Koenigsegg CCXR Edition: Swedish Super Car

Motoring Channel Staff - 11/March/2008

Geneva, Switzerland — Koenigsegg wins the prize for the "most difficult to pronounce name" in the car world.

The Swedish sports car maker is also a prize winner in the category for "highest power output" by building cars that rank up there with vehicles like the Bugatti Veyron, Pagani Zonda and Ferrari Enzo. 

During the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, Koenigsegg unveiled two new "Edition" vehicles, one of which outputs more than 650 kilowatts of power, while the other belts out more than 750kW.

Only a handful of these super powerful exotic Swedes will be made: just 14 CCX and only 6 CCXR Editions will be built.

Unlike a lot of exotic vehicles, the special edition Koenigsegg CCX and CCXR vehicles have a strong features list. 

These include items like high end DVD/CD entertainment systems, iPod connection, satellite radio, digital warning and info system, a G sensor, tyre monitoring system, leather carpets, satellite navigation, a reversing camera, Bluetooth connectivity and ultra rigid carbon fibre wheels.

Both vehicles boast amazing carbon fibre body panels making them faster, lighter and more agile.

Koenigsegg CCX: This is the slightly more affordable version, which outputs 662kW of power (888hp) @ 7000rpm and 940Nm of torque @ 5800rpm. It can do this because it has an aluminium V8 engine block displacing 4.8-litres that is force-fed oxygen by a pair of superchargers.

The superchargers generate a forceful 1.4 bar of pressure, which is about 20 psi.

It will accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 3.0 seconds, which isn't as quick as the Bugatti Veyron's 2.5 seconds, but is still dizzyingly rapid.

Top speed is 400km/h (248.5mph) which is just 7km/h shy of the Veyron's 407km/h maximum velocity.

Koenigsegg CCXR: Koenigsegg strikes back with the CCXR, which outputs more power and has a higher top speed than the Bugatti Veyron.

Powered by the same 4.8-litre double supercharged V8 engine as the CCX, it has been tuned to output a staggering 759kW of power (1018hp) @ 7000rpm. Peak torque is 1080Nm @5600rpm, enough twist to shift a cruise liner.

Some of the changes to the engine include higher supercharger pressures up to 1.6 bar or 23 psi. 

While this Swedish bullet cannot best the Bugatti in the 100km/h acceleration race - it takes 2.9 seconds - it does have a higher top speed of 417km/h (259mph). 

Only six of these mad Swedish CCXR's will ever be built, which can reach 200km/h in 8.75 seconds. The CCXR can generate a stunning 1.5 lateral Gs (that means it steers and grips well) and has aflat underbody with venturi tunnels at rear allowing for a drag co-efficient of 0.36.

Exotic doesn't quite cut the mustard when exploring the Koenigsegg CCXR's abilities and features.

If the G sensors and digital warning/info systems and bi-charged V8 engines didn't raise your eyebrows, there's still more.

Both the CCX and CCXR super cars feature huge 8 piston Brembo brake calipers at the front axle that clamp 380mm ventilated ceramic discs. The rear brakes are comprised of 6 pistonAP Racing calipers gripping 362mm ceramic brakes.

Other chassis upgrades on Koenigsegg's "Edition" models include modified shock absorbers, stiffer springs and anti-roll bars, reset dampers and a lowered chassis.

According to Koenigsegg, "Downforce has been enhanced by the addition of an optimised rear wing, front winglets, a larger front splitter and nolder, all of which have been designed to create as much downforce as possible."

A total of 350kg of downforce is generated at 250km/h.

These amazing carbon fibre Edition vehicles ride on a 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheel rims, shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tyres measuring 255/35 and 335/30 front and rear.

If by some rare chance none of the car's features impressed you - and they should because they are close to the best in the world - there is always the car's look.

Koenigsegg explains it best: "The clean, Scandinavian design is accentuated by the clear lacquered finish, which reveals the bold, linear beauty of the carbon fibre construction. 

"Each individual section of carbon fibre bodywork has been painstakingly matched and then joined together inside out like a tailored suit, to create a stunning pinstripe effect. The process is so time-consuming that it takes almost twice as much time to create the clear-coated visible carbon body compared to the normal painted carbon CCX body."

The body work alone is estimated to be worth more than a quarter of a million dollars (click the photos for the higher res images as you can see the carbon grain) so expect the final pricing of these 20 limited 'Edition' Koenigsegg models to be priced above €1.5 million mark.

Related articles:
- Koenigsegg CCX (2006)
- Koenigsegg CCR (2004)