Horsepower is the name of the game these days, and the latest hypercar from Koenigsegg actually gets its moniker from a race horse.
Company founder Christian von Koenigsegg’s father Jesko (recognize that name?) was a jockey, and Sadair’s Spear was the last pony he trotted out in a race. Like its namesake, the new car is set to perform best on track where less weight, more power and extra downforce will all contribute to tumbling lap times.
Koenigsegg’s five-liter twin-turbo V-8 has a new calibration, revised air intakes and better cooling than in the Jesko. Running on E85, it will deliver a mighty 1625 horsepower, though on regular pump gas there’s still 1300 horses. The engine has no flywheel so it can rev to its 8500 rpm redline in 0.2 seconds and it’s mated to the Swedish firm’s innovative nine-speed Lightspeed transmission.
No performance figures have been released but it should better the Jesko Absolut’s 2.2 second 0-60 time and top out at 300 mph or more. The Absolut recently set a new world record for the fastest half-mile at just 13.27 seconds and 223.6 mph (it also dispatched the quarter-mile in 8.88 seconds), but Sadair’s Spear will be quicker still. Around the Gotland Ring circuit it shaved 1.1 seconds off the time set by a Jesko Attack.
Sadair’s Spear’s aerodynamic enhancements no doubt helped. There’s an active double blade rear wing and elongated tail for greater downforce and high-speed stability. Larger canards, louvers and vents feature at the front and seven-spoke Aircore carbon fiber wheels are fitted.
Almost 80 pounds of weight reduction comes thanks to lighter springs, upgraded carbon ceramic brakes and a cut in cabin sound proofing.
“Sadair’s Spear represents a natural progression for Koenigsegg – an impeccable balance of raw power, refined aerodynamics, and extraordinary road presence,” says Christian von Koenigsegg. “This car is destined to set records. Achieving such track dominance in a fully road-legal vehicle is nothing short of remarkable.”
Only 30 examples are to built priced at $5.2 million each, and they’re all sold.
I will never be able to afford a Koenigsegg but I greatly admire the engineering this company does. An amazing vehicle.
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