Review by CoMod Lotus of the KTM X-Bow
(catalog no. 27248)
: “A 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 of those cars. I just think the car is plain 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 an uncompromising machine. AUDI four-cylinder turbo engines ranging from 220 to 260 PS, a carbon-fiber monocoque, and a BREMBO braking system. You’ll search in vain for useless child’s play things like air conditioning, a radio, and so on. But the X-Bow does have a very distinctive look. And that’s exactly why I would never buy an X-Bow. For me
, a sports car is also 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; the body gives a very sturdy overall impression and is therefore suitable even for children’s hands. Very nice: the rims with the treaded tires.
Let’s get to the technical details: The car weighs 86 grams, making it one of the lightest models from [brand]Carrera . The distance between the guide keel and the rear axle is m.E
. perfectly executed. The guide keel is too stiff for my taste; so in such cases I remove the keel spring—though of course this means the keel no longer returns to its original position. The double-slide gears have Carrera
proven themselves
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 you're ready to install the new parts.
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 design of the chassis, space is very tight inside. When reassembling, you should therefore be careful not to pinch any cables.
Now let’s talk about handling: Despite the very narrow tires, the KTM sticks to the track like a board. The tires have excellent grip; with the magnet, it’s almost impossible to knock this car off the track. It handles like aGo kart—crashing off the track is nearly impossible. But if you remove the rear magnet, things get really fun. Drifting right up to a (late) spin-out—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 the trim on this orange-and-black “flatfish” that it’s built 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 looks. The car divides opinion. Either you 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 developing back problems, but can instead 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 be removed first; the screw for releasing the rear axle is located underneath it. Once the chassis has been disassembled, reassembly should be done carefully to ensure that no cables get pinched. The vehicle is not equipped with lights, which may be due to the rather tight space constraints.
3. Workmanship:
The car is detailed, but not overly intricate. This makes it suitable for children’s hands—if Dad lets them play with it.
4. Handling
: Weighing in at 88 g, the orange-and-black X-Bow is the lightweight of the field and could certainly still be “optimized.” Personally, though, I’d find any modifications too drastic. The narrow tires offer very good grip—only “slightly” less than on theGo 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 may be to blame. With both magnets, even beginners can navigate the X-Bow around the track without any trouble, but it’s only 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 at a brisk pace even on twisty home tracks with a high proportion of Curve 1 sections!
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 field of competitors.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.
CoMod JoergW
(catalog no. 27248)
: “A 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 of those cars. I just think the car is plain 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 an uncompromising machine. AUDI four-cylinder turbo engines ranging from 220 to 260 PS, a carbon-fiber monocoque, and a BREMBO braking system. You’ll search in vain for useless child’s play things like air conditioning, a radio, and so on. But the X-Bow does have a very distinctive look. And that’s exactly why I would never buy an X-Bow. For me
, a sports car is also 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; the body gives a very sturdy overall impression and is therefore suitable even for children’s hands. Very nice: the rims with the treaded tires.
Let’s get to the technical details: The car weighs 86 grams, making it one of the lightest models from [brand]
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 design of the chassis, space is very tight inside. When reassembling, you should therefore be careful not to pinch any cables.
Now let’s talk about handling: Despite the very narrow tires, the KTM sticks to the track like a board. The tires have excellent grip; with the magnet, it’s almost impossible to knock this car off the track. It 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 the trim on this orange-and-black “flatfish” that it’s built 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 looks. The car divides opinion. Either you 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 be removed first; the screw for releasing the rear axle is located underneath it. Once the chassis has been disassembled, reassembly should be done carefully to ensure that no cables get pinched. The vehicle is not equipped with lights, which may be due to the rather tight space constraints.
3. Workmanship:
The car is detailed, but not overly intricate. This makes it suitable for children’s hands—if Dad lets them play with it.
4. Handling
: Weighing in at 88 g, the orange-and-black X-Bow is the lightweight of the field and could certainly still be “optimized.” Personally, though, I’d find any modifications too drastic. The narrow tires offer very good grip—only “slightly” less than on the
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 field of competitors.
CoMod JoergW
