Driving on the edge of your seat

Motorcycle maker KTM's carbon fibre X-Bow will feature at this year's Speedshow. Photo / Supplied

Two outrageous "must see" two-seater performance cars add to the exciting and diverse line-up of automotive offerings at the 2010 Speedshow.

KTM's radical two-seater, carbon fibre X-Bow will be on show alongside the world's fastest production sports car, the Radical SR8.

Both are eye-catching and cutting-edge in their lightweight design and top-end performance, says Speedshow organiser Keith Sharp.

Made in Britain, the Radical SR8 holds the lap record around Germany's Nurburgring circuit.

The SR8 is one of six sports cars made by the Radical operation, started by a group of racing enthusiasts who originally had the idea of building a sports car powered by a motorcycle engine.

The company's SR9 sports car won a car of the year award after after finishing its maiden 24-hour Le Mans race in 2003.

"The whole concept of a car powered by a motorcycle engine is pretty cutting-edge and the 460bhp, 2.8-litre SR8 LM sports car we'll see at Speedshow uses a unique Powertec RP lightweight engine which incorporates both Formula One and superbike technology," says Sharp.

The KTM X-Bow, or "crossbow", is the motorcycle company's first four-wheeler. Launched in 2008, it's made almost entirely of carbon fibre as a GT4 sports light racing car and the first example turned up in New Zealand in recent months.

Sharp adds: "Like the Radical, we're fortunate to have the KTM X-Bow courtesy of its New Zealand owner. The passion these guys have for cool cars is totally what Speedshow is all about."

Speedshow takes place at the ASB Showgrounds on July 24 and 25.