Koenigsegg News

McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

By Edward Jones – October 14, 2019

Koenigsegg 0-250-0 mph World Record Onboard Footage Released

Koenigsegg has just released uncut footage of their onboard recent 0-250-0 mph world record set in their Regera megacar. This footage shows just how much the driver had to manage, regarding steering and it also includes a graph of the car's speed. It's quite interesting to see just how quickly the speed of the Regera climbs up to 250 mph. This world record was set by factory driver Sonny Persson at the Råda airfield in Sweden. While we mostly see world records that are just high-speed sprints, Koenigsegg enjoys throwing in their incredible braking abilities into the mix. In fact, they broke the 0-186-0 mph world record back in 2015 with the Koenigsegg One:1. Be sure to check out the onboard footage of the world record up above and watch the additional video down below. " width="680">

By Andrew Nabors – September 27, 2019

Koenigsegg Regera Sets New Record for 0-249-0 mph

Going after a world record can be daunting, especially if you are the record holder. Back in 2017, the Agera RS ran 0-400 kph-0 in 33.29 seconds. To put that into perspective, 400 kph is 249 mph. This is a speed only a handful can reach, especially in such a short time. We figured that record would last for at least a decade, but the Koenigsegg Regera just set a new record for 0-400 kph-0. On Monday, factory test driver Sonny Persson strapped into a new Koenigsegg Regera. Normally, runs like this are handicapped by the transmission, the Regera doesn't have one. You notice the exhaust sound doesn't change much at low speeds because the twin-turbo V8 is coupled to a generator. The voltage it makes is sent to electric motors on the rear axles. Koenigsegg Regera d'Elegance is an Ocean on Wheels Somewhere around 80 mph, a torque converter inside the generator closes its clutch, sending engine power directly to a 2.73 rear differential. It is at this point that the battery (supplied by Rimac) sends power to the generator, making it the 3rd onboard electric motor. This hybrid system is known as KDD (Koenigsegg Direct Drive), and it provides 697 horsepower & 664 lb-ft of torque. The twin-turbo V8 constantly makes 1,280 horsepower and 944 lb-ft of torque. Browse All Koenigsegg For Sale So what does a car do with 1,479 horsepower and 1,475 lb-ft? It reached 250 mph in 23.65 seconds, and back to 0 in 8.83. This is 1.3 seconds faster than the Agera RS. The official 0-400 kph-0 record now stands at 31.49 seconds. For comparison, the Bugatti Chiron does this in 42 seconds... Congrats to the team for this blistering run. " width="680"> Related: Koenigsegg Regera Crash Test Compilation Koenigsegg Reveals Naked Carbon Regera

By Edward Jones – August 07, 2019

See the Entire Evolution of Koenigsegg Models

One of the most extreme automakers out in the world today has to be Koenigsegg, a Swedish company that thrives on pushing boundaries. It all started with Christian von Koenigsegg and his dream to create fast cars. Years later, he has achieved that goal multiple times over. Koenigsegg's achievements have been coming year after year, model after model. Even though these insanely fast cars share the same badge, they're all different and uniquely momentous in their own right. YouTube Channel Cars Evolution just posted a video that details the evolution of the Koenigsegg models over the years, starting with the first customer car, the CC8S. It ends with the Jesko, but that's just for now. What's next for Koenigsegg? Who knows, but it will definitely be something groundbreaking. see all koenigseggs for sale

