Preparing to relaunch in the U.S., Swedish supercar producer Koenigsegg Automotive AB used the Monterey Car Week festivities to debut a special version of its stunning track-focused Agera RS. Company boss Christian von Koenigsegg noted this custom version of the standard RS — dubbed the XS per its owner’s wishes – is the first Agera RS to be fully homologated for America and that the firm is eager to begin offering both the Agera RS and its hype- hybrid sibling, the Regera, “in the very near future.”
Mega horsepower
Based on the Koenigsegg Agera One:1 Megacar that was unveiled at the 2014 Geneva Auto Show, the carbon-fiber intensive Agera RS and the XS-badged one-off pictured here pack a mid-mounted, house-designed 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that makes an incredible 1,160 horsepower and 944 lb-ft of peak torque running on premium unleaded gasoline. Backed by a paddle-shifted 7-speed dual-clutch automatic that ships power to the rear wheels via a Koenigsegg electronic differential, the engine can propel this 3,075-pound road rocket from 0-60mph in less than 3.0 seconds and onto an estimated 250 mph top end helped by active front and rear aerodynamic elements and an electronically variable suspension system with adjustable ride height.
Finished in a searing Karosserie Orange, the Agera XS features Koenigsegg’s signature removable top panel but is fitted with a bespoke rear wing – the largest ever fitted to any Koenigsegg — per the owner’s request. Like the Agera RS – of which a total of 25 will be constructed – the XS carries a full roster of comfort/convenience touches including, 6-way power carbon sport seats, adjustable pedals and steering column, auto climate control, a driver info system and USB connectivity.
Regera: a 1,500-horse hybrid
First presented this spring at the Geneva Auto Show, the Koenigsegg Regera uses its own version of the K-spec twin-turbo 5.0 V8 matched with three electric motors fed by a centrally positioned 4.5kWh lithium-ion battery pack recharged on the fly using regenerative braking like a Formula One car. Collectively, this power system develops 1,500 horsepower and 1,475 lb-ft of torque. Here too, all of that motive force gets sent to the rear wheels but transfers through a single-ratio Koenigsegg Direct Drive system that can send the Regera streaking from 0-186 mph in 10 seconds and on to its 249-mph top speed in just 20 ticks.
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Not surprisingly, the Regera also comes with an impressive assortment of premium features including what its maker calls an “Autoskin.” What it translates into is that all of the Regera’s body closures operate automatically at the touch of a button — complete with soft-takedowns. The doors, hood, engine cover and even the mirrors also are fitted with proximity sensors that prevent any unintended close encounters of the damaging kind. Koenigsegg says the Regera’s production run will be limited to just 80 units and like the Agera RS, the price of entry will likely open somewhere north of $1.5 million.
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