Koenigsegg has just started testing of its remarkable Jesko hypercar and this video confirms that it will be the most remarkable car ever produced by the small Swedish firm.
All Koenigseggs are special but the Jesko is made particularly impressive thanks to its engine and transmission combination. For the first time in a Koenigsegg, the Jesko’s twin-turbocharged 5.0-liter V8 engine features a flat-plane 180-degree crankshaft. The result of this is profound as the engine revs up much quicker than other Koenigsegg models and spins through to 8,500 rpm. At high revs, it sounds just as good as a naturally-aspirated Ferrari V8 of yesteryear.
Something Special: Hear The Koenigsegg Jesko Fire Up For The Very First Time
This particular Jesko is bathed in an exposed carbon fiber body that we happen to think looks much better than the stark white paint of the original show car from Geneva in March. In all likelihood, this is the Jesko prototype the company will use to dial in all aspects before starting construction of customer-ordered examples next year.
Beyond its engine, the Jesko’s use of Koenigsegg’s new ‘Light Speed Transmission’ is also a huge development. This gearbox doesn’t feature traditional synch rings and uses multiple clutches. It has been engineered in such a way that drivers can directly shift between any gear; for example, shifting from 7th to 4th almost instantly.
Prices for the Koenigsegg Jesko start at $3 million before taxes and options. Despite that remarkable sticker price, the niche carmaker was able to sell all 125 planned units just days after the car was shown to the world at the Geneva Motor Show, showing just how demand there is for vehicles like these.