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Take a look inside Koenigsegg's headquarters and peek at its future tech

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Technology, Videos, Koenigsegg

The YouTube series Drive has been doing weekly videos on Koenigsegg, and in this latest they get into the Free Valve technology being developed by Swedish company Cargine AB and Koenigsegg. Free Valve uses a small, individual pneumatic actuator to open each valves and either air pressure or springs to close them. The setup omits the need for camshafts and the related paraphernalia, as well as increasing the programmability, precision and efficiency of valve operation. Engines using the Free Valve system can also be smaller and lighter.

It has been tested for the last two years on a Saab 9-5 wagon that's done 60,000 kilometers so far. Koenigsegg says that compared to a traditional four-cylinder engine, horsepower and torque using Free Valve go up by 30 percent each, while fuel consumption drops by 30 percent and emissions drop by 50 percent.

It won't be ready for mass production for a while yet, and even then it will probably start at the top of the automotive food chain. Nevertheless, it points to a potential new future for the internal combustion engine. Check out the video below to see it in action.

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Take a look inside Koenigsegg's headquarters and peek at its future tech originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Koenigsegg buys (a) Saab after all?

Chris Shunk — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 10:32:00 EST

Filed under: Saab

2011 Saab 9-5 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Koenigsegg nearly owned Saab outright, but at the eleventh hour, the Swedish specialty carmaker backed out of the deal. Losing out on Saab may have been the best thing for Koenigsegg to do financially, but we're thinking there's at least some small measure of regret for Christian von Koenigsegg and crew that the deal didn't happen.

So how do you satiate that disappointment? Christian von Koenigsegg bought himself a small piece of the company, taking delivery of a white 2011 Saab 9-5. Saabs United reports that Koenigsegg was actually one of the first people in the world to order a new 9-5, though he says that he definitely wasn't the first to actually take delivery.

Koenigsegg told the Saab-centric site that he was hoping to get his hands on a 2.0T model since it it lighter, but instead ended up with an Aero V6 because he wanted Saab's GM-sourced HiPerStrut suspension system. That, and the DVD headrests screens means he can play Koenigsegg videos while chauffeuring potential new customers.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Saab 9-5

Photos copyright (C)2010 Chris Paukert / AOL

[Source: Saabs United]

Koenigsegg buys (a) Saab after all? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Koenigsegg, meet Saab. Saab, meet Koenigsegg.

Chris Paukert — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:56:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Supercars, GM, Saab

Koenigsegg CCX meets Saab Aero X concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Although the deal to purchase Saab between Swedish supercar maker Koenigsegg and General Motors has not yet been completely finalized, that hasn't stopped us from openly pining for a production version of Saab's gorgeous Aero X concept car of 2006. And now that we have pictures of the showstopper adjacent to one of Mr. Christian von Koenigsegg's own gorgeous creatures, well... it may just be enough to keep us awake at night. We're not sure where these two-door millionaire's coupes got together for this photoshoot, but judging from the snow on the ground, we wouldn't rule out the motherland.

While it's way too early to tell if Saab's new ownership situation will help get the automaker out of the woods it has seemingly been lost in for years, we can't help but at least get a little excited when seeing these two together. Check them out in the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Koenigegg, Meet Saab. Saab, Meet Koenigsegg

[Source: Saabs United]

Koenigsegg, meet Saab. Saab, meet Koenigsegg. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva Surprise: Christian von Koenigsegg speaks about the Edition

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:56:00 EST

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Supercars

Click image above for high-res gallery of the CCXR Edition

Covering a show like Geneva has its ups and downs for a journalist. Most of the time you are trying to follow a very tight schedule of press conferences that has you shifting 50 feet every fifteen minutes for about 12 hours a day. The upside is that the cars (and sometimes people) around you are quite often breathtaking and, besides the travel expenses, the whole party is free. As much as you'd like to linger, it can be extremely difficult because of the itinerary. Automakers generally have personnel on hand to answer questions, but if you linger you risk missing out on the next big thing across the aisle. But then there are those serendipitous moments when you just happen to be in the right place at the right time.

When we went back into the hall a few minutes ago to get a few more interior shots of the Koenigsegg CCXR Edition, we happened to spot Christian von Koenigsegg himself. We reached out a hand, introduced ourselves and mentioned that we had the chance to drive one of his supercars last fall in Las Vegas. We chatted a bit about the fact that we were expecting a black/red Edition here in Geneva and he said that this was a one-of-a-kind special order, "a Picasso" he joked. What he said next just about floored us. According to Koenigsegg, it took his team about 3,000 hours to hand lay the carbon fiber for this naked knockout. Then he mentioned that the beauty is far more than skin deep. The car produces so much more downforce that he thinks it is one of the easiest supercars to drive. We know we never had any trouble with the old one, but some others have. Then he talked about the fact that he wants to get the car out for more testing. He mentioned the 'RIng and another assault on the Top Gear track. He also shared that six of these Editions have already been sold and that more orders are in process since the show started yesterday. And just like that we remembered that we had to be elsewhere and said goodbye. Oh wow, is that Sir Jackie Stewart over there?!

Gallery: Koenigsegg Edition

Gallery: Koenigsegg Edition CCXR

Geneva Surprise: Christian von Koenigsegg speaks about the Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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