KTM's four-wheeled future

By Ben Purvis Motor Industry 25 February 2008 11:26 KTM's X-Bow track day car is just the start of a five-model line-up that will include Dakar and Le Mans endurance racers. Stefan Pierer, the youthful-looking 51 year-old CEO of KTM, has revealed to CAR how he intends to turn his company into the Austrian equivalent of Lotus. The unveiling of the production version of the Audi-engined, carbon-monocoque X-Bow at the Geneva Motor Show on March 4 2008 is exactly one year on from the first showing of the prototype.

Dacia Duster SUV already selling well in UK

Despite no one in the UK yet having the chance to see or drive the new Dacia Duster SUV, Renault has taken over 1,000 orders. Renault has revealed that the Duster is selling well ahead of its arrival in the UK, despite none of its dealers having their own Duster to coax buyers in to a purchase. In the 100 days since the order book for the Dacia opened, Renault has taken more than 1,000 orders from all round the UK.

BMW Concept ActiveE at Detroit motor show 2010

BMW has unveiled this rolling testbed for its electric car strategy - the new Concept ActiveE - at the 2010 Detroit motor show. It's a fully electric BMW and a hint of what's to come through the long-range visionary Project i plan which will reshape BMWs for the 21st century.No prizes for guessing it's based on an existing BMW production car, the 1-series Coupé. But the hardware underneath is designed to percolate across the lower echelons of the BMW range, starting with some exciting new bespoke electric cars.The ActiveE is the first fully electric BMW and follows in the treadmarks of the Mini E. Like the Mini, this battery BM will be used as a pilot test programme where it will be driven by selected private and fleet motorists.BMW ActiveE concept: how it worksThis is a rear-drive BMW with the internal combustion engine ditched in a Munich scrapheap.