Koenigsegg released images of the pre-series Jesko it built to test on the 1,900-yard runway it owns next to its headquarters. The orange hypercar is the result of a massive development program that began years ago.
Unveiled in 2019, the Jesko is not simply an evolution of its predecessor. It’s an entirely new car, one developed by a relatively small company without the scale and the footprint of bigger carmakers, and it’s stunningly advanced. The graphics on its digital instrument cluster rotate as the driver turns the steering wheel, for example.
There’s a different kind of technology under the body. Power for the Jesko comes from a 5.0-liter V8 that’s twin-turbocharged to develop 1,600 horsepower and 1,106 pound-feet of torque when it’s slurping E65 fuel. Instead of using an electric compressor, Koenigsegg solved the turbo lag problem by fitting the Jesko with an air tank and a compressor that sends a 20-bar shot of air through the system to pre-spool it. It’s almost rocket science.
Follow the power flow out of the crankshaft and you’ll find a nine-speed automatic gearbox called Light Speed Transmission (LST) that has seven multi-disk clutches. These are just some of the features Koenigsegg’s pre-series Jesko will let test drivers experience.
While an airstrip is the ideal venue for testing acceleration, the one Koenigsegg has access to is too short to allow the Jesko to reach top speed. Even the three-mile runway at the Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds in Florida isn’t long enough. Simulations say the Jesko should hit 330 mph, but Koenigsegg still hasn’t figured out where to try it.
As to the livery, Koenigsegg founder Christian von Koenigsegg didn’t choose the orange hue after drinking a big glass of Sunny D or because he’s already looking forward to Halloween. It’s a reference to one of the Swedish company’s first cars, the CCR, which was presented to the public at the 2004 edition of the Geneva auto show in an eye-catching shade of orange named Lava Orange. It was featured in press images and later sold to a private buyer. It traded hands again at an RM Sotheby’s auction held in Milan, Italy, in June 2021, where it sold for €798,125 (approximately $942,400).
Only 14 units of the CCR were built between 2004 and 2006, meaning it’s an exceptionally rare sight. The Jesko will be more common. Production will be limited to 125 units globally, and all of them are already spoken for, though some were claimed by dealers hoping to offer a car to a local buyer, so it might not be too late to get one. However, we hope you’ve started saving: pricing starts at $3 million. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the spring of 2022.
July 16, 2021 / Comments Off on Koenigsegg’s first Jesko is a tribute to one of its first cars
The Koenigsegg Jesko was unveiled at the last Geneva Motor Show to date, the 2019 edition, and this new hypercar drew a lot of attention in Switzerland when the covers came off, this was a brutal looking car in true Koenigsegg tradition, with a claimed top speed of 300 mph from what they claim is their lightest and most powerful 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine yet.
Koenigsegg Jesko at Geneva in 2019 – photo copyright Mark Smeyers
Numbers like 1,600 hp on E85 biofuel and 1,280 on regular gasoline were mentioned, a maximum torque of 1,106 lb-ft required a special 9-speed multi-clutch gearbox built in-house by Koenigsegg at 170 mp the aerodynamic design of this Jesko with that massive rear wing creates 2,200 pounds of downforce … at top speed, this number increases to more than 3,000 pounds!
Koenigsegg Jesko at Geneva in 2019 – photo copyright Mark Smeyers
About a year later Koenigsegg unveiled something even more impressive … the Jesko Absolut, built for all-out top speed records, while the ‘regular’ Jesko is more track-focused with her massive front spoiler lip and imposing rear wing with double struts, the Jesko Absolut has been made as smooth as possible, with the least possible drag … a drag coefficient value of only 0.278 Cd has been achieved for a top speed in excess of 330 mph, that is 532 km/h, which would shatter any top speed record to date.
Koenigsegg limited the production for the Jesko to 125 units, priced at US$3,000,000 each with initial deliveries by the spring of 2022, customers will have the option to choose between either the Jesko or the Jesko Absolut trim, if there will be a price difference isn’t mentioned in the official documentation, but I guess if you’re ready to part with $3,000,000 for such an amazing car, a few $100,000 more or less don’t really matter anyway.
The Koenigsegg CCR was also shown at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show – Photo copyright Mark Smeyers
Today we have passed the design and prototype stage for the Koenigsegg Jesko as their first pre-series production car comes off the assembly line … and she is stunning, to say the least, finished in Tang Orange Pearl with silver and carbon-fiber accents, this specific pre-production Jesko is an homage to original Koenigsegg CCR color … a testament to how Christian von Koenigsegg brings the past into the future of his company.
If you look at the amazing cars made by Koenigsegg it might be hard to imagine this hypercar company was founded only 27 years ago, Christian von Koenigsegg started Koenigsegg Automotive AB in 1994 and quickly became a world leader in engineering and manufacturing of extreme performance hypercars, based in Ängelholm in the south of Sweden, Koenigsegg now holds about 400 employees, and they are still expanding as we speak.
