Abarth could be working on a competitor to the Lotus Exige, if the latest edition of Auto Express is to be believed. The British magazine says that the KTM X-Bow would be the basis of the new Abarth model, contrary to previous conflicting reports for the Abarth 500 Speedster and two-seater coupe.
The mid-engined two-seat roadster could be released by 2013, unnamed sources at Abarth allegedly told the magazine. The limited-edition car would bypass the X-Bow's Audi TFSI engine in favor of a new Fiat-produced 1.8-liter MultiAir turbocharged unit, also using petrol.
This new engine is expected to produce over 200 horsepower (149 kW), compared to the 237 hp (177 kW) generated by the Audi unit, which also delivers up to 310 Nm of torque. The 700-kilogram X-Bow is able to sprint to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds.
Still, the Abarth model is expected to have a completely different exterior, bearing little-to-no resemblance to the topless carbon fiber X-Bow. If produced, the Abarth roadster could be limited to 2,000 units, with a pricetag ranging from £42k to £50k (€50,686 to £60,341).
