Koenigsegg sets world speed record

SWEDISH supercar manufacturer Koenigsegg has thrown down the gauntlet to its rivals by setting a production vehicle world speed record of 444.6km/h averaged over two test runs.

The new speed beats the old record of 435.3km/h set in 2014 by the Hennessey Venom GT which beat the previous record of 427.6km/h set by the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.

Driven by Koenigsegg factory driver Niklas Lilja, the Agera RS completed the record attempt on a 17.7km straight stretch of road in the Nevada desert.

Compiled over two test runs in opposite directions, the second test yielded a top speed of 457km/h, but due to the slower first run the average speed came down to 444.6km/h.

The Agera RS is powered by an aluminium 5.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine pumping out 865kW of power at 7800rpm and 1000Nm of torque at 4100rpm. The engine is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission.

A carbon-fibre and aluminium chassis combined with other weight-saving materials in the car results in a kerb weight of 1395kg. The 19-inch front and 20-inch rear carbon-fibre wheels are shod by Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 rubber.

Up to 450kg of downforce is created at 250km/h, thanks to enhancements such as an advanced dynamic underbody flap system and dynamically active rear spoiler.

The ultra-exclusive supercar is being produced in a limited run of just 25 vehicles.

Just last month a Koenigsegg Agera RS again driven by Mr Lilja achieved another automotive performance mark by completing a run from zero to 400km/h and back to standstill in record time of 36.44 seconds, beating the previous record of 41.96s set by a Bugatti Chiron driven by former Formula One, Indy and Nascar driver Juan Pablo Montoya.

That vehicle, however, had an upgraded engine producing 1014kW and 1371Nm.

Accelerating to 400km/h took 26.88s, while deceleration was completed in 9.56s.

The entire exercise needed 2441m of track to complete.