CEO and Founder Christian von Koenigsegg states: “We are very excited to showcase this pre-series Jesko in conjunction with the start of production of the 125 Jesko and Jesko Absolut customer cars. As part of our gradual expansion, the Jesko’s pre-assembly begins at an extended 10,000 square meter facility”
To be honest, I wasn’t really blown away by the white Koenigsegg Jesko at the 2019 GIMS in Switzerland, I was fortunate enough to be there at the press conference when Christian von Koenigsegg unveiled the car, and while the aero is extremely wild, the white and green just didn’t work for me, but seeing this Jesko in bright orange changes everything, especially with the orange interior now looking so much better than the plain-looking black upholstery inside the Geneva show car.
Koenigsegg is getting ready to start production of the 125 Jesko and Jesko Absolut customer cars, after almost three years of prototype, testing, redesigning, and preparing for production, and judging from the photos of this bright orange production prototype, there isn’t too much different in terms of overall look compared to the 2019 Geneva show car, and I absolutely love the fact you can still take the top off and drive the Jesko as a convertible … I’m sorry, I like open-top cars, even if they can go over 300 mph.
During final shakedown testing, which Koenigsegg does at very high speeds mind you, it became clear this hypercar handles like no other, thanks to an active triplex damper added to the front suspension, active aerodynamics (that massive rear wing moves!), Michelin tires that have been developed specifically for the Jesko, and the Koenigsegg bespoke Electronic Stability system.
An evolution in DCT, Dual Clutch transmissions, that is yet unseen since its development is the new LST, or Koenigsegg own patented Light Speed Transmission that offers seamless gear shifts, both upshifting and downshifting, a gear change is as fast as the speed of light according to Christian von Koenigsegg, this ‘world’s fastest transmission’ consists of nine forward gears and seven wet, multidisc clutches in a compact, ultra-light package.
Jesko prototype driver Markus Lundh: “The Jesko feels very natural to drive. Because of its seamless shifting, whether up or down, everything just happens much faster. There are no delays, it is very responsive and behaves exactly the way you want it to. For a car of its size and power, it is very agile in the way it reacts to steering and does not spin out even with sudden movements at full throttle”
The Koenigsegg Jesko will come with ‘Autoskin’, first seen on their Regera, at the touch of a button on the remote control, miniaturized hydraulics initially designed to operate aerodynamic systems will engage to open the car’s doors and hoods, for a true touchless entry, but more importantly, it looks amazing at a car event too.
A redesign of Koenigsegg’s very special, signature dihedral synchro-helix door hinge now allows opening slightly outwards and upwards compared to the Regera, unveiling a truly mesmerizing interior in leather, Alcantara, carbon fiber, aluminum, and even glass. The SmartCluster display behind the steering wheel actually rotates when the driver takes a turn, while two SmartWheel touchscreens embedded into the actual steering wheel make several features accessible with just a touch or a swipe.
Controls for seat position and heating are available via the SmartCenter touchscreen. Drivers can find the perfect driving position by matching their carbon fiber seat position with the fully adjustable steering column and pedal box, and whit that amazing von Koenigsegg shield adorned key that can be fitted onto its very own indent on the dashboard, the interior just looks so luxurious and sporty at the same time … this isn’t some Sparton, uncomfortable supercar, but more of an ultra-fast Grand Touring version of a hypercar.
As already mentioned, the first of these $3,000,000 hypercars ‘Made in Sweden’ will be delivered to their fortunate customers by the spring of 2022, I’m really curious as to what special color combination we’ll be seeing on the Koenigsegg Jesko, and just how the split between Jesko and Jesko Absolut will be … will more customers opt for the brutal race-track, LeMans style of the Jesko, or will the Jesko Absolut with her sleeker lines and higher top speed be more popular?
And what about this … will the Koenigsegg Jesko beat the 282.9 mph top speed record of the SSC TUATARA? On paper the Jesko Absolut should be capable of going well over 300 mph, Koenigsegg even mentioned 330 mph for the Jesko Absolut, but what will be the top speed in a real-life environment, on the road, going in two opposite directions … what will the average top speed of the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut be in that case … only time will tell …
July 16, 2021 / Comments Off on First pre-series production Jesko ready
Buyers who order a Koenigsegg are encouraged to personalize their car by working directly with the company to select unique paint colors and trim materials. One customer took the customization process to the next level by commissioning the company’s little-known Aftermarket division to re-engineer a 2017 Agera RS.
Twenty-five units of the record-breaking Agera RS were available, and production ended in 2018, so it’s too late to buy one new. Instead, an owner approached the Swedish firm with a simple request: He wanted to add air vents similar to the One:1‘s to his car’s hood. From there, the project escalated into a relatively long list of upgrades.
Koenigsegg explained that after adding the pair of vents, it redesigned the carbon fiber hood and fitted additional winglets on either side of the front bumper. It then turned its attention to the back of the car, where it added an air scoop that’s also inspired by the One:1 and an updated adjustable wing controlled by the in-car software. Black paint on the logos, on the exhaust outlet, and even on the visible bolts add a finishing touch to the design.
Inside, the anonymous customer requested a digital instrument cluster named SmartCluster in Koenigsegg-speak. Borrowed from the Regera, it takes the form of a big, driver-configurable screen that neatly replaces the three digital gauges and the small clusters of warning lights fitted to the Agera RS when it was new.
