Geneva show: Koenigsegg Jesko bound for Australia
BY TUNG NGUYEN | 7th Mar 2019
SWEDISH hypercar manufacturer Koenigsegg has used this week’s Geneva motor show to uncover its first mega-model to be officially sold in Australia – the multimillion-dollar twin-turbocharged V8-powered Jesko which is due to arrive in the coming years.
Speaking to GoAuto today, Koenigsegg Automotive communications and PR manager Steven Wade confirmed a well-heeled Australian buyer was the one of the first customers in the world to commit to the Jesko, before any details had been locked in, and that the order books are filling fast.
“There is at least one and possibly more of the Jesko model coming to Australia,” he said. “An Australian customer was, in fact, one of the first to place an order anywhere in the world.
“We had sold around 90 of the 125 we’re going to build prior to Geneva. With the car now available to see in full scale, we did a lot of business yesterday so it’s fair to say that the remainder will not last long.”
Meanwhile, head of Koenigsegg’s Australian distributor Prodigy Automotive Nicholas Batzialas confirmed that “we have two additional commitments from Australia customers” and that the first local order was locked in on November 17 last year.
Though pricing for the Jesko has yet to be released, early indicators point to a circa-$5 million driveaway pricetag, making Koenigsegg’s new model one of the most expensive production hypercars available in Australia.
For the money, buyers will receive one of the quickest-accelerating and fastest cars in the world, powered by a force-fed V8 lifted from its Agera RS predecessor, but upgraded with 180-degree flat-plane crankshaft, revised intake and bigger turbos.
The result is 954kW of power on standard fuel and a ballistic 1193kW when run on E85 biofuel.
Torque, meanwhile, peaks at a phenomenal 1500Nm at 5100rpm, with two-thirds of the figure on tap from as low as 2700rpm.
Although acceleration times are yet to be revealed, expect to see the Jesko outperform the 1000kW/1370Nm Agera RS, which could hit 100km/h from a standstill in a Ferrari 812 Superfast-beating 2.8 seconds.
Early reports also indicate Koenigsegg is aiming for a 300mph (483km/h) top speed, which would take the mantle of world’s fastest production car from the Agera RS that had a terminal velocity of 447km/h.
Feeding power to the road is an in-house-developed nine-speed multi-clutch automatic transmission, which is able to switch between any gear instead of just the adjacent ratio, and is up to 50kg lighter than a traditional dual-clutch unit.
Drivers are also able to manually select gears via the steering-wheel-mounted paddle-shifters or via the central shifter, the latter with a double-notch feature wherein the first level selects up or down and the second notch shifts the Jesko into the optimal gear – dubbed ‘Ultimate Power on Demand’.
However, key to the Jesko’s prodigious performance is its low weight – tipping the scales at 1420kg – and comprehensive aerodynamic bodywork.
A gigantic splitter adorns the front bumper – the deepest featured on any Koenigsegg model yet –that channels airflow for downforce and cooling.
Even the wing mirrors add 20kg of downforce and direct air to the Jesko’s rear, which features a monster rear wing to push the derriere onto the road.
According to Koenigsegg, the Jesko can produce 800kg of downforce at 250km/h, rising to 1000kg at 275km/h – a 30 and 40 per cent respective increase over the One:1 and Agera RS at similar speeds.
At all four corners, the Jesko features active Triplex dampers, which uses an additional “horizontal damper built into the rear suspension to counter the car’s tendency to ‘squat’ during hard acceleration”.
New in the Jesko is an active rear-wheel steering system that can turn the hoops up to three degrees in either direction for improved manoeuvrability and stability during high-speed cornering.
Carbon-fibre wheels are also optional, measuring 20x9.5 inches up front and 21x12 inches in the rear, as are Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres.
Built on a carbon-fibre monocoque chassis that is 40mm longer and 22mm taller than before, the Jesko features more interior space and improved visibility over the Agera RS, and also sports a removeable roof for open-air motoring.
Inside, equipment includes a wireless phone charger, USB inputs, automatic climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, 9.0-inch SmartCenter infotainment system and surround-view monitor, while the cabin is swathed in leather or Alcantara trim with contrast stitching.
Instrumentation is projected onto a 5.0-inch all-digital SmartCluster display, while the steering wheel also features two haptic-feedback screens for infotainment control.
As with all Koenigsegg models, the Jesko uses a pair of signature dihedral synchro-helix doors that have now been engineered for easier opening and closing.
According to the Swedish marque: “Jesko inherits the Agera RS’s mantle as the ultimate road-legal megacar with a laser-like focus on optimal track performance.
“It ushers in a new era for Koenigsegg, extending the company’s legacy of futuristic innovation and scintillating performance.”
Meanwhile, the Swedish manufacturer’s latest model takes is name from company founder and CEO Christian von Koenigsegg’s father, Jesko.
