The Koenigsegg Agera is one of the most capable and insane cars to come along in the last decade. And even though it was already a world-class hypercar when it was introduced, Koenigsegg continued improving it until it officially broke the world production-car top-speed record with the Agera RS. For a company that’s only been around for 25 years, that’s quite an accomplishment. To celebrate, Koenigsegg chose the Geneva motor show to introduce the ultimate evolution of the Agera: the Jesko.
Named for Jesko von Koenigsegg, the father of company founder Christian von Koenigsegg, the Jesko gets a reworked version of the Agera RS’s 5.0-liter twin-turbo V-8. It makes 1,280 horsepower and 1,106 lb-ft of torque if you run it on gasoline, but if you switch to E85, the power figure jumps to a Bugatti Chiron–beating 1,600 horsepower. In addition to other improvements such as a new crankshaft and intake, Koenigsegg also added larger turbochargers. In order to preserve throttle response, it then added a system that shoots air into the turbo to spool it up more quickly. Koenigsegg says simulations show the car is capable of eclipsing the 300-mph mark with some tweaks, including to the aero package, as well as proper tires and enough room to make the attempt.
For the quickest shift times, you might think Koenigsegg would pair the Jesko’s engine with a dual-clutch transmission. You would also be wrong. Koenigsegg developed its own a nine-speed transmission that uses seven clutches. In addition to being significantly lighter than most DCTs and able to handle more than 1,000 lb-ft of torque, this innovative seven-clutch transmission can also shift to any gear, not just the next one the programming has preselected.
And while the Jesko looks a lot like an Agera RS with a crazy wing, Koenigsegg says it’s built on a brand-new carbon-fiber monocoque chassis that’s longer and taller than before. That translates to a more spacious and comfortable cabin, while at the same time it preserves chassis rigidity. The entire suspension has also been improved, offering a new rear-wheel-steering system and upgraded dampers. The optional staggered-size carbon-fiber wheels are surprisingly light, too, weighing in at 13 pounds each up front and a little more than 16 pounds each at the rear. Oh, and that aero kit? It’s said to provide more than 2,200 pounds of downforce at 171 mph.
The Jesko also gets the hydraulic-powered doors and hoods that Koenigsegg introduced on the Regera. That means they can be opened and closed remotely using the key fob, not just locked and unlocked. And even though the Jesko was designed for ultimate track performance, it’s still street-legal and comes with a surprising number of creature comforts. That includes multiple USB ports, automatic climate control, a surround-view camera system, and a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment setup. All vehicle systems can be updated over-the-air via the Koenigsegg Cloud service, as well. According to Koenigsegg, the Jesko is just as much a grand tourer as it is a track car, and prices start at about $3 million.
The best news is that the Jesko was designed to be legal in the U.S. Anyone with a Jesko on order willing to let us drive it?
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