Koenigsegg has unveiled an all-new megacar – the Koenigsegg Jesko – at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show. Jesko inherits the mantle left by the Agera RS as the leading track-focused, road-legal car for those looking for the ultimate in vehicle performance.
Jesko is named for Jesko von Koenigsegg, the father of company Founder and CEO, Christian von Koenigsegg. Jesko von Koenigsegg was a key presence at Koenigsegg Automotive during its formative years. His considerable business acumen helped steer the company through many early challenges. Now retired and in his 80’s, Jesko von Koenigsegg and his wife, Brita, were on-hand at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show to see his namesake vehicle introduced to the world.
Koenigsegg’s first effort at engine development was so successful it saw the company awarded a Guinness World Record. The Koenigsegg CC8S replaced the McLaren F1 as the car with the most powerful production engine in the world. The next Koenigsegg engine achieved a similar feat when the CCR took the world production car top speed record, again from the McLaren F1. In 2014, we announced the Koenigsegg One:1 with a twin-turbo V8 producing 1,360 hp, enough to make the One:1 the first production car in history with a 1:1 power-to-weight ratio. With 1 megawatt of power, the One:1 was the world’s first Megacar.
Jesko – the all-new megacar from Koenigsegg – is powered by a newly designed, 1280hp (1600hp on E85), twin-turbocharged V8 engine that benefits from significant changes to the Agera engine it replaces.
At the core of the newly designed engine is the world’s lightest V8 crankshaft. Weighing just 12.5 kilos, Koenigsegg’s new flat-plane 180-degree crankshaft allows Jesko to produce more power, with greater efficiency, while achieving a higher 8500rpm rev limit. The flat-plane design allows even firing across engine banks and an even more visceral engine sound. Koenigsegg has countered the tendency that flat-plane engines have towards greater vibration by designing new super-light connecting rods and pistons. The connecting rods were designed by Koenigsegg’s engine architect, Dr. Thomas Johansson. The connecting rods are made from premium Swedish steel. At just 540g – including bolts – they’re as light as previous generations made from titanium, but even stronger.
The piston’s curved face shapes the combustion chamber in such a way so as to reduce peak pressure while maintaining high average pressure. The ceramic coating on the face of the piston prevents hot spots and detonation when the engine runs at maximum power. The piston weighs just 290 grams. Minimal weight is important because Koenigsegg engines have a very long stroke and at 8500rpm, efficiency of movement becomes critical.
The Koenigsegg Jesko features an all-new 9-speed, multi-clutch transmission – the second transmission to be 100% designed and built in-house at Koenigsegg, following the Direct Drive system designed for the Regera.
The Koenigsegg Light Speed Transmission (LST) represents a scale of evolution not seen since the development of modern dual-clutch technology at the turn of the century.
LST comprises nine forward gears and several wet, multidisc clutches in a compact, ultra-light package. The LST is capable of upward and downward gear changes between gears at near light speed thanks to the simultaneous opening and closing of clutches that allows for totally seamless acceleration/deceleration.
That LST gear changes can occur in virtually zero time between adjacent gears is impressive.
What takes LST from impressive to evolutionary, however, is that these shift-time benefits apply when changing between ANY forward gears.
UPOD – ULTIMATE POWER ON DEMAND
The key to this functionality is found in both the transmission’s unique design and Koenigsegg’s intelligent ‘UPOD’ technology – Ultimate Power On Demand. UPOD is the brain that instantly selects and engages optimum gearing for maximum acceleration.
While modern dual-clutch transmissions (DCT) enjoy millisecond shift times, they can only pre-select for a fast shift in one direction. DCT’s are designed to predict and pre-select the next gear based on inputs from the driver. If that prediction is wrong – e.g the driver wants to shift from 5th gear to 4th, instead of the presumed and pre-selected 6th gear – the driver will experience G-force losses and a slow shift response.
In addition, DCT’s only work in single-gear intervals. From 7th gear to 6th, to 5th, to 4th, for example. If the driver is in 7th gear and wants 4th for maximum power, the DCT cannot pre-select 4th gear directly. The driver has to pass through 6th and 5th gears, wasting time and power.
The Koenigsegg LST overcomes this via its unique multi-clutch design and UPOD technology, which selects the optimum gear for maximum power with a light speed gear change, regardless of whether that gear is 1, 2 or even 5 gears away.
UPOD uses vehicle speed and engine speed to determine the correct gear for maximum power and directs the LST to engage that gear, no matter its relationship to the current gear. If you are in 7th gear and 4th is the optimal gear for maximum acceleration, UPOD can bypass downshifts to 6th and 5th gear and put the car directly from 7th to 4th – in light speed.
The effect is instant, prolific power that’s always optimised and always available, allowing maximum acceleration for overtaking, corner exits, etc.
Koenigsegg has a long history of developing innovative, in-house solutions aimed at optimising vehicle performance. Near-enough is never good-enough. This no-compromise philosophy inspired the development of Aircore carbon fibre wheels, Koenigsegg Direct Drive, Triplex suspension geometry, the RocketCat catalytic converter, Autoskin technology, and much more. LST is the latest in a long line of Koenigsegg innovations.
The Koenigsegg Jesko was designed as the ultimate road-friendly track car. As such, we’ve re-engineered what was already a class-leading chassis, equipping it with a host of new technologies to make driving easier around town and much faster on the circuit.
A STRONG CORE
At the core of every Koenigsegg is its carbon fibre monocoque. Jesko uses an all-new monocoque, designed with the experience of vehicles past but with the requirements of our future customers in mind. The new tub is 40mm longer and 22mm higher, which allows for more legroom, headroom, a more spacious cabin feel and a clearer view through the wrap-around windscreen.
The tub retains its industry-best torsional rigidity, at 65,000 Nm per degree. The Koenigsegg chassis has long proven to be an outstanding base for chassis tuning. It’s also extremely strong and safe, with both the Agera RS and Regera passing crash tests for both EU and USA homologation in recent years. The monocoque is a carbon fibre and aluminium sandwich construction with integrated fuel tanks, rollover bars and reinforcement using Dyneema – the strongest fibre in the world – an industry first. It is assembled in our factory in Ängelholm, Sweden.
TRIPLEXTENDED
Koenigsegg developed the Triplