Will the KTM X-Bow beat the Ariel Atom 300 and Lotus 2-Eleven? That's one of my biggest questions for 2008, and one that I can't wait to see the results of. But there is a problem.
We don't have exact details of the KTM X-Bow, but we know it will cost around £38,000 for a car weighing roughly 700kg, and packing 237bhp from a 2.0-litre Audi TSI engine. That's 338bhp per tonne, and a recipe that sounds good enough to live up to the KTM's extraordinary looks.
I'm just not sure it's enough to bring down the Atom. You see, the Atom 300 has won our 0-100-0 test for two years running; It weighs 460kg and produces 300bhp. You'll pay just under £40k for a new one. Can you see where this is going?
The Lotus 2-Eleven, on the other hand, weighs 745kg and has 252bhp. This, I suspect will be the true comparison, and the closest competitor to the new KTM track car. The Atom I expect to remain unbeaten for sheer performance at an attainable price.
But don't discount the KTM just yet. It looks like it should be on the set of Transformers, will undoubtedly be great to drive, and over 338bhp per tonne is hardly something to overlook.
So I shall stop getting caught up in numbers and statistics and just think about this: No matter what the issues might be with outright speed, how great is it going be to get these three together to find out, not just how fast, but also how fun £40k can be?
2008 should give us the opportunity to find out, so watch this space.
Technorati tags: 0-100-0, KTM Xbow, Ariel Atom, Parrott