When KTM’s finances went sideways, the empire got cut up into a bunch of different pieces. India’s Bajaj took control of the motorcycles, while the sports car arm (the builder of carbon-tub track weapons for nearly two decades), landed with a Belgian investor group fronted by Guillaume de Mévius. And, in case you don’t recognize that name, it’s the same guy who finished second overall at the 2024 Dakar.
The new regime just pulled the curtain back on its first project and it definitely gives us an idea of where their collective heads are at. Meet the KTM X-Bow Arrow, the brand’s first side-by-side and the most powerful one ever sold to the public.
An Audi Engine and an Actual Low Range
Mounted behind the seats is Audi’s EA888, the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four found in the Golf R and S3. It’s been paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch and all-wheel drive. The standard Arrow makes 280 hp, while the Black Limited Edition cranks out an impressive 330 ponies.
Now, just for context, Can-Am’s Maverick R made 240 hp, Kawasaki’s supercharged Teryx H2 answered at 250, and Polaris topped them both in August with the 275-hp RZR Pro R Boost.
The Arrow just cleared the entire field by an absurd 55 horses. Better still, the gearbox gains a proper low range for technical terrain, something no Golf R ever got.
Chromoly Bones, 23.6 Inches of Legs
The carbon monocoque that defined every X-Bow since 2008 is now gone entirely. It’s been replaced by a welded chromoly tube frame built to shrug off terrain that would total a GT-XR. Double wishbones with KW Reiger dampers deliver up to 23.6 inches of travel and 16.9 inches of ground clearance.
Base cars ride on 32-inch rubber with manually adjustable three-way dampers. The Black upgrades to electronically adjusted units with hydraulic bump stops and 35-inch Maxxis RAZR XTs on 15-inch beadlocks.
And at just 2,425 pounds dry, the Black also undercuts the RZR Pro R Boost by over 100 pounds while still carrying those aforementioned 55 extra horses.
Dakar Homework, Hot Hatch Civility
Of course, none of this materialized from thin air. De Mévius’ G Rally Team and the KTM X-Bow Lab Team have been campaigning SSV-class machinery in FIA rally raid competition, and the Arrow is essentially the customer version of that program. Dakar stage winner Puck Klaassen handled development driving.
The pedigree shows in touches like the Black’s hydraulic fly-off handbrake, which is a rally-car affectation we fully endorse.
Sabelt buckets, a digital cluster, a 10-inch touchscreen, and factory air conditioning give this thing a nicer cabin than most hot hatches. The Black piles on carbon bodywork, a premium stereo, a windshield with wipers, and a 4,500-pound winch.
Spec Sheet
Model: KTM X-Bow Arrow / Arrow Black Limited Edition
Engine: Audi-sourced 2.0L turbocharged EA888 inline-4
Power: 280 hp (standard) / 330 hp (Black Limited Edition)
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic w/ low range
Drivetrain: All-wheel drive w/ front & rear limited-slip differentials
Chassis: Welded chromoly tubular steel frame
Suspension: Double-wishbone w/ KW Reiger dampers
Suspension Travel: Up to 23.6″
Ground Clearance: Up to 16.9″
Wheelbase: 114.1″
Tires: 32″ (standard) / 35″ Maxxis RAZR XT on 15″ beadlocks (Black)
Dry Weight: 2,202 lb (standard) / 2,425 lb (Black)
Seating: 2
Pricing & Availability
The standard Arrow starts at $59,800, a roughly $10K premium over the RZR Pro R Boost, while the launch-leading Black Limited Edition runs $98,600 and is capped at 500 individually numbered units worldwide. Reservations open November 17 through the brand’s dealer network, with first deliveries expected in late 2027. Head over to KTM X-Bow’s website to stake your claim.
Recap
2027 KTM X-Bow Arrow
KTM’s reborn sports car arm built its first side-by-side, a 330-hp Audi-powered weapon that out-guns everything Polaris and Can-Am sell.
