RE: Koenigsegg 'ring crash - why it happened

[anonymous-user]

Bobhon said:

For me the quite stunning point in all of this is that the monocoque is even capable of being rebuilt to go back out testing again. If that were most cars in that crash then with the best will in the world the remains would only have been fit for the scrap man.

Couple of points i note:

1) There is no evidence to suggest this was a particularly high G impact. The car skidded a long way, jumped up off the kerb, hit the barriers, and got deflected into the air again, coming down rear wheel first in some grass. Now, i'm not saying with was just a gentle tap, but that's a LONG way from having a significant impact with something solid like a tree etc)

2) This is is only really repairable because of the high cost of it (and it's carbon tub). The reason we chuck away normal cars when they are bent is because that is the cheaper option, there is generally, no real reason they couldn't be fixed if it were wanted. When you have a carbon tub, the layup/manufacture costs are massive, so you really try not to scrap it if you can. In this case, other than the outer bodywork getting knocked off, and the suspension taking a good old wack, i can't see (from the limited pics released) any significant damage to the BIW structure etc

[kambites]

Anything is "repairable", the relevant term is "beyond economical repair". I'm sure fixing this will cost many times more than the total cost of a "normal" sports car.

[PunterCam]

R8Steve said:

PunterCam said:

A company trying to develop cars on a shoe string. Call me cynical, but i just see panic from a company which must be existing sale to sale.

I know st happens to every manufacturer, but to be perfectly honest, this car has been on sale in some shape or form for what, 10 years? And they're still faffing around with basic electronic systems? It's like the TVR development arc is still in full flow..

Not sure what your point is here?

Every manufacturer has issues with things that would seem basic at some point.

Toyota for example, a company that has been around for about 80 years and is renowned for reliability, couldn't get a simple accelerator pedal right.

I think it's refreshing to see them release what actually happened instead of taking the easy way out, lying and saying it was driver error.

My point was to comment on this story with my opinion, just like everyone else.. There's a whiff of bullst about them as a company... A press release about a crash? See I don't find that honest, or open, I find it odd.. But like I said, I'm a cynical tt.

[jcl]

I'm currently running without one rear wheel ABS sensor on my 1998 Honda Odyssey minivan and I've experienced similar lock-ups.

I know exactly what you're going Koenigsegg.

[rampageturke]

"Koenigsegg notes that all safety systems, from airbags to safety cell and automatic fuel shut-off, operated as they should"

all except the one that didnt

[Black_S3]

That's what testing is for anyway.

[MX51ROD]

Perhaps GM /Vauxhall might like to consider this approach with regard to the fires their cars experience

[ZX10R NIN]

Kudos to Koenigsegg for being so upfront.

[robm3]

Extremely lucky the driver was conscious and able to gain access from the cockpit to put the fire out, shudder to think what could have happened if he'd been incapacitated through concussion or crumpled frame.

[sege]

Kudos to Koenigsegg for their approach. They have always seemed to give of the no-BS and engineering excellence type vibes to me though.
These things happen, thankfully no one was seriously hurt. They will undoubtedly learn from this and I hope they have another crack crack at the record. Wonderful company.

[Gorbyrev]

Perhaps the most refreshing thing about this press release is that the good folk at Koenigsegg come across as engineers and car enthusiasts. This may or may not be good PR, I am no expert in that field. But to give an inside view of what happened to the outside world is brave and encouraging. Every time I see Mr Koenigsegg interviewed he comes across as a man on a mission to make great and unique cars. Wonderful stuff. Finally a tip of the hat is surely due to the driver for having the presence of mind to use the extinguisher. If I was in the market for one of their cars I would find this all very reassuring.

[Ozzie Osmond]

King's egg or Emperor's new clothes?

These cars seem to suffer an unfortunate number of incidents.

[DeltaEvo2]

Didn't the Koenigsegg fly off the track on Top Gear a few years back?

[adingley84]

Wow. Refreshing, honest and I love that the top brass had the balls to release this. Not many would.

[S3Swiss]

Refreshing to see auto industry player following aviation safety practice (publicise issues, events and errors). Always better to learn from someone else's expensive mistake. I wonder how may other hypercar manufacturers are going "what would our car do in that situation?" this morning. I also wonder if the test driver has done much track driving in cars without ABS? Dealing with a locked-up front end used to be a well practiced skill (cadence breaking etc)

[SirSquidalot]

DeltaEvo2 said:

Didn't the Koenigsegg fly off the track on Top Gear a few years back?

That was the driver's fault, pushing too hard iirc.

[Gav147]

SirSquidalot said:

DeltaEvo2 said:

Didn't the Koenigsegg fly off the track on Top Gear a few years back?

That was the driver's fault, pushing too hard iirc.

https://youtu.be/Vyau3VUVVtI?t=2m25s

[Ozzie Osmond]

SirSquidalot said:

DeltaEvo2 said:

Didn't the Koenigsegg fly off the track on Top Gear a few years back?

That was the driver's fault, pushing too hard iirc.

That must be why they took it away and fitted a rear wing to keep it on the road.....