By Andrew Nabors – April 10, 2019

Koenigsegg Jesko Looks Amazing in Lucerne

Photoshop and filters work great for studio shots. The basic photography used to sell normal cars hasn't changed in decades. If you are trying to sell the world's most advanced hypercar, nothing beats a gorgeous location. That is why the Koenigsegg Jesko looks amazing in Lucerne. Located in the center of Switzerland, this ancient town sits at the base of the Alps, on the shores of Lake Lucerne. Photographers Eric Griess & Steven Wade made use of the impressive background to show off the attributes of the latest Koenigsegg. This all-new hypercar offers 1,600 horsepower on E85, this is possible thanks to the lightest crankshaft in production. The flat-plane design weighs only 28 lbs, allowing for an 8,500 rpm redline. They chose steel instead of titanium for the connecting rods, and they are only 1.2 lbs each. Taking a page from hot rod history, the long stroke allows the pistons (0.6 lbs) to spend more time near Top Dead Center. This lowers peak cylinder pressure, allowing the turbos to create higher average pressure. The only disadvantage to a long stroke is piston speed. Because the piston spends more time at the top and bottom, it has to move faster to get there. The lightweight rotating assembly cancels out much of the vibrations inherent with a flat-plane V8, so its too bad that all 125 cars have been sold. It must be nice to have 1,106 lb-ft of torque between 2,700 and 5,100 rpm. That is more than any diesel truck on the market, so you could probably tow your 15,000 lb race trailer with ease. The Jesko stands as the state of the art in hypercars, a position its predecessors held for years. Our dealers have a few examples for sale, so click the link below and stay with us for all your Koenigsegg news. Browse Koenigsegg For Sale Related: Koenigsegg Jesko Already Sold Out Koenigsegg Jesko Caught Leaving Geneva Auto Show

By Andrew Nabors – March 21, 2019

Koenigsegg Regera Caught Leaving Geneva

Everyone wants the latest and greatest hypercar, but the Koenigsegg Jesko is already soldout. If you want a new Koenigsegg in the meantime, production of their hybrid hypercar is in full swing. Thanks toSellerieCimes, we are able to watch a new Koenigsegg Regera leaving Geneva. This stunner is finished in KNC, or Koenigsegg Naked Carbon, and the Akrapovic exhaust gets everyone's attention. Speaking of exhaust sound, he also filmed the Bugatti La Voiture Noire and the Divo rolling out without any exhaust noise. Bugatti can't avoid an electric future, so both of their display cars are testing the technology in plain sight. They are still years behind the Regera, as it uses a 5.0L V8 as a 1,200 horsepower generator. This power is sent to 3 electric motors, eliminating the need for a transmission. It also has an 800v battery that offers 22 miles of electric cruising, and above 80 mph the engine is directly connected to the differential. Because even the best transmissions steal 20% of engine power, the direct drive offers incredible performance and efficiency. Would you prefer a hybrid Bugatti or Koenigsegg Direct Drive? Tell us in the comments below. Related: Check Out These Porsche 993 For Sale Get Your Mercedes-AMG S65 Before They Are Gone Forever

By Andrew Nabors – March 19, 2019

Koenigsegg Jesko is Already Soldout

A wise man once told me "The best way to sell something is to tell someone they can't have it". While that might work for many products, Koenigsegg will not build more than 125 examples of their latest hypercar. That's why we are not totally shocked that the Koenigsegg Jesko is already sold out! As the successor to the Agera RS, it has big shoes to fill. Being that each new model arrives with serious innovation, it will probably smash the 300 mph barrier with ease. In the email earlier today, we learned that 83 cars were sold prior to the unveiling at the Geneva Auto Show. The remainder of the deposits were received in only 5 days. We were wondering why their display model was being pushed out of the show, and now we know its probably en route to its owner. Koenigsegg Jesko Revealed at Geneva And now a quote from the man himself: "The new Koenigsegg Jesko is the highest volume production run we’ve ever planned. For it to have sold out within days of its unveiling is both humbling and a wonderful testament to the outstanding crew we have at Koenigsegg. From the visionary work of our designers, engineers and technicians to the incredible job done by our sales team and our global network of Koenigsegg dealers – it took a great team to bring the Jesko to the world. We are very thankful for the reception it’s received from the press, the public and of course, our growing family of Koenigsegg owners". A few dealers purchased production spots, and we're sure they will fetch a pretty penny when delivered. Production will begin at the end of 2020, with a planned run of one per week. I am still stuck on the Regera because it has made the transmission obsolete. If you haven't experienced one in person, click the link below and stay with us for all your Koenigsegg news. Shop Koenigsegg For Sale " width="680"> Related: Muscle Cars For Sale BMW M3 For Sale

