barracuda - Hydrofoil Race Boat
barracuda - Hydrofoil Race Boat from Christoph Albiez
barracuda - Hydrofoil Race Boat

Barracuda — KTM Hydrofoil Race Boat Concept
What if KTM took to the water? The Barracuda is a purely conceptual "what if" scenario imagining KTM's racing DNA translated onto the circuit race course. Designed in collaboration with Thomas Perz, it is the aquatic equivalent of the X-Bow and RC8: uncompromising, purpose-built, and unmistakably orange.
Front wing flaps and vector thrust propulsion allow exceptional agility and tight cornering. As speed builds, the hydrofoils lift the hull clear of the surface, eliminating drag and pushing the V10-powered craft toward a theoretical top speed of 100mph. A self-stabilizing design keeps the learning curve low — no special training required.
A modular frame architecture mounts all drivetrain components beneath the hull, allowing wings and propulsion chain to be swapped with just a few bolts. At 2.4 meters wide, the Barracuda fits on a standard trailer — ready to race, wherever that may be.

The KTM Barracuda in its element — the faceted orange hull sitting low in the water before the hydrofoils lift the body clear at speed. The angular surface language mirrors KTM's broader design DNA, translating the brand's aggressive racing identity onto water for the first time.
The side profile reveals the low, flat stance of the hull and the twin rear fins. As speed builds, the hydrofoils beneath lift the entire body out of the water — dramatically reducing drag and allowing the V10 to push the Barracuda toward its 100mph top speed.
tech specs - Power comes from an Audi V10 5.2 FSI producing 450shp — the same unit that motivates the R8. At 6.3 meters long and just 2.4 meters wide, the Barracuda fits within a standard trailer footprint, making transport and circuit logistics straightforward. Top speed: 100mph (160 km/h).
intention - The Barracuda was conceived as KTM's entry into circuit racing on water — the aquatic equivalent of the X-Bow on track. Built for short, aggressive circuits, it is equally at home on open water. Self-stabilizing by design, it requires no special training — just the desire to go fast.
scribles - Early ideation explored a wide range of hull forms and driver positions — from open-cockpit layouts close to the water surface to higher, more upright configurations. The hydrofoil strut geometry and the relationship between the hull body and the water plane were the central questions at this stage.
color scribles - Color sketches refining the side profile and the stance of the hull above the waterline. The foil strut angles and the cockpit rake are being worked out across multiple variations — the elongated, low-slung direction that became the final design is clearly emerging here.
mono - A structural sketch from the single-seater phase of the project, exploring the cockpit opening, hull panel geometry, and foil mounting architecture. The modular frame approach — where all drivetrain components bolt to an underlying chassis — is already present at this stage.
interieur - The cockpit interior from the single-seater concept phase — a deeply bolstered race seat, compact steering wheel, and a minimal analogue-digital instrument cluster. The design was later evolved to accommodate two drivers side by side, but the stripped-back racing philosophy carried through to the final version.
barracuda - The final design in full race livery — number 47, KTM orange, Castrol sponsorship detail. Two helmeted drivers sit exposed in the open cockpit, the foil struts framing the hull from below. The Barracuda as it would appear on the startline.
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barracuda - Hydrofoil Race Boat

Barracuda — KTM Hydrofoil Race Boat Concept
What if KTM took to the water? The Barracuda is a purely conceptual "what if" scenario imagining KTM's racing DNA translated onto the circuit race course. Designed in collaboration with Thomas Perz, it is the aquatic equivalent of the X-Bow and RC8: uncompromising, purpose-built, and unmistakably orange.
Front wing flaps and vector thrust propulsion allow exceptional agility and tight cornering. As speed builds, the hydrofoils lift the hull clear of the surface, eliminating drag and pushing the V10-powered craft toward a theoretical top speed of 100mph. A self-stabilizing design keeps the learning curve low — no special training required.
A modular frame architecture mounts all drivetrain components beneath the hull, allowing wings and propulsion chain to be swapped with just a few bolts. At 2.4 meters wide, the Barracuda fits on a standard trailer — ready to race, wherever that may be.

Christoph Albiez
Dipl. Ing. (FH) Langen bei Bregenz, Austria