With 1280bhp and 'Light Speed Transmission', the Jesko could be the first production car to potentially surpass 300mph...
Callum Alexander | Callum on Cars | CrackersCal
Meet the new Koenigsegg Jesko, the latest track-honed weaponised hypercar that supersedes the Agera RS, and its production car record holding 277mph top speed. The Jesko is gunning for bigger accolades: the first production car to breach the 300mph barrier.
But first, the name. Jesko is the father of company founder Christian, this new hypercar pays tribute to his contribution in helping to create the Koenigsegg company and nurturing his sons ambition to its prosperous position and famed recognition. Founded in 1994, Koenigsegg celebrates its 25th birthday in 2019 - the fruits from his graft and assistance have certainly bloomed.
The Jesko features a re-designed 5.0 litre twin-turbo V8, it has the lightest production 180-degree flat-plane crankshaft in a V8, at just 12.5 kilos. That means it can produce more power, in a more efficient way with the engine revving to a higher 8500rpm. It also has newly designed, super-light connecting rods and pistons, a ‘tumble valve’ on intake, bigger turbos supplemented with air injection and individual pressure sensors to monitor every engine cylinder.
The end result: 1280bhp on normal petrol, but Koenigsegg say you can get 1600bhp if fuelled by E85 all sent to the rear wheels. That’ll send some shudders through the Bugatti Chiron. So will the torque: it produces 1106Ib ft - enough to reposition the moon. No word on performance stats - Koenigsegg appear to be keeping those figures for another time.
There will be a choice of Jesko between track focused or top speed variants. The latter will have less focus on downforce, with smaller splitters and wings; it will be known as the Jesko 300. This is the car Koenigsegg plan to launch their potential claim to 300mph.
The Jesko has a new ‘Light Speed Transmission’ designed in-house by Koenigsegg. The package has wet clutches, flywheel, fluids, starter motor and oil pumps resulting in a 90kg wrap. The 9-speed multi-clutch unit ditches synch rings and a double clutch system for Koenigsegg’s own innovation. This system is called ‘Ultimate Power on Demand’: it ‘allows the driver to select the optimal gear for acceleration, regardless of that gear’s relationship to the current gear’.
Switching the Jesko’s gears is done through paddle shift or by a manual-style shifter located in the central console; both have a ‘double-notch shifting mechanism’. The first notch changes gear, either up or down; the second notch engages the ‘Ultimate Power on Demand’. This selects the ‘optimum gear’ for maximum acceleration; it happens without a synchronisation timeframe between changing gears.
The Jesko has undertaken a host of aerodynamic details to exploit the uncharted performance figures. These include a gargantuan active double-rear wing that not only looks seriously cool, but contributes to the serious downforce figures. So does the front splitter: it has enlarged active under-body flaps adjusting the downforce load. The ‘active aerodynamics’ are controlled by ‘Koenigsegg’s Autoskin’ technology – it uses electronics and hydraulics to function.
The resulting downforce numbers make for extraordinary reading. At 155mph, the track focused Jesko has 800kg of downforce in the most aggressive setting which increases to 1000kg at 168mph. Even the wing mirrors make 20kg of downforce. That’s a 30% increase than the One:1 and a 40% increase over the Agera RS – sounds like enough to remould your face when pelting around corner, like it is made of Play-Doh. The Jesko 300 will still produce 500kg of downforce.
The carbon fibre chassis is 40mm longer and 22mm taller than the Agera RS, this is meant to make the Jesko more accommodating to occupants. But that hasn’t altered the structural rigidity, so Koenigsegg been able to focus on performance improvements.
Koenigsegg Jesko
Price: £2,295,765
Engine: 5.0litre twin-turbo V8, 1280bhp or 1600bhp on E85, 1106lb ft
Transmission: 9-speed Koenigsegg Light Speed Transmission (LST) , RWD
Performance: 0-62mph n/a, top speed n/a
Economy: n/a mpg, n/a g/km CO2
Weight (dry): 1200kg
So, the Jesko has improved F1-style wishbone suspension with an active Triplex damper, while there is active rear wheel steering. The system looks at: wheel speed, steering angle, engine speed, longitudinal and lateral acceleration amongst other things and turns the rear wheels by three degrees - improving cornering.
Those optional carbon fibre wheels are proper lightweight: the 20-inch fronts weigh just 5.9kg each while the 21-inch rears just 7.4kg per wheel. They are emblazoned with the same Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres which set 5 world speed records on the Agera RS – tried and tested then. In total, the Jesko adds up to a dry weight of just 1200kg.
Like Koenigsegg’s of the past, the roof can be removed to soak up sun-flicked days. Better hope those days don’t turn to rain though in the track focused Jesko: the aerodynamic configurations have meant Koenigsegg have sacrificed the storage space in the front boot, where the roof would be put. Just something to bear in mind if there are one or two clouds floating nearby… No such problems in the Jesko 300, the roof will fit.
The interior has a 5-inch ‘SmartCluster’ digital dashboard on the steering wheel – the infotainment system – there is a 9-inch ‘SmartCenter’ central display. The ‘SmartWheel’ is a new feature that comprises of two small screens on the steering wheel and enables quick access to the infotainment systems. The Jesko also has an analogue g-force metre - a bespoke element referencing Sweden’s watch industry.
Koenigsegg will make 125 examples with production to start in late 2020, at rather costly £2,295,765 each. Trouble is, they are already all sold out. Must have missed that memo.
Callum Alexander | Callum on Cars | CrackerCal
Photos: Koenigsegg
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