The race for the world’s fastest production car is well from being over, with Christian von Koenigsegg hinting at a new attempt later this year. The company is currently looking for a suitable road to test the limits of the Jesko Absolut which is dubbed the fastest Koenigsegg ever.
The founder and CEO of Koenigsegg revealed that the first example of the Jesko Absolut has just been delivered to a customer in Switzerland, and a few more units have already been produced. The start of deliveries sounds like the right time for a world record attempt, which has been openly discussed by Christian von Koenigsegg since the model’s debut in 2020.
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Speaking to Sweedish media Carup, Koenigsegg said: “Hopefully we can go for the record this year. We are currently looking for a straight stretch that is long enough and where the traffic can be shut down, but it is not that easy”, adding that the location will likely be outside Sweden.
Koenigsegg believes that their previous record of 277.87 mph (447.19 km/h) set by Agera RS in 2017 still stands today since it was measured as the average of two directions and was achieved by a production-spec car. Speaking about rivals, he said: “Bugatti has only driven in one direction and with a car in a specification that customers cannot buy. Even SSC‘s record is set with a car that is not homologated for road use”. In this context, Koenigsegg made it clear that the new record attempt will be done by a series-production Jesko Absolut that will be “fully approved for street use”.
The Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut debuted at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show as the most slippery version of the hypercar with a clear focus on top speed, in contrast to the high-downforce Jesko Attack with its giant rear wing. Both versions feature the same twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8 engine producing up to 1,600 hp (1,193 kW / 1,622 PS) when running on E85 fuel. Besides the redesigned aero, the Absolut has a different gearing ratio, a model-specific suspension setup, and more space for luggage.
Simulations suggest that the model has a theoretical top speed of 330 mph (532 km/h) although this number would be tough to achieve in real-life conditions. In a 2020 interview, Christian von Koenigsegg suggested that the final result depends on the location, the driver’s willingness, and the car’s capability. Four years later, the company is still in search of the right stretch of tarmac to unleash the full power of its fastest creation.
Chances are that Koenigsegg will try to surpass both the official 282.9 mph (455.3 km/h) two-way record of the SSC Tuatara from 2022, and the unofficial 304.77 mph (490.48 km/h) one-way run of the Chiron Super Sport 300+ that took place in the Ehra-Lessen track back in September 2019. Another contestant who is gunning for the record is Hennessey with the Venom F5, which has been doing a lot of high-speed testing during the past couple of years.
H/T to Maths for the tip
