Autoblog

click above image for high-res gallery of the Koenigsegg CCX

We've seen stretched out exotics before, but Koenigsegg is reportedly planning on producing a model with four doors right from the factory. Carbon-fiber saloons from the Swedish automaker have been undergoing testing for the past two years, with the new model set to be debut in concept form at the Geneva Motor Show in 2010. Sales of the car are planned for 2011 with a sizable allocation destined for the U.S. The other big market for the brand is the Middle East, where much of the development money is said to have been sourced. Powered by a 700-horsepower V8 not shared with Koenigsegg's other exotics, the new super saloon is expected to surpass 200 miles per hour. Pricing would almost surely be higher than its closest rivals, the upcoming Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide, but lower than the marque's other carbon creations.


[Source: CAR Middle East via Jalopnik]

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?!

Click for more carbon fiberrific images of the Koenigsegg Edtion CCXR.

We were all set to go shoot the Koenigsegg CCX and CCXR Edition cars in their exotic black and red kit, but what we found instead was this carbon fiber goddess. There's nothing quite like a raw carbon fiber finish to make the visceral reaction to driving a supercar more palpable. Still, we would have liked to have seen the black and red ones too. Either way, this Swedish Siren still scores highly on the must-have meter. Like the "normal" CCX and CCXR, the Edition models are powered by supercharged V8s, but their displacement has been bumped from 4.7-liters to a full 5.0, good enough for 888HP in the CCX and a non-Edition-matching 1,018HP in the E85-burning CCXR. Both cars are said to be good for a 0-60 sprint of just under three seconds, but the "R" can top out at least five MPH higher than the CCX, 250 versus 245. Price of entry for these two limited edition models is steep, with the Edition CCX starting at 1,330,000 euro and the Edition CCXR at 1,500,000 euro, but Koenigsegg only has to find 14 takers on the former and six for the latter. They hinted that almost all slots have been claimed, so if you are interested, act now.


[Source: Koenigsegg]

We got our first (and only) taste of the U.S.-spec Koenigsegg CCX more than a year ago when we piloted it on a road course outside Las Vegas Speedway with sportscar racer Justin Bell giving us driving tips from the passenger seat. We had mixed emotions about the super-fast Swede -- it was immensely powerful, but its ease of use and drivebility made it underwhelming at the same time. The day before we got behind the wheel, Koenigsegg had treated several prospective clients to stints around the track as well, and apparently there were at least a few who were impressed enough to plunk down the cash to buy one. It's taken a while, but Exotic Cars at Caesars Palace, Koenigsegg's sole authorized distributor in the United States, announced yesterday the delivery of the very first CCX to an Arizona customer. They expect to now delivery a new 'segg about every five weeks, meaning a little less than a dozen will be in the country at this time next year. Exclusiveness has a price, though: new customers have to deal with a one year waiting list and a $930,000 price tag.

[Source: Exotic Cars at Caesars Palace]

Click on the image above to see more images of the Koenigsegg CCXR

Koenigsegg has released some full-on shots of the production CCXR -- probably a new one, and not the 1-of-a-kind CCXR crashed by Top Gear. The biofuel-powered car has a twin supercharged 4.8-liter V8, and will put out 1,018-HP at 7,200 RPM, and you'll get 740 lb-ft of torque out of it.

And if you want to break those numbers down, you'll get from the stoplight to 60 in 2.9 seconds, and the good Swedes claim you can take it past 248 MPH. However, in order to make any use of those numbers you need to first get past this one: €1,575,000, plus taxes and fees, to take it home. Check out the gallery of pics below, and check out the full specs on the car after the jump.

[Source: Autoblog NL via Motor Authority]

Ultima, one of several dozen independent British sportscar companies and makers of the GTR, could only take so much rejection. The cottage automaker claims it offered its road-legal race-car to the producers at BBC's hit TV show Top Gear several times, only to be repeatedly refused. So Ultima took things into its own hands, brought its latest fire-breather to the same converted airstrip that TG uses for a test track, retained a Stig of its own, and undertook to beat the fastest lap on the track.

Aside from the occasional exception like the Renault F1 car, the current record holder on Top Gear's power-lap board is the Koenigsegg CCX (which Top Gear can't spell). After the Stig famously spun the Swedish supercar off the track, the designers mounted a new rear wing to keep the tail planted, and the CCX set a fastest lap of 1:17.6, which was enough to beat the Ferrari Enzo, Maserati MC12 and Pagani Zonda that previously sat atop the chart.