Koenigsegg initially estimated that implementing the customer’s request for additional vents would take a month, but it ended up spending longer than half a year making the aforementioned changes to the Agera RS. It stopped short of revealing how much it charged the owner to re-engineer a car that cost more than $2.5 million when it was new.
December 30, 2020 / Comments Off on Koenigsegg re-engineers a 2017 Agera RS at the request of a customer
The short film above (which you should absolutely watch) was produced, scripted, cast and made entirely in-house by Koenigsegg employees. Seriously, is there anything these people can’t do? It stars Christian von Koenigsegg (the CEO himself) and a number of other Koenigsegg workers trying their hand at acting.
It’s called “Time to Reign,” and Koenigsegg even came up with a name for their production company: A Spare Time In-House Koenigsegg Production. Frankly, that’s an apt name for everything Koenigsegg does, and it all ends up being stupendous. We’re glad to see Koenigsegg found something to do to keep them all busy during quarantine. It appears to be shot in Angelholm, Sweden.
We won’t spoil the fun, so give the film a watch. Oh, and keep watching to the end, because there is a post-credits scene.
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July 10, 2020 / Comments Off on Koenigsegg made a short film, so you obviously need to go watch it now
The world seems like a pretty terrible place right now, but there are good things in it, like the two monster Koenigsegg supercars the company revealed a month ago. The Koenigsegg Gemera four-door supercar and the Jesko Absolut high-speed hypercar were showstoppers from the Geneva Motor Show that didn’t happen. And now Koenigsegg released more photos of each at the airfield where its headquarters is located.
Leading the galleries is the Gemera, the newest of the two cars. Besides its unusual shape, a result of having four seats all suitable for adults but still just two doors, it has remarkable technology backing it up. It’s a plug-in hybrid using three electric motors and a turbocharged three-cylinder engine with no camshafts. And it makes a total of 1,700 horsepower. It even has heated and cooled cupholders for each passenger. It’s brilliantly outrageous.
The Jesko Absolut is also wild. It’s aiming to be the fastest car in the world, which would mean a top speed in the 300-mph range. It has potential with the same 1,600-horsepower twin-turbo V8 from the regular Jesko, but is more aerodynamic by losing the rear wing and other drag reductions. It also gets the nifty automatic transmission that can shift to any gear immediately, even out of sequence.
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April 9, 2020 / Comments Off on Koenigsegg Gemera and Jesko Absolut strut on the supercar maker’s runway
The top-speed focused Koenigsegg Jesko did materialise earlier this week. It had been widely rumoured during the lead up to the Geneva Motor Show 2020. The Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut is set to be the fastest Koenigsegg ever built and compromise downforce for a low drag coefficient.
The Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut isn’t a special edition either. What Koenigsegg has unveiled is essentially a spec option, available to all Jesko customers.
The Koenigsegg’s USP is its extremely low drag coefficient. At just 0.278 Cd, it glides through the air, using optimised aerodynamics to stabilise the experience. Downforce is reduced to 40 kg at 250 km/h up to a maximum of 150 kg. The standard Jesko has 800 kg at 250 km/h with a maximum of 1,400 kg.
Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut
The drag coefficient is achieved through the ditching the massive rear spoiler. Two fins replace it, taking inspiration from the F-15 fighter jet. The practical effect is to clm airflow over the rear bodywork, reducing total drag.
Further changes include an extended rear hood, covered rear wheels, a lowered ride height and the removal of the front wheel louvres and front hood air duct.
Koenigsegg refuses to say exactly how fast the Jesko will go. Announcing the car, Christiaan von Koenigsegg made it clear that Koenigsegg is open to the idea of testing the top speed but didn’t yet have a location to conduct such a test. The previous record run in the Koenigsegg Agera RS was carried out on a closed road in the US, it’s not entirely clear whether such a road might yield higher speeds, perhaps in excess of the 300 mph mark.
The Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut uses that same twin-turbocharged 5.0 litre V8, mounted to a 180-degree crankshaft and a nine-speed Light Speed Transmission system. Power totals 1,600 bhp on E85 feel with 1,500 Nm of torque at 5,100 rpm.
Koenigsegg has made adjustments to the suspension too, the front suspension is more compact, it is softer too, which makes it a less serious drive around a race track. Koenigsegg also claims that a 1:1 power ratio is achieved with a full tank of fuel, luggage and two persons on board.
Koenigsegg’s press conference also confirmed that the Regera will finish production by the end of this year, allowing Koenigsegg to begin production of the Jesko next year alongside its other projects.
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March 5, 2020 / Comments Off on Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut: Top Speed Model Aims at 500km/h Mark!
The rumor was right. Koenigsegg has just unveiled the Gemera, an all-new member to the family that sports four seats, two scissor doors, and a massively powerful hybrid powertrain that still allows for pure electric driving. In the same breath, Koenigsegg also unveiled the Jesko Absolut, the fastest road car the company will ever produce.
