Koenigsegg celebrates its birthday with 1,385 hp on 1,385 kg of weight

Wink to old model

The new Koenigsegg honors the 20th anniversary of the CC8S, the first Koenigsegg to enter production. You could think of the new model as a modern version of the CC8S. The brand had intended to build 50 examples – thus celebrating the birthday of the brand’s founder – but due to overwhelming interest, they screwed up production to 70.

Koenigsegg founder and boss Christian von Koenigsegg: “The response to the CC850 has been overwhelming. By building 20 more CC850s, we are not even close to meeting demand. We are humbled and grateful for the response and will do our utmost to exceed expectations.”

5.0-liter V8

The Koenigsegg CC850 has a one-to-one weight ratio. So the car has as much power as kilograms of weight: 1,385 horsepower to a weight of 1,385 kilograms. By the way, the 5.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 produces that power only if you fill up with E85 gasoline (bioethanol). Should you fill up with regular gasoline, power drops to “only” 1,185 hp. Still sufficient for daily commuting.

Unique gearbox

That the new Swedish creation is so popular may have to do with the fact that it is available with a manual transmission. Unique, in a car with that much power. The six-speed transmission is extra special, as it also works as an automatic. In fact, Swedish engineers have developed a special piece of technology that allows the car to be driven like an automatic, with nine gears, using the Engage Shift System. Whether this new Koenigsegg is the fastest car ever with a manual transmission, time will tell. Indeed, Koenigsegg has not yet put out any 0-100 times, or top speed.

Sold out!

In case you do warm to this new hypercar and want to buy one, you’re out of luck. All seventy are sold out, at 3.65 million euros each. At Koenigsegg, there is the ability to have a lot done to special customer requirements, so there are bound to be copies of 4 million euros and more crossing the counter. Keep dreaming, we advise…

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