By Edward Jones – March 05, 2019

Koenigsegg Jesko is Here as the Agera RS Replacement

We've been waiting and now the wait is over. The new Koenigsegg Jesko is here to replace the Agera RS in the Swedish automaker's lineup. What's in a name? "Jesko" comes Christian von Koenigsegg's father's name, Jesko von Koenigsegg. Koenigsegg automotive touts that the Jesko's powerplant, a twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8 engine, is coming into the world with a new intake, bigger turbos and better pressure control when compared than the Agera RS. Mated to this engine is Koenigsegg's Light Speed Transmission, a new system that was designed in-house. Light speed-like gear changes are the reason for the name. Running through the transmission is quite a bit of power. And by a bit, I mean a lot. Koenigsegg says that the Jesko will be able to put out 1600 horsepower on E85 fuel or 1280 with regular gasoline. Torque is rated at 737 lb-ft from 2700 to 6170 rpm. Max torque is rated at 1106 lb-ft at 5100 rpm.

By Edward Jones – February 01, 2019

Koenigsegg is Creating a More "Affordable" Supercar

The collaboration between Koenigsegg and NEVS (National Electric Vehicle Sweden) is one that every automotive enthusiast or collector should be looking at. In a recent interview by TopGear.com with Christian von Koenigsegg, we've now learned that this joint venture will result in a new "affordable" Koenigsegg model. Now, when I say affordable, I mean that it will be cheaper than most models in Koenigsegg's lineup. Think of it as an affordable car relative to the rest of Koenigsegg's lineup and not the rest of the automotive marketplace. Christian told TopGear.com that NEVS will allow them to increase their vehicle output into the hundreds if they produce a supercar at a lower price point. What would this new model cost? He notes that it would be around €1 million (around $1.14 million USD). He also notes that this new model would be completely C02 neutral thanks to their freevalve technology. TopGear.com notes that this new Koenigsegg would be a 2020 model and that it would be unveiled "very soon." Excited? So are we. Related Video: " width="680"> view all koenigseggs for sale Source: TopGear.com - Image via Koenigsegg

By Andrew Nabors – January 31, 2019

Koenigsegg Announces Partnership with NEVS

It isn't easy to change the automotive world. That's what Christian von Koenigsegg told us in Monterey as we drooled over the One:1. Another Swedish automaker is NEVS, or New Electric Vehicle Sweden. Their goal is to build high-quality electric cars, so they turned to the expert. As the genius who uses electricy to make transmissions obsolete, Koenigsegg has announced a partnership with NEVS. The deal was outlined in a press release last night. Koenigsegg's parent company has received 150 Million Euros ($171, 807,750) for a 20% minority. It would be mutually beneficial for any automaker to invest in Koenigsegg because their technology is a glimpse of the future. Porsche Taycan: Free Charging For 3 Years It will allow NEVS to access the solid-state electronics used in every Koenigsegg, and they mentioned a separate joint venture. NEVS spent an additional $150 Million dollars for 65%, with Christian owning 35%. It will allow them to reach markets that are ripe for electric cars, with assembly taking place at the former Saab factory in Trollhatten. The release also looks forward to the hypercar future thanks to their collaboration. If you are looking for a truly unique and powerful car, click the link below and stay with us for all your Koenigsegg news View All Koenigsegg For Sale " width="680"> Related: How To Ship A Koenigsegg On A Plane Koenigsegg Unveils Naked Carbon Regera Source: Koenigsegg.com

By Edward Jones – January 09, 2019

How to Ship a Koenigsegg On a Plane

Ever wondered how to ship a Koenigsegg on a plane? Probably not, but you're reading this so you're pretty interested. Heck, I always find the process of shipping supercars and hypercar to be quite fascinating... albeit a bit nervewracking. Emirates recently posted a video on their Instagram account (by @speedbirdhd) of how they loaded up a Koenigsegg Agera RS1 in their SkyCargo Boeing 777 Freighter. The car is first strapped down onto a platform and I mean seriously strapped down. Then it's pulled over to a lift that it's transferred onto. The lift then raises the multi-million dollar car up to the opening where it's transferred onto the plane. After that, it's off to Dubai which was this car's specific destination. Pretty interesting! https://www.instagram.com/p/BsavsHXHkTd/

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