As the brand’s first four-seater, the Gemera marks the start of a new era for Koenigsegg. While others, even many of the world’s top performance names, are making high-utility crossovers and SUVs, Koenigsegg has chosen to add function while maintaining the coolness factor of a coupe. A real coupe. Who cares if you have to cram into a rear seat when the cramming is achieved through a scissor door?
With the Gemera, which has a shape inspired by an egg, Koenigsegg aimed to make a car with the personality of a mid-engined two-seater but the practicality of a road-trip vehicle. CEO Christian von Koenigsegg says he’s been planning this car since 2003 and wanted to make sure every seat is equally as spacious and comfortable, unlike many 2+2s that only have two usable seats.
The front seats are made from hollow carbon-fiber monocoques and weigh only 37.5 pounds. The slim design of the seats, which integrates the back into the bottom, and the nature of the scissor doors mean ingress and egress is simple and doesn’t require moving the front seats.
The rest of the interior is focused on luxury. The sideview mirrors have been replaced with cameras, seats are heated and cooled, the front and rear each both have large digital infotainment touchscreens to control entertainment and climate, each seat has a hot and a cold cup holder, and the audio system has 11 speakers. The clever design packaging allows all this, plus storage for four pieces of luggage, three in the rear and one up front.
The Gemera will coddle and comfort, but it will also thrill with its high-tech hybrid powertrain. Koenigsegg claims 1,700 bhp and 2,581 lb-ft of torque, and a zero-to-62-mph sprint in 1.9 seconds. This is accomplished with a combination of three electric motors, a twin-turbocharged 2.0-liter three-cylinder camless gas engine, and a direct-drive transmission. It also has all-wheel drive, all-wheel torque vectoring, and all-wheel steering.
Two of those electric motors, each of which makes 500 bhp and 738 lb-ft of torque, are on the rear wheels. A third e-motor is attached to the engine crankshaft and makes 400 bhp and 369 lb-ft of torque. Simultaneously, these electric motors make 1,100 bhp. Working with the e-motor to propel the front wheels is what Koenigsegg calls the Tiny Friendly Giant (TFG) engine. It is rated at 600 bhp and 443 lb-ft of torque and uses the company’s Freevalve technology.
The Gemera, which uses carbon fiber for the chassis, body, and wheels, is built to be eco-conscious, as well. An 800-V, 15-kWh battery allows up to approximately 31 miles of totally electric driving, and the car has an overall range of 621 miles. The Gemera is a flex-fuel vehicle, too, so it can run on Gen 2.0 ethanol or C02-neutral methanol. That means it could potentially be as C02-friendly as an electric vehicle, under certain circumstances.
Koenigsegg is limiting Gemera production to 300 vehicles.
Jesko Absolut
Koenigsegg says the Jesko Absolut is the fastest car it’s ever made, and that “the company will never endeavor to make a faster series-production road car – ever.” So, it’s likely Koenigsegg will make faster one-offs and track specials, but this will be the pinnacle of speed, and will be used to chase the top-speed record.
The Jesko launched as an all-new Koenigsegg in 2019, and the Absolut continues its story with a different purpose. With the Absolut, Koenigsegg set out to reduce drag as much as possible and make the Jesko as slippery as possible. That started with reducing downforce, so the massive wing was replaced with two fins inspired by F-15 fighter jets. These fins “clean up airflow over the rear end,” which helps increase high-speed stability.
Further reducing the drag coefficient to 0.278, Koenigsegg extended the rear hood, added rear wheel covers, lowered the ride height, removed the front wheel louvres, and removed the front hood closed air duct. The front suspension, which is more compact that the setup found on the Jesko, is also slightly softer, which makes the car more comfortable on the road, as well.
Getting comfortable with the power might be a different story. The engine is unchanged from the Jesko, so it carries on with the twin-turbocharged V8 that is connected to a nine-speed transmission. The engine revs up to 8,500 rpm, and Koenigsegg claims 1,600 bhp on E85 fuel. Unique innovations also allow drivers to shift from any gear to any other gear.
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March 3, 2020 / Comments Off on The 1,700-hp Koenigsegg Gemera hybrid has two more seats than any Bugatti
Koenigsegg hosted its global dealer network for a shindig at its Angelholm, Sweden, headquarters last month. During the event, the hypercar maker tweeted an image of employees standing next to five Koenigsegg models under black sheets. It was thought these represented the cars Koenigsegg will bring to next month’s Geneva Motor Show. At least one of those five is rumored to be the Jesko-based Mission 500 concept, the rocket that CEO Christian Koenigsegg will use to challenge the top speed record. The Supercar Blog credits sources for information on another of the five, it supposedly being a hybrid 2+2 called the KG12.
If the rumors are close to true, the extra two seats — and we use the words “seats” generously — wouldn’t be the only break with Koenigsegg tradition. TSB‘s insider says the heart of the KG12’s hybrid powerplant will be a 2.0-liter, three-cylinder engine engineered with the carmaker’s camless FreeValve system. Combined with an electric motor or motors, total output is thought to be around 1,500 horsepower. If such a thing shows up at Geneva, predicted to be on display under a glass engine cover, it will be in the running for the wildest and most innovative propulsion system at the show.
