2018 KTM X-Bow GT4 unveiled

Although it looks similar to the car it replaces, there are a number of meaningful improvements lurking under its angular skin.

For one, there's a more durable transmission hooked up to the 250kW, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, rated to deal with 700Nm of torque. Perhaps more significantly, it only needs to be serviced every 10,000km – a significant improvement on the 5000km intervals previously required.

The improved reliability has also carried over to the chassis, where the suspension wishbones and centre-locking wheel hubs only need maintenance every 20,000km.

As a result, KTM says the car costs $6 per km to run. That isn't cheap if you're driving, say, a Corolla, but it's cheap for a genuine race car.

Gone is the Series ECU from the old car, replaced by a Motec M142 engine controller and complete motorsport wiring harness. A GT3-style traction control system is now part of the package, manipulated through a new, more user-friendly control panel in the cabin.

And the cost for all this motorsport goodness? €152,360 ($233,120). Just 15 will be built in Northern Hemisphere spring next year, and they're all sold out.

MORE: KTM news