -----------------------------------------------------------------------
-Test report by CoMod JoergW on the KTM X-Bow “
(analog 27248)”
1. Appearance:
You can really tell from this orange-and-black “flounder” that it’s tuned for speed, even though the name “Speedster” is already taken. No superfluous parts that even remotely detract from the pure driving pleasure have been installed on this vehicle. This orange sports car could even make it to the finals—purely based on its looks. The vehicle polarizes opinion. You either like it or you don’t—I like it.
For approx.
2. Technology:
Here, proven technology is combined with the new rear axle removal feature. In the case of the KTM X-Bow, however, it’s important to note that the rear magnet must first be removed; the screw for releasing the rear axle is located underneath it. Once the chassis has been disassembled, reassembly should be done carefully to ensure no cables get pinched. The vehicle is not equipped with lights, which may be due to the rather tight space constraints.
3. Build
Quality: The car is detailed but not too delicate. This makes it suitable for children’s hands—if Dad is willing to let go.
4. Handling:
Weighing in at 88 g, the orange-and-black X-Bow is the lightweight of the field and could certainly be “optimized” further. Personally, though, I’d find any modifications too radical. The narrow tires offer very good grip—only “slightly” less than on
5. Miscellaneous:
A generally well-suited selection of vehicles to complement the 1:32 lineup. On the track, the orange and white versions almost look like the teams in an international match between neighboring nations. Two more bold, highly visible colors could be added next year to expand the starting field.
CoMod JoergW
