No, that’s not a transposed number: The new Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut should actually drive 531 km/h – at least in theory. However, it will probably take a while until that happens. But progress is being made: around a year after the Jesko Attack pre-series model, the first roadworthy prototype of the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut is now ready. The (theoretically) fastest car in the world is driving!
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In 2019 Koenigsegg presented a completely new model in Geneva with the Jesko. The 1600 hp hyper sports car is named after Jesko von Koenigsegg, the father of company founder Christian von Koenigsegg.
It is offered in two versions: The Jesko Attack, which costs at least 2.8 million euros and has its characteristic boomerang rear wing, is primarily intended to perform on the race track, while the Jesko Absolut, which is even more expensive at 3.45 million euros, has only one goal: top speed !
When comparing the rear sections, the differences between Jesko Absolut (pictured) and Jesko Attack are the clearest.
Both variants are powered by a self-developed 5.0-liter V8 twin turbo. With normal petrol, the V8 delivers 1280 hp at 1.7 bar boost pressure, with 2.2 bar and E85 fuel it should be 1600 hp and 1500 Nm. The power is only sent to the rear wheels by means of a special nine-speed LST gearbox (LST stands for Light Speed Transmission).
The highlight: the transmission can shift down several gears at once without delay, with individual gears being skipped. The 1,320-kilo Jesko is designed for the racetrack, and you can tell by looking at it – especially because of the powerful rear spoiler.
Aerodynamics is the key to success
The Jesko Absolut is completely different: Compared to the Jesko Attack in the eye-catching “Tang Orange Pearl” color, the high-speed version in “Graphite Grey” with subtle orange accents looks even more aggressive. Koenigsegg promises that the Jesko Absolut will be the fastest Koenigsegg ever – and will remain so, as they have no plans to ever release a faster model.
Engine and transmission are identical to the normal Jesko. The key to top speed lies in aerodynamics; and that’s exactly where the engineers started to make the Absolut as streamlined as possible.
The first pre-series model of the Jesko Attack has been ready and in use since 2021.
The most striking thing is of course the missing rear spoiler compared to the normal version. Instead, two fins – like a fighter jet – should ensure stability at high speeds. In addition, the Absolut has rims with aerodiscs on the rear axle.
In order to tease out the last few km/h, the louvres on the front fenders were removed and the air intake in the front hood was closed.
What is difficult to see in the pictures: At 4.85 meters, the Jesko Absolut is around nine centimeters longer than the normal Jesko at 4.76 meters, which benefits driving stability at 400 km/h+. At the same time, the curb weight could be reduced again, so that the Absolut with 1600 hp weighs just 1290 kilos curb weight.
Jesko Absolut with a drag coefficient of 0.278
Due to the improved aerodynamics, it should be significantly faster than the Jesko Attack. A few interesting numbers on downforce: While the Jesko Attack with its XXL wing generates 800 kilograms at 250 km/h and a maximum of 1400 kilograms of downforce, the streamlined Absolut is said to generate only 40 kilograms and a maximum of 150 kilograms of downforce at 250 km/h .
Koenigsegg specifies the air resistance as a very good 0.278. Achieving this value required thousands of hours of simulation work.
The first ready-to-drive Jesko Absolut is now ready for use. Koenigsegg test driver Markus Lundh reports after the first few drives that the 1600 hp hyper sports car drives naturally and exactly as it should. Everything happens much faster thanks to seamless upshifts and downshifts.
According to calculations, over 500 km/h should be possible
But how fast does the Jesko Absolut drive now? Officially, Koenigsegg says so far: “If we look at our calculations and sophisticated simulations, it’s incredibly fast!”
Fortunately, our colleagues from “Road and Track” asked Christian von Koenigsegg again and got a concrete number. The answer: 330 mph. That’s the equivalent of 531 km/h!
The currently fastest production car in the world: the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ with a top speed of 490.484 km/h!
But there is currently a problem: Koenigsegg does not yet know where this record can be achieved. The track in the Nevada desert where the Swedes set the previous record with the Agera RS is not smooth enough for speeds of 500 km/h and more. Many other routes are simply too short, because the last few km/h in particular can be extremely long.
Where should the record be set?
VW’s high-speed track Ehra-Lessien would be perfect. However, Koenigsegg does not currently have such a test track – and it would be more than surprising if Volkswagen allowed its competitor Koenigsegg to attempt a record in Ehra-Lessien. It remains to be seen whether the Jesko Absolut will actually break the magical 500 km/h mark and take Bugatti back from the throne of the world’s fastest production car.
