While there are rivals with just as much power out there, the Koenigsegg Regera is still a unique machine thanks to its patented Direct Drive system, which is said to reduce energy loss by up to 50% compared to a regular gearbox.
Τhe Swedish hyper/megacar recently made its way into Jay Leno’s Garage, where the former talk show host and car enthusiast got to drive it in Los Angeles with Christian von Koenigsegg himself sitting in the passenger’s seat.
After a long talk about the car, which by the way was sitting next to the Agera RS, the two got the Regera out on the road, where Leno instantly became very impressed with it, saying that it reminded him of the Porsche Carrera GT back when it first came out – in the sense that, like the GT, the Regera is a “game changer”.
Mostly responsible for that is the hybrid powertrain, which combines a twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8 engine with three electric motors, producing a total of 1,500 HP (1,11 MW). Meanwhile, the Direct Drive system provides instant torque, and lots of it: about 1,280 Nm, or roughly 944 lb-ft.
What all this means is that, in a straight line, the Regera will hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.8 seconds, whereas 200 km/h (124 mph) and 400 km/h (250 mph) are dispatched in 6.6 and under 20 seconds, respectively.
In the end, Leno said that he prefers the Regera to the Agera RS, due to the fact that the hybrid model is more refined and civilized.