- The Gemera was upgraded with the Jesko’s twin-turbo V8 part way through its development.
- Customers have to cough up an extra $400,000 for the V8 but get an extra 900 hp and almost 700 lb-ft of additional torque.
- Christian von Koenigsegg says the carmaker isn’t giving up on the three-cylinder entirely.
When Koenigsegg first announced the four-door Gemera, it was equipped with an innovative hybrid powertrain that combined a 2.0-liter twin-turbocharged three-cylinder with a claimed 590 hp and 443 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque, and three electric motors for a combined 1,400 hp and 1,364 lb-ft (1,850 Nm).
Koenigsegg also managed to squeeze the 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 of the Jesko into the four-seater, together with a 9-speed transmission for a claimed 2,300 hp and 2,028 lb-ft (2,750 Nm). The plan was to offer this engine as a $400,000 option while keeping the three-cylinder as the base model. But, as it turns out, Christian von Koenigsegg has revealed that the three-cylinder, known as the Tiny Friendly Giant (TFG), has been abandoned for the Gemera.
Read: Discover How The Koenigsegg Gemera’s Small Three-Cylinder Engine Delivers 600 HP
While recently speaking with Top Gear on a podcast, Koenigsegg said most Gemera customers switched to the V8 when given the choice. The carmaker then convinced the remaining hold-outs, wanting the TFG to go with the V8 instead.
“In a nutshell, they all turn into V8s,” the company’s founder said. “There were so few left that asked for the three-cylinder, we managed to convince almost all of them [to switch engine orders].”
While the three-cylinder model was down almost 1,000 hp from the twin-turbo V8, it was going to be roughly 270 kg (~600 lbs) lighter than the V8 Gemera. It was also set to be the first vehicle fitted with Koenigsegg’s innovative Freevalve camless piston engine. Unfortunately, the temptation of a more powerful V8 has proven too strong for buyers.
However, there may still be a future for the Tiny Friendly Giant. Koenigsegg said the 2.0-liter is “still interesting,” and the firm is “still working on it.” He added it could be used for the Gemera at some stage in the future, “perhaps one day in some version.”
