Koenigsegg. The unloved super car?

[Fire99]

Speed addicted said:

Lottery win car for me. I'd fly to Sweden to collect and drive back.

In fact, I'm so generous, I'd even offer to pay my own air fare.

[Mr Gearchange]

I saw an Agera R parked up next to an Aventador and a Bugatti in Paris earlier this year.

The 'egg was by far and away the more captivating vehicle - it made the other two look very pedestrian and ordinary if I'm honest.

Pictures don't seem to do them justice - they have enormous presence in the metal.

[Frances The Mute]

I adore them and have done since I first saw them emerge onto thre scene.

Yes they have issues over what you would expect or experience with other hypercars, but they have a certain character which just resonates with me. Such mental cars need to have an obstreperous streak, too.

I've only seen one in the wild in all of these years and it almost made me squeal. I heard it about 20 seconds before seeing it and that was trawling through some slow traffic approaching a roundabout. The sound was just delicious.

[SuperVetturaJ]

DRIVE, the leading automotive channel on YouTube, today (2nd January 2013) announced a partnership with Swedish hypercar manufacturer Koenigsegg Automotive AB to produce an online video series exploring the outer limits of innovation in the automotive industry.

The series, Inside Koenigsegg, debuts January 8, 2013 on YouTube.com/DRIVE. It will provide, for the first time, a look behind the scenes at Koenigsegg and examine how innovation within the highest echelon of sports car manufacturers will affect the broader automotive world. Company founder and principal, Christian Von Koenigsegg, hosts this nine-partseries, which was produced at Koenigsegg headquarters in Angelholm, Sweden.

Inside Koenigsegg will feature Koenigsegg's latest hypercar, the Agera R, which is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest two-seat production vehicle from 0-300-0 kilometers per hour -- an extreme test of a sports car's acceleration, chassis, and braking capability -- a feat the Agera R accomplished in 21.19 seconds. This is Koenigsegg's fourth Guinness World RecordTM since 2003.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejmhp7cdUk4

[welshjohn]

People seem to forget about the gumpert appolo lottery win I'd hunting one of these down

[JREwing]

I'm not a powerfully-built company director so I have neither the skill/brawn or the means to buy and run and/or physically drive one, but I certainly would if I could. And for me it's above the competition. That's my personal taste, I suppose.

[Ozzie Osmond]

IMO the problem for small volume builders is that Ferrari 458 and the McLaren MP4-12C are just so very, very good. So their customers have to be absolutely determined to be "different" - and to PAY for it. For me, personally, I could never stomch the massive costs and questionable reliability.

[DeolTheBeast]

I don't think there is a hypercar that I like more than the Agera R at this moment in time, epic.

[Fire99]

Ozzie Osmond said:

IMO the problem for small volume builders is that Ferrari 458 and the McLaren MP4-12C are just so very, very good. So their customers have to be absolutely determined to be "different" - and to PAY for it. For me, personally, I could never stomch the massive costs and questionable reliability.

Not that I'm in the market for either at the mo but the Ferrari 458 and McLaren both leave me very cold (Particularly the McLaren), even in their own price ranges.

[richard300]

OP - Have a telephone conversation with Peter Saywell.

He's had 3 (I think) and may even still have two in his stable. Including an Agera R in the same colour scheme as his 'Peter Saywell' edition Zonda.

[k-ink]

The K is a great looking car. The stats speak for themselves. But just like many others I would always choose a Zonda first with no hesitation due to...

- NA V12 sound
- Quality of finish
- Looks

[Streetrod]

SuperVetturaJ said:

DRIVE, the leading automotive channel on YouTube, today (2nd January 2013) announced a partnership with Swedish hypercar manufacturer Koenigsegg Automotive AB to produce an online video series exploring the outer limits of innovation in the automotive industry.

The series, Inside Koenigsegg, debuts January 8, 2013 on YouTube.com/DRIVE. It will provide, for the first time, a look behind the scenes at Koenigsegg and examine how innovation within the highest echelon of sports car manufacturers will affect the broader automotive world. Company founder and principal, Christian Von Koenigsegg, hosts this nine-partseries, which was produced at Koenigsegg headquarters in Angelholm, Sweden.

Inside Koenigsegg will feature Koenigsegg's latest hypercar, the Agera R, which is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest two-seat production vehicle from 0-300-0 kilometers per hour -- an extreme test of a sports car's acceleration, chassis, and braking capability -- a feat the Agera R accomplished in 21.19 seconds. This is Koenigsegg's fourth Guinness World RecordTM since 2003.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejmhp7cdUk4

Its great to see Koenigsegg getting involved in this, I have been very vocal in criticising Koenigsegg in the past for not playing the PR game which I feel has been to the detriment of the company. Hopefully this will up their profile in a positive way

[Grovsie26]

F1GTRUeno said:

Same car made uglier and tackier over several years.

First ones dogged by unreliability, current ones probably still dogged by reputation of earlier cars.

Tonnes of claims to be the fastest car in the world but only once have they proved it. They also sound st.

Never been a fan though I wish I was.

Who gives a st about a few kph at the top end? Therea a vid on you tube of one at the ring or somehwre flying past at 400kph. Im sure there are vids of an Agera R doing loads of runs of 0-180mph, and 0-200-0 etc and beating a Veryon easily. Is that not quick enough? Do you doubt it's performance? lol.

Sound st? They sound like the god of thunder. There loads of clips on you tube of them in rolling drag races, and you barely hear the car it's against.

[Justices]

0a said:

story of a single man's vision being realised (ie good PR!).

This could equally be applied to Christian Koenigsegg. Perhaps his achievements are not given enough credit as it seems he has had a steeper learning curve, having not worked in places such as Lamborghini as Horacio did, prior to going it alone. He's also a good deal younger than Horacio, so what he has done is all the more remarkable.

The problem for Koenigsegg has been the PR, or lack of it. Something easily overlooked by obsessive types who are focused on their creations. Good to see they are embracing it now and doing more to get the word out. If it helps them sell another car which lets them keep the business going, it's more than worth putting some great footage and interesting behind the scenes info together for general consumption.

As for it being a car only for rich Arabs to tool about in London, these guys want to be in videos and pictures all over the internet. Many owners of super cars don't, preferring to get on with enjoying their cars and driving them in suitable places. Not too keen on the bits and pieces added, looks a bit messy to me. But there was a very lovely early example in a dark blue over at Supervettura a while ago. That's the one I'd go for.

Wiki: "In 1994, at the age of just 22, Christian launched the Koenigsegg car company". Ask yourselves this, what were you doing at 22? The balls on this guy are pretty big. I for one am glad they are around.

Edited by Justices on Friday 4th January 21:27

[LuS1fer]

To me, they look dumpy and have nothing special about them and have a stupid name. I am no great fan of most Ferraris either but they have a very rich history of stunning creations to rest on.

Even the Pagani was a unique design that was enough to spawn an identity, even in a world of samey supercars. The Koenigsegg is nether dramatic nor beautiful, it's more an expensive Ultima GTR style car. I like the doors but not the car. For that price, I want stunningly beauutiful curves or architectural grandeur.

[Grovsie26]

For the haters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUfkyMCDYhU

[Hubris]

Maybe TG having "designed" the rear spoiler is enough to put punters right off.

[LukeBird]

I've never understood it either, I'd absolutely love one. I think the earlier CCs were prettier than the current Agera. Love the looks, I think they're stunning.

[Apache]

Grovsie26 said:

For the haters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUfkyMCDYhU

jesus h keerist! what a beast, anyone with a hint of 4 star in their veins must desire one of these

[Gruffy]

Hubris said:

Maybe TG having "designed" the rear spoiler is enough to put punters right off.

I suspect anybody considering buying one will know this is nonsense. If they're the kind of person who doesn't know much about cars then this misconception would actually be a selling point to them.