Design standards like the wraparound windshield and dihedral synchro-helix doors are expected to make the cut, but those doors might be longer than usual so as to provide better access to whatever fits in the back seat. TSB writes that the KG12 will cost around €1.4 million ($1.5 million U.S.), with deliveries to begin in 2022 and production limited to 300 units.
One big question is whether the KG12 is, or has anything to do with, the affordable Koenigsegg supercar that’s been on simmer in the background for a few years. A year ago, reports said the car would come to this year’s Geneva show. However, the least expensive Koenigsegg has been imagined with the firm’s naturally-aspirated V8 paired with hybrid assistance, getting something like 1,050 hp, and a price tag of anywhere from €600,000 to €800,000 ($650,000-$850,000). We’ll have an answer in two weeks.
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February 18, 2020 / Comments Off on Koenigsegg bringing a new hybrid 2+2 to Geneva?
Koenigsegg has a thing for the Geneva Motor Show, introducing its first customer car there, the CC82, in 2002. Since then, the Swedish carmaker has trucked wares like the CCX and CCXR, Agera, Regera, and Jesko from Angelholm to greet the world in the Romandy region of Switzerland. According to a report in The Supercar Blog, the ritual takes place again this year, with Koenigsegg supposedly debuting a concept called Mission 500. The concept, so the story goes, will preview the vehicle the hypercar maker plans to use to crack the 300-mile-per-hour barrier. The “500” in the name refers to 500 kilometers per hour, which equates to 310.6 miles per hour. There are rumors of two more cars on display, but the Mission 500 concept is the centerpiece.
Getting any production car to reach 300 miles per hour is a stellar feat, one accomplished last September by the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+. The task is so difficult that every extra mile per hour beyond 300 could be considered its own Herculean conquest of several categories of physics. The Molsheim coupe ran 304.77 mph (490.48 kilometers per hour) at Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien track. If Koenigsegg can hit the magic 500, that additional 6 mph represents a gargantuan achievement.
It’s not clear if the Mission 500 concept is a new vehicle or based on the Jesko. Company boss Christian von Koenigsegg has said he has a 300-mph variant of the Jesko in mind that only needs some extreme aero to manage the task. The CEO has practical math to work with for his claim, his company having got the Agera RS up to 277.87 mph in 2017 — that speed averaged after runs in both directions, unlike the Chiron Super Sport run that was timed in one direction only. If the Mission 500 is Jesko-based, we’d expect to see the 5.0-liter V8 amidships that makes 1,577 horsepower and 1,106 pound-feet of torque on E85, or “just” 1,262 hp and 941 kW on 95-octane pump gas.
Top Fuel NHRA racer Brittany Force set a national record last year at 338.17 mph through the speed trap, using a 500-cubic inch (8.19-liter) supercharged V8 with 10,000 horsepower to do it. The idea that we could see a passenger car with navigation and two cupholders get within 30 mph of that speed is outstanding. Even better is the idea that, assuming the Swedes pull it off, Hennessey or SSC might attempt to beat it. Come on, Geneva.
January 15, 2020 / Comments Off on Koenigsegg reportedly bringing ‘Mission 500’ concept to Geneva
Koenigsegg has revealed the Agera successor at the Geneva Motor Show 2019. Named Jesko after Christian’s father, the new hypercar is built around a re-designed twin-turbocharged V8 engine. It gets a new 180 degree flat-plane crankshaft, intake and larger turbochargers. Flat-plane crankshafts normally suffer from increased vibration which Koenigsegg have addressed with active engine mounts lifted from the Agera. An innovative air-injection system pre-spools the turbocharger for instant response.
Koenigsegg Jesko
Here is a quick look at the specs: Engine: 5.0L V8 Twin-Turbo Output: 1280hp or 1600hp on E85 and 1500 Nm torque Gearbox: 9-speed Koenigsegg Light Speed Transmission (LST) Rev Limit: 8,500rpm Downforce: 1000 kg at 275 km/h Curb Weight: 1420kg Top Speed: 300mph est.
For more on the new Koenigsegg Jesko, you can visit our earlier article here.
For more from the Geneva Motor Show 2019, click through to our dedicated news channel. Let us know what you want to see in the comments box below!
March 6, 2019 / Comments Off on Geneva 2019: Koenigsegg Jesko Hypercar
Koenigsegg never ceases to amaze, and it’s time to add a new name to your dream car list: Jesko. The Koenigsegg Jesko, named after Christian von Koenigsegg’s father, was just revealed at the Geneva Motor Show as a replacement for the Agera RS. This isn’t just a variation of the Agera, either; it’s a totally new car.
It’s difficult to consider one part of this vehicle the highlight to lead with, since the entire car is filled to the brim with shocking performance technology. The flat-plane crank 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine makes 1,600 horsepower and 1,106 pound-feet of torque when you pump E85 through its veins. Regular old gasoline brings the power down to a still totally bonkers 1,280 horsepower. To keep boost pressure up, Koenigsegg has fitted the Jesko with an air tank and compressor that provide a 20-bar shot of air within the turbocharger system for pre-spooling purposes. Now that’s a pretty metal solution to turbo lag.
