Koenigsegg, the Swedish supercar manufacturer, has been pushing the boundaries of automotive performance for more than two decades. Founded by a young visionary entrepreneur, the brand has established itself as an essential reference in the world of exceptional cars. Here are 9 little-known facts that reveal all the originality and genius of Koenigsegg.
A company born from the audacity of a young enthusiast
Christian von Koenigsegg was only 22 years old when he founded his company in August 1994. A crazy bet that took eight years to come to fruition with the delivery of the first Koenigsegg CC8S in 2002. Since then, the brand has not stopped to innovate and break records, establishing itself as a major player in the hypercar segment.
Today, Koenigsegg creations are recognized for their exceptional performance and revolutionary technologies. The brand holds several world records approved by the Guinness Book.
La Regera: a provocative name
The Koenigsegg Regera, a 1,797 horsepower plug-in hybrid model, was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2015. Its name, meaning “reign” or “govern” in Swedish, is a provocative nod to other hypercars on the market .
The Regera also lived up to its name by smashing the 0-400-0 km/h acceleration-deceleration record, achieving the feat in just 31.49 seconds before improving its own performance with a time of 28.81 seconds.
Unique doors in the world
Koenigsegg has developed a completely new door opening system, called “dihedral synchro-helix”. Unlike conventional gullwing or elytron doors, Koenigsegg doors first open outwards before pivoting vertically.
Even more impressive is the full name of this system: Koenigsegg Automated Twisted Synchrohelix Actuation Doors, or KATSAD. This innovation has become a true visual signature of the brand.
A revolutionary transmission
The Koenigsegg Jesko, introduced in 2019, introduced a new gearbox called Light Speed Transmission (LST). This 9-speed multi-clutch transmission weighs less than 90 kg and allows for near-instantaneous gear changes, without interruption of torque.
The LST can shift directly from 7th to 3rd gear in milliseconds, providing unrivaled responsiveness. Its operation is similar to that of a bicycle derailleur, but with lightning speed.
Koenigsegg coined the term “Megacar”
According to Koenigsegg, a “Megacar” is a vehicle capable of producing one megawatt of power, or 1,341 horsepower. The first Megacar in history was the Koenigsegg One:1 in 2014, whose name refers to its perfect power-to-weight ratio of 1:1 (1 horsepower per kilogram).
Since then, other Koenigsegg models have joined the very exclusive Megacar club, such as the Regera, the Gemera, the Agera RS and the Jesko Absolut.
Audi almost supplied the first V8 engines
In its early days, Koenigsegg had considered using Audi 4.2-liter V8 engines for its first prototype, the CC. Audi was even prepared to supply engines for the entire production run.
However, when Christian von Koenigsegg expressed his intention to modify the engines from 335 to over 600 horsepower, Audi withdrew from the project. Koenigsegg then decided to develop its own engines in-house.
Spectacular crash on the Top Gear circuit
In 2007, while filming Top Gear, driver Ben Collins (aka The Stig) lost control of an 806-horsepower Koenigsegg CCX on the show’s test track. The car crashed violently into a wall of tires at high speed, providing viewers with spectacular footage but fortunately without serious injury to the driver.
100% in-house production, down to the smallest bolt
Koenigsegg takes this to the extreme by manufacturing every component of its cars in-house, including titanium nuts and bolts. It takes over 4,000 hours to build a Koenigsegg supercar.
All production is carried out at the factory located on a former Swedish Air Force base in Ängelholm in the south of the country.
An extraordinary employee parking lot
Koenigsegg employees are mostly true car enthusiasts, as evidenced by the factory parking lot. There is an astonishing mix of rare and atypical cars, particularly surprising for Sweden:
- A 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS
- A Ram 1500
- A 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis
- A Mazda MX-5 Miata (driven by the brand’s test driver)
- A resto-mod Opel Kadett equipped with a BMW gearbox and a Volvo rear axle
- A Tesla Roadster (formerly owned by Christian von Koenigsegg)
- Several vintage BMW coupes
This eclectic parking lot perfectly illustrates the passionate and offbeat spirit that drives the Koenigsegg company.
These fascinating Koenigsegg anecdotes reveal the unique DNA of this brand that continues to push the boundaries of automobiles. Between technological innovation, exceptional performance and atypical corporate culture, Koenigsegg has established itself as one of the most fascinating manufacturers in the modern automobile industry. Display Hide the table of contents
