The new Jesco Absolut is Koenigsegg's fastest car yet.
Last fall, Bugatti surprised the automotive industry by announcing that it had broken the 300 mph barrier in a special version of the Chiron called the Chiron Supersport 300+. [The 304.77 mph speed was achieved at the Volkswagen Group's Efra-Lechen test track in Germany and was the highest ever for a production car.
The previous top speed was 277.9 mph, achieved by the Koenigsegg Agera RS on a Nevada highway in 2017.
Koenigsegg is now developing a new version of the Jesco hypercar called the Jesco Absolut with one goal in mind: top speed. As a result, Koenigsegg claims an aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.278Cd.
One measure was to remove the Jesco rear antifender and add fins to improve stability. As a result, downforce was reduced from 3,000 pounds at normal speed to 330 pounds
. Other changes included removing the front splitter and side winglets, adding smooth panels to the body, and lengthening the tail section by about 3.35 inches to improve airflow. The final touch was the addition of disc wheels, which were claimed to better allow airflow.
Combined with the 1,600 hp produced by the Jesco car's 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8, when running on E85 fuel, the new Jesco Absolut should be faster than any previous production car, including the Bugatti, according to Koenigsegg. Previous rumors have hinted at 500 km/h or 310.68 mph as Koenigsegg's internal target.
Interestingly, Koenigsegg has stated that it will not attempt to build a car faster than the Jesco Absolut. This means that future owners need not worry about forfeiting the bragging rights of boasting the fastest Koenigsegg car. Nor should those who have already ordered a standard Jesco need to worry. Koenigsegg is giving buyers the option to choose the version they want.
Along with the Jesco, Koenigsegg has launched a new hybrid model called the Jemera. It is the Swedish brand's first four-seat model.