Koenigsegg hires former Bugatti designer
Sasha Selipanov will help style a new generation of Swedish hypercars
Koenigsegg has hired the man who styled both the Bugatti Chiron and the Vision Gran Turismo to be its new Head of Design. Sasha Selipanov’s appointment suggests that the Swedish brand is plotting a design transformation alongside its ambitious electrification plans. The new hiring was said to be responsible for exterior design at Bugatti, before joining Hyundai subsidiary Genesis to work on the all-electric Essentia and Mint concepts. He now joins Christian von Koenigsegg’s firm to lead both internal and client-serving design projects, with the latter run through the newly-formed RAW Design House.
Georgian-born Selipanov’s creations, which also include bits of the Lamborghini Huracan, have tended toward the cutting edge. Koenigsegg’s models aren’t exactly known for being understated, but Selipanov’s involvement has the potential to take its styling innovations to another level – particularly if the Swedish company begins development of an EV hypercar, as Christian has hinted it would once battery tech supersedes present turbo and electric compressor-based solutions for enormous power.
Selipanov will juggle his internal role alongside the positions of managing director and chief designer at RAW, where he’ll lead teams focussed on producing designs for external clients. But we suspect the Russian national is most excited about working on Koenigsegg’s in-house stuff, as hinted by his opening statement from today’s announcement.
“This is a dream come true,” said the 36-year-old. “I have followed Koenigsegg’s path for years and have been a huge fan of the company’s free spirit and commitment to innovation. In today’s world, Koenigsegg’s story and achievements are unparalleled; I am honoured to offer my professional expertise as well as my lifelong passion for sports cars to Koenigsegg.”
Company CEO Christian von Koenigsegg added: “It shows how far Koenigsegg has progressed that we can attract talent like Sasha. I look forward to fusing the Koenigsegg way of developing and designing cars with Sasha’s experience and radical methods. I expect spectacular results.”
Plus, for me, they should design and build a sports car as competition to the 911. I bet they'd do an outstanding job. All good and well building Hypercars and chasing 2000bhp, but they are quickly becoming irrelevant cars.
I've never seen a Koneigsegg on the road. Bought as garage queens and a small few will take them to a track.
Plus, for me, they should design and build a sports car as competition to the 911. I bet they'd do an outstanding job. All good and well building Hypercars and chasing 2000bhp, but they are quickly becoming irrelevant cars.
I've never seen a Koneigsegg on the road. Bought as garage queens and a small few will take them to a track.
Plus I’m glad you don’t see them all over the place. Proper supercar status. I believe I’ve read that the owners are keen on getting them used properly too, not as many garage queens as you’d think.
This appointment does worry me though because they’ve had a very unique and appealing look since day 1, whereas although this chap’s work has been solid it all feels very “mainstream”. I don’t know who was their head designer before but he seemed to be doing a good job to me.
You DO realise that just because he's designed the Chiron doesn't mean that EVERY car he's ever designed looks like that. Right?
Plus, for me, they should design and build a sports car as competition to the 911. I bet they'd do an outstanding job. All good and well building Hypercars and chasing 2000bhp, but they are quickly becoming irrelevant cars.
I've never seen a Koneigsegg on the road. Bought as garage queens and a small few will take them to a track.
They are pushing the envelop of what can be done, so are far from irrelevant. Their camshaft less designs are interesting and different, as is their whole process ("Need a new part?......just go design & build it in house").
Bugatti design has been bulky and, well, not so elegant.... not really a fan of his work..... If I had say a billion £'s I'd not desire a Bugatti........ Pagani, yup, Lambo, yup, Mclaren, definitely.. Ferrari, possibly a few.. hahaha.... Bulky Bug, would not be on my list but a Koenigsegg as is would probably be and most definitely would be before any modern Bugatti bar the EB110.... which he didn't design....... I hope he shows more flair and imagination in his new roll, maybe the coffers at VW were reigning him in??????? Fingers crossed and I look forward to hopefully drooling over some renders!
I never liked the styling of the Koenigssegg - the cabin styling never varied much and seemed too upright to me. The performance and engineering seemed to me to be incomparable.
I am not so sure that this is a bad move. I think that with the right direction he might produce something very nice indeed.
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