The engine is also fitted with what Koenigsegg claims is the world’s lightest production V8 crankshaft, (27.6 pounds) milled from a single billet of Swedish Dievar steel. Koenigsegg says vibrations are quelled by active engine mounts similar to those used in the Regera, along with lighter connecting rods and pistons.
Next up on the list of absurdly awesome things is a new nine-speed transmission with seven(!) clutches. Koenigsegg has a good reason for this obscene number of clutches, though. Dual-clutch units only allow gear changes between adjacent gears. This transmission will allow you to fly into whatever gear is optimal at whatever time. For example, if you want to shift from seventh to fourth gear in a dual-clutch transmission, the gears are changed one at a time going downward. The Jesko is capable of instantly selecting a gear without having to wait for several gear changes to get there (up to five gears away). You access this “optimal gear selection” by giving the paddle an extra hard click versus a normal, lighter click for single gear changes. This multi-clutch transmission is also significantly lighter than traditional dual-clutch units, partly because it does away with synchro rings.
The carbon fiber monocoque is larger in length and height than the Regera’s, giving the interior more space. Koenigsegg says it retained the same suspension design as the Regera, but has “improved” it. Adjustable Ohlins dampers are at all four corners, along with an additional damper in the front suspension meant to maintain an optimal ride height during high aerodynamic loads. The Jesko has a rear-wheel steering system capable of turning the wheels three degrees in either direction depending on the condition. Lightweight carbon fiber wheels are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. Pilot Sport Cup 2 Rs are available for dry weather motoring exclusively, featuring a 10 percent larger contact patch and a revised tread design.
Koenigsegg says this is the most aggressive aero package it has ever fitted onto one of its cars. An active wing, active underbody flaps and huge splitter work together to produce 1,764 pounds of downforce at 155 mph. That’s a 30 percent increase in downforce over the One:1 at similar speeds.
The Jesko is probably the easiest to live with Koenigsegg ever made, too. Those fancy, sliding doors now open further and higher away from curbs. It has a nine-inch infotainment system with Bluetooth, USB inputs, wireless phone charging and a top-view camera, and all the systems can be updated over the air via the Koenigsegg Cloud. So yeah, forget iCloud, and give us the Koenigsegg Cloud, please. Your instrument cluster is a five-inch digital screen mounted directly to the steering wheel, and there’s an analog G meter to boot. Also, the roof comes off. What more could you want?
All this comes in a car that weighs only 3,130 pounds. Koenigsegg doesn’t quote a top speed for the Jesko, but there are already plans to make a version called the Jesko 300. This one will be made with the goal of reaching speeds of over 300 mph, so expect a less aggressive aero treatment. A Jesko starts for about $3 million, but there can’t be many buyers who look at the MSRP when Koenigsegg shopping. We do know only 125 will be built, and 80 were spoken for at the time we published this story.
March 5, 2019 / Comments Off on Koenigsegg Jesko shocks at Geneva: $3 million, 1,600 horsepower
Koenigsegg recently sold 20 percent of the company to National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) for about $171 million. In case you don’t know, NEVS is a Swedish-Chinese company that also owns the rights to Saab. Now, it seems the two companies will debut an “affordable” supercar in 2020.
Top Gear reported that the new supercar will cost around €1 million (about $1,144,000). The slightly less expensive supercar will allow Koenigsegg to sell hundreds of cars as opposed to dozens annually. That’s where NEVS comes into the picture. According to Christian von Koenigsegg, the CEO of Koenigsegg, the car will be C02 neutral thanks to the company’scamless combustion engine design and hybrid technology.
“Given the freevalve technology, we can actually cold-start the car on pure alcohol, down to -30 degrees Celsius, so there’s no need for any fossil fuel mix then. The idea is to prove to the world that even a combustion engine can be completely CO2 neutral,” said Koenigsegg.
Koenigsegg said the new supercars will look similar to the hypercars the company is known for. However, he also said the cars will have a sense of style all their own. It will be interesting to see what the company comes up with. It may have elements of the Regera (pictured above) but it may take after the company’s other cars, too.
The CEO said the reason the car company plans to try to develop a C02 neutral hybrid powertrain is that everyone else is going fully-electric and there could be a battery cell shortage in the future. With this new hybrid design, it would make a lightweight powertrain with a small battery pack. That could help the company when there’s a shortage of battery cells to go around to all automakers producing EVs.
January 31, 2019 / Comments Off on Koenigsegg Teams Up With NEVS, Could Have Camless Engine on Next Car
STOCKHOLM — The Chinese-backed company born from the remnants of bankrupt Swedish automaker Saab is investing 150 million euros ($171 million) in a venture with Swedish super car brand Koenigsegg, in a move that could see them develop new electric models.
National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB (NEVS), in which China’s Evergrande Health recently became the majority investor, said it would take a 65 percent stake in a new joint venture to “develop a product for new and untapped segments.”
Koenigsegg will hold the rest, and contribute intellectual property, technology licenses and product design.
The deal deepens China’s exposure to Swedish automakers, with Geely owning Volvo Cars and the largest investor in truckmaker AB Volvo, and another Chinese investor having created NEVS in 2012 after buying the core assets and IP rights of Saab Automobile following its demise.
NEVS, which owns production bases in Trollhättan in Sweden and Tianjin in China and plans another in Shanghai, has been trying to establish itself as a pure electric automaker, but has yet to produce a car.
Evergrande Health’s $930 million cash infusion into NEVS, announced this month, was seen as a second lifeline, giving it funds to develop costly electric vehicles and access to new auto technologies, where Evergrande is expanding.
Tuesday’s deal will give NEVS a 20 percent stake in Koenigsegg and could potentially pave the way for it to begin delivering products to the market, with its loose partnership with Didi Chuxing, China’s Uber, yet to yield anything concrete.
“Koenigsegg is an enticing company developing advanced cars with unique technology and with a customer base that is one of a kind. … We have both competencies and facilities to support Koenigsegg on their journey forward,” NEVS Chairman Kai Johan Jiang said.
Koenigsegg, backed by U.S. and Norwegian investors, sought to buy Saab after its 2011 collapse but the deal never materialized. While the luxury brand has built a plug-in hybrid, it has yet to develop a fully electric vehicle.
Tesla’s sales success in recent years has shown that a market for luxury electric cars exists, pushing traditional carmakers including Volkswagen’s Audi and Porsche, and Tata Motors’ Jaguar to develop their own versions.
In the ultra-luxury sports car category where Koenigsegg operates, however, Ferrari has said it may introduce an electric version after 2022, while Volkswagen’s Lamborghini has expressed willingness to explore the area.
Related Video:
January 30, 2019 / Comments Off on Koenigsegg super cars team with Saab successor NEVS to go electric
Supercar manufacturer Koenigsegg made a very public announcement in June of 2018 that a successor to the Agera was coming. Since then, we heard nothing. The name Ragnarok made the rumor rounds, but then that seemed unlikely. Now, a new rumor suggests the car will appear at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, according to CarScoops.
Koenigsegg has yet to say a word about whether or not the car will appear in Geneva. I doubt the company will respond. Instead of saying anything, it will just slowly let out a stream of teaser images. They will be a lot like the one back in June of last year to get people’s blood pumping.
What Will the New Car Be?
According to information from CarScoops and the Swedish publication Dagens Industri, the Agera successor will be a super-limited edition car with only 125 units made in the entire world. Of those 125 cars, 72 are said to be already purchased.
What the car will actually have and look like is still a bit of a mystery. However, I’ll tell you what’s known or at least believed to be the case.
The car should get an updated version of the twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8 that’s in the Agera. It should have 1,440 hp or more. While your guess is as good as mine as to the top speed, you can bet that Koenigsegg will try to beat its previous record of 277.9 mph.
Other than that, there isn’t much to report, so you’ll have to gaze at the image above and dream of what the Agera successor will look like.
January 8, 2019 / Comments Off on Could the Koenigsegg Agera Successor Appear in Geneva This Year?
Swedish news outlet Dagens Industri recently conducted an interview with Christian von Koenigsegg which reveals some extra details on the upcoming replacement for the Koenigsegg Agera replacement. Koenigsegg talks extensively on plans to safeguard the company against volatile market conditions too. Plainly this is an issue of concern for many manufacturers these days.
In the interview, Koenigsegg confirms that Ragnarök is the working name for the Agera replacement but that a new name will be revealed closer to the Geneva Motor Show 2019 in March. The Ragnarök will be displayed as a display version which we take to mean that it will not run.
Full Carbon Koenigsegg Regera
Koenigsegg will produce the Ragnarök in very limited numbers. Just 125 examples are planned for the production run with 72 sold out. The production run will begin in 2021, once development of the new model have completed.
The Agera RS used Koenigsegg’s own engine. We suspect that the replacement will use a variation of that same engine with the possibility that it gets a hybrid drivetrain or Koenigsegg’s innovative gearbox, although the Swedish article references a nine-speed gearbox that Koenigsegg have been working on.
On the prospect of a recession, Koenigsegg points out that during the 2008 recession, while its US sales took a dive, they were more than made up by a move into the Chinese market. Koenigsegg revealed that it has deposits for 2-3 years of production.
For the full details on the Koenigsegg Ragnarök, or whatever its name will eventually be, we will need to wait until the Geneva Motor Show 2019 in March!
January 7, 2019 / Comments Off on Koenigsegg Plans For Recession, Reveals More Details on Ragnarök
Though the Agera line sold out a while ago, Koenigsegg has finally built the last examples of the supercar. They are Koenigsegg Agera FEs, for “Final Edition,” and each has a name. One is named Thor, and one is called Väder. Each sports its name in badging where the normal model name is usually placed.
Being FE versions, each car is a little more special than the “typical” Agera model. Apparently the owners didn’t have to pay anything extra for options and development of unique parts. Among those unique parts are larger front spoilers and rear wings. Thor has a dorsal fin and Väder has some unique cutouts in the wing supports to show off the components that actuate the active wing. Thor’s finish is a two-tone with some of it in a plain clear carbon fiber finish, and some of it in a clear finish with “diamond-flake.” Väder has the diamond-flake finish over the entire car along with white gold leaf accents across the body. Both cars also feature the 1,360-horsepower twin-turbo V8 from the One:1.
With the final Agera, and the final Regera built, Koenigsegg doesn’t have any models on sale. But that’s a temporary situation that will be rectified soon. The company announced that the Agera’s successor will be revealed at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. We have no doubt it will be as wild-looking and astonishingly fast as every other Koenigsegg.
Related Video:
July 6, 2018 / Comments Off on Final Koenigsegg Agera FE coupes are named Thor and Väder
On the recent Koenigsegg press release, the company went to Australia to open the first factory-authorized full-service dealership in the country. With all the hoopla, they invited the cream of the crop of collectors and enthusiasts to enjoy the sights and sounds of high society.
There were drinks, a black CCR and an orange CCX on display. Cool beans.
Wait a minute, what’s this?
Looks like they also got the first glance of the new hypercar replacing the Agera RS,
The press release gave this little tidbit of information,
As all Regeras were sold prior to Koenigsegg’s arrival in Australia, this eagerly anticipated new vehicle – due for its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2019 – is the only new model available to Australian buyers at present. Keen customers also had access to the same virtual-reality presentation of the vehicle that was made available to VIP’s at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.
Aussies sure know how to have fun!
June 27, 2018 / Comments Off on Goodbye, Agera RS! New Koenigsegg on the Horizon
Koenigsegg just opened its first official sales location at a luxury-vehicle dealership in Australia, and at an invitation-only cocktail launch party late last week, the supercar maker gave attendees an exclusive glimpse of the upcoming replacement to the world-beating Agera RS.
Granted, it’s only a fairly crude sketch of the hypercar’s rear end, so there’s not a lot to go on, save for the large wing and diffuser, though the well-heeled attendees also were treated to a virtual-reality presentation of the new car. Koenigsegg says it will make its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2019.
Company founder Christian von Koenigsegg told Top Gear back in March that the replacement car will be “more capable than the Agera RS.” He also said the replacement won’t rely on a hybrid powertrain, to keep it distinguished from the plug-in hybrid Regera, but will instead focus on refining the company’s supercharged V8.
The Agera RS hit 284 mph in its one-way speed assault in Nevada last year, and companies like Hennessey are gunning to hit the 300-mph mark. We’ll see if this one’s the car to do it.
Related Video:
June 25, 2018 / Comments Off on Koenigsegg teases replacement for Agera RS in sketch
Swedish outlet Teknikens Varldreports the crash happened last week after the Agera RS crashed into a ditch in a rural area near the National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS) headquarters where Koenigsegg test-drives its cars. It confirms it’s the same vehicle that crashed in May 2017 after the driver lost control of it on the wet track.
According to The Drive, it’s an Agera RS Gryphon, an all-carbon fiber, 3,075-pound beast with 24-karat gold leaf trim that does a ridiculous 1,360 horsepower and 1,011 pound-feet of torque. It was originally built for U.S. car collector Manny Khoshbin before it wrecked last year shortly before delivery.
The Swedish supercar maker reportedly set to work on a replacement Gryphon following that wreck while pledging to repair the crashed model for use as a factory test and demonstration car.
It’s not clear what caused the most recent crash. The reader who submitted the photo said it was clear from skid marks the car had been on both sides of the road. It also wasn’t clear whether the driver suffered any injuries.
Teknikens Varld says it’s believed to be the first time the repaired car had been driven in the open since the 2017 crash.
Reports circulated in Swedish media yesterday that one of the 25 Koenigsegg Agera RS’ had crashed while testing on a road outside Trollhättan, Sweden. Photos seem to show a Koenigsegg finely balanced on the grass verge of a road. The car in question is hard to make out, yet a few Koenigsegg aficionados seem to have identified the wrecked hypercar as the Koenigsegg Agera RS Gryphon.
We know the Gryphon quite well. We saw it first at the Geneva Motor Show 2017. It was designated for famous US collector Manny Khoshbin at that time and featured a wealth of custom features, making it one of the most expensive Koenigsegg’s of all time.
Soon after the Geneva Motor Show, while Koesnigsegg were carrying out shakedown tests of the car, it was crashed into a ditch. Khoshbin was subsequently offered a new chassis to replace the crashed vehicle. The replacement, recently delivered and the last of the Agera RS production run, was named the Koenigsegg Agera RS Phoenix. It is understood that the Gryphon was to serve as Koenigsegg’s test mule.
The photos show that damage to the underside of the car is likely to be extensive. The exterior looks to be relatively in tact. Photos show that the Gryphon was likely running without a rear wing at the time. We understand that there were no reported injuries to the driver or passenger.
The accident happened near NEVS’ facility in Trollhättan. NEVS are the company that acquired the assets to Saab when it went bankrupt in 2012. It develops electric vehicles at the moment which begs the question, was it purely coincidence that an Agera RS test mule was operating near their test facilities? Is this an early mule for the next iteration of the CC/Agera platform?
The accident happened on a public road, Flygfältsvägen, very close to the NEVS facility.
May 18, 2018 / Comments Off on Koenigsegg Agera RS Gryphon Crashes for a Second Time
