In an automotive world suffocated by SUVs, it’s refreshing to see a new sports car. If you are unfamiliar with Kiska, it is a design firm that has created products for Husqvarna and KTM but is now looking to broaden its scope by launching its very own car. Since this is only a teaser, no information is provided. By looking at the black and white RE logo, we can tell that Alan Derosier is the team leader and that Reiter Engineering is involved.
We can tell right away that the machine was designed with performance in mind. Its body is entirely made of carbon fibre, and the large canopy that provides access to the cramped cabin is worthy of the Batmobile. The unnamed Kiska sports car, which rolls on centerlock wheels, is equipped with fender-mounted rearview cameras in place of conventional side mirrors. Pushrod suspension can be seen peeking through the massive front section, and the back has neat louvres above the engine and top-mounted dual exhausts.
The two cutouts in the front section flanking the cylindrical-shaped air vents are not as obvious as the bulging fenders. Could those be headlights that pop out? Due to stricter safety regulations, those essentially disappeared in the 1990s, but it would be great to see them back on a road car – provided that this is actually street-legal.
Overall, Kiska’s sports car sends a Lancia Stratos vibe while appearing to be somewhat related to the KTM X-Bow GTX. If our assumption is correct, the engine is a 2.5-liter inline-five from Audi that produces 530 horsepower and 453 pound-feet (615 Newton-meters) of torque in the GTX. We hope the same will be true of this since the latter, which has a comparable pop-out canopy, can be driven on public roads.
Given that the GTX weighs just 1,048 kilogrammes, the two-seater should be nearly as lightweight as a Mazda MX-5 Miata (2,310 pounds). In the KTM version, power is distributed to the rear wheels via a limited-slip differential and a sequential six-speed gearbox. According to the side logo on the rear wing, which conjures up images of Group B rally cars, it might be the Kiska APG-1.
Although the exact date of the premiere is unknown, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance will be the next significant auto show soon.
Source: Kiska