Ultima drove the GTR720 to the track in full road trim and set a fast lap of 1:12.8, which easily beat the Koenigsegg. In fact, Ultima claims that at that rate, the GTR would lap an Enzo every 12 laps. Dang. Shame it would also beat the Ferrari in an ugly contest, though. Ultima says another visit in the more powerful 800-hp version is in the works.

[Source: PistonHeads]

There are a number of hurdles to overcome when playing to people's egos, adrenal glands and pocket books. When combing the three into a cohesive, four-wheeled package, the task is even more daunting. Although Koenigsegg has only been in the business for five years, it knows that troubles don't end when a fresh set of keys is handed to a customer and backorders fill the coffer.

According to a report in Sweden's Realtid, the exotic automaker owes over €240,000 to creditors and is seeking new investors to pay back the debt. Considering that Koenigsegg has already had to endure a production line move after fires consumed a facility back in 2003, we doubt that this particular problem will ail the automaker for very long. Also, the amount of debt converts to around $321,000 USD. If Koenigsegg is threatened by a debt that's smaller than the price of just one of its cars, then it's in worse shape than we thought.

[Source: Motor Authority]

You might have thought that building one of the very best-performing exotic supercars in the world would be enough to put a company like Koenigsegg on the map, but apparently no sportscar-maker has really made it until they've got their own laptop and wristwatch. Having already covered the former, the Swedish meisters of speed are taking the raps off their new range of timepieces.

Of course, Koenigsegg couldn't simply commission an ordinary wristwatch, slap on their logo and call it a day. Instead, Koenigsegg turned to Quinting, an exclusive Swiss watchmaker that produces completely unique transparent watches. We don't mean the case is transparent allowing you to see the movement; the movement itself is transparent, each component having been painstakingly crafted from fine-cut sapphire crystal.

For Koenigsegg, Quinting has created two unique timepieces, the Ghost chronograph and the Advance. Both are available only in limited quantities, and only to owners of Koenigsegg supercars, who can join the already-exclusive cadre of world presidents past and present who wear Quinting's innovative creations.

[Source: Sybarites and Cardisiac]

Click to jump to our high-resolution Koenigsegg image gallery from Geneva

Those Super-Swedes over at Koenigsegg serve up a potent reminder that not all supercars come from Italy. In fact, some of the fastest don't, as evidenced by the Koenigsegg CCX, whose level of performance ranks among the top of the supercar realm.

At the Geneva show, Koenigsegg was in full force, displaying three glorious examples: an "ordinary" orange CCX (as if it could be considered "ordinary" by any conceivable standard), plus a black ethanol-converted CCXR and a white FIA GT1-spec CCGT.

As we previously reported, the Koenigsegg CCX is so potent that it had to be de-tuned and "censored" to meet race regulations to make the CCGT. Power was reduced from 806 to 600 horsepower, and aerodynamic elements had to be replaced to meet specifications. The CCXR, meanwhile, produces more power running on ethanol than on gasoline, making a mind-blowing 1018 horsepower and 780 lb-ft of torque.

Want to see more? Check out our high-resolution image gallery from the floor of the Geneva salon.

Koenigsegg decided to release images and specs of the two supercars that will occupy their booth at next week's Geneva Motor Show. First, the CCXR, which is a standard CCX that's been converted to use ethanol and produces 1018 HP and 780 ft.-lbs. of torque. Those fortunate enough to already own a CCX can have their current vehicle retrofitted with the biofuel mill if desired.

The second vehicle to grace the stand will be the CCGT, which was produced in order to meet FIA GT1 series regulations. As such, the 806 HP supercharged 4.7L V8 has been nixed in order to bring power output down below the 600 HP mark. To do so, they removed the huffers and bored the V8 out to 5.0L. In addition to the HP reduction, the weight had to be increased and the aerodynamics had to be altered in order to meet regulations. Surprisingly, the aero changes produce less downforce than the standard CCGT. Devolving to meet racing standards is nothing new, but it still brings a little tear to our eye.

The press release is after the jump and expect a gallery of both vehicles up before night's end.