Tuesday 16th August 2016

Koenigsegg at Monterey Car Week

The first Agera RS in the States to be shown alongside the production-ready Regera

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"The Megacar revolution is about to land on US roads." So proclaims the Koenigsegg press material ahead of Monterey, with both the Agera RS and Regera to grace California's most exclusive car show.

Hybrid V8 like a P1, with another 500hp

Except it won't be an Agera RS, it will be an Agera XS. Because that's what the owner wanted and, when you're buying the first of these cars in the US, you probably have quite a lot of sway over minor issues like the name. It's painted Karosserie Orange with a clear carbon centre strip, the colour combo mirrored inside. Moreover, this car has the largest rear wing ever fitted to a Koenigsegg, again at the owner's wishes. Sounds like quite the chap.

For those who are little lost on the Koenigsegg model line up, the Agera RS is the softer edged (all things relative) version of the One:1. So it features the same powertrain - 5.0-litre twin-turbo V8, seven speed dual-clutch - but with just the 1,176hp (as opposed to 1,365) and some extra weight (35kg, for a kerbweight of of 1,395kg, accounted for by niceties such as sat-nav, an axle lift and, er, a USB connection). Still, should be brisk enough.

Christian von Koenigsegg said: "The response to the Agera RS... in the USA has been overwhelming and we look forward to delivering the ultimate in automotive performance to our American customers in the near future."

Axle lift means you can take it shopping

But there's arguably an even more interesting Koenigsegg on show in California. The Regera, first seen at the 2015 Geneva show, will be shown in production form. The 1,500hp hybrid will be homologated for the US too, meaning Hollywood royalty can ditch the Prius and still maintain some eco kudos. The Regera is notable for its Koenigsegg Direct Drive transmission, technology that "removes the dead weight and efficiency losses of the transmission"; this single-speed system contributes to a 0-186mph time of 10 seconds (!) and 249mph reached in 20 seconds. And huge burnouts, should the mood take you.

80 Regeras will be made, with deliveries beginning early next year. These are in addition to 25 RS Ageras (or whatever name those owners gives them). Which would you be taking to Laguna Seca?

[dom9]

Need to read up on this direct drive transmission - Sounds interesting...

Do love what the guys at 'egg are doing

[Turquoise]

There was a terrific in depth behind the scenes article in CAR magazine this month. Really good read.

[WCZ]

unreliable cars to the extent Koenigsegg refuses to allow customer cars to participate in comparison tests

[FN2TypeR]

One thousand one hundred and seventy six brake horse power eh?

It just ain't enough! Ahm oot!

[dpl]

There's more info on the car from the owner, with stories on the colour and rear wing on his instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/lamborghiniks/

It's great to read from the owner's perspective as not everyone gets to experience it!

[AshBurrows]

dpl said:

There's more info on the car from the owner, with stories on the colour and rear wing on his instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/lamborghiniks/

It's great to read from the owner's perspective as not everyone gets to experience it!

Does anyone who's not a cringe worthy dweeb ever buy a hypercar ffs? I tried to read for some actual interesting info but nah, just name dropping and the bragging of a dullard.

[epom]

249 mph 20 seconds !!! Holy good J*sus, ah that couldn't be comfortable. I'm out.

[StottyEvo]

WCZ said:

unreliable cars to the extent Koenigsegg refuses to allow customer cars to participate in comparison tests

I'd give them the benefit of the doubt, they're still in the very early stages. If sales blow up I expect Koenigsegg will be doing amazing things with the funding.

[Turquoise]

WCZ said:

unreliable cars to the extent Koenigsegg refuses to allow customer cars to participate in comparison tests

Can you elaborate?

[WCZ]

Turquoise said:

Can you elaborate?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz5nI_44SyQ

[MikeGalos]

Re:"Hollywood royalty can ditch the Prius and still maintain some eco kudos."

Not so much. Hollywood royalty will be adding the Koenigsegg to their P90D Tesla Model S and Model X which they already run in "Ludicrous Mode" while keeping their eco reputations.

[torchy6]

Koenigsegg have yet to convince on their incredible claims. 1500 hp from a five litre V8, 246 mph, no gearbox. They would need to be McLaren, Cosworth and Tesla combined, they are such a small company so how could they achieve this? Perhaps they are the real deal but they need to prove it. Having said this the cars look incredible!

[Ozzie Osmond]

WCZ said:

unreliable cars to the extent Koenigsegg refuses to allow customer cars to participate in comparison tests

The only person I know who owned one had a lot of trouble with it. All sorts of bits breaking which suggested the car wasn't properly engineered - much like low volume British sportscars of old. Darned thing had be shipped back to the factory in Sweden every time it broke. The owner was seriously miffed having spent so much money to buy the car in the first place.

[Turquoise]

WCZ said:

Turquoise said:

Can you elaborate?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz5nI_44SyQ

Must be true then...

[WCZ]

Ozzie Osmond said:

The only person I know who owned one had a lot of trouble with it. All sorts of bits breaking which suggested the car wasn't properly engineered - much like low volume British sportscars of old. Darned thing had be shipped back to the factory in Sweden every time it broke. The owner was seriously miffed having spent so much money to buy the car in the first place.

reminds me of the saleen s7, owners constantly sending the car back and never being able to drive them