What better backdrop to the KTM X-BOW GT-XR1 than winding mountain roads and breathtaking Pyrenean panoramas? The super sportscar from KTM can deliver its uncompromising performance in any terrain. One man who knows that better than most is Pol Espargaró. The MotoGPTM test rider and proud X-BOW GT-XR owner has customised his model exactly to his liking.
A KTM X-BOW GT-XR in matte black with a carbon rear wing and central-locking GT2 wheels sits resplendent in the KTM test rider’s garage in Andorra. Surrounded by the peaks of the Pyrenees, the principality is the perfect setting for high-adrenaline tours in the KTM X-BOW GT-XR. The turbocharged, 2.5-liter, five-cylinder engine delivers a hefty 500 hp and can deploy every inch of that power around the snaking roads. The unmistakable sound gives Espargaró goose bumps every time: “I love everything about this car,” says the 33-year-old. “There’s not one thing I would change.”
1 Fuel consumption combined (WLTP): 9.1 l/100 km, CO₂ emissions combined (WLTP): 214 g/km, emissions classification: EURO 6D
Espargaró’s words are high praise indeed, coming from a man who embodies the READY TO RACE philosophy like no other, whether on two wheels or four. The Spaniard lives for speed, both on the racetrack and on the road, so the KTM X-BOW GT-XR is the perfect super sportscar for 15-time grand prix winner. “When I heard that KTM was building a super sportscar for the road, I was immediately interested,” he says. “That was one year before it went into production, so I was one of the early ones.”
However, Espargaró’s passion for the KTM X-BOW traces its roots back much earlier than that. “I have a X-BOW GT4 but that’s for the track,” he explains. “The KTM X-BOW GT-XR was designed for the road, but it feels like you are sitting in a racing car. Normally manufacturers build a road car and adapt it for the racetrack. KTM did the complete opposite, and I liked the sound of that.”
KTM X-BOW GT-XR number 44 – the same as the Moto2TM world champion’s race number – has been part of Espargaró’s garage since December 2023. But that’s not the only detail that is tailored to the MotoGPTM test rider’s specifications. The Carbon Clear Matt skin is paired with GT2 rear view mirrors and brake pads and logos in the eye-catching Rosso Corsa colour, turning the super sportscar into a real statement of intent. Another special detail is the licence plate, which speaks to Espargaró’s love of all things Marvel. As the perfect everyday companion with a secret side to it, Batman is a fitting moniker for the KTM X-BOW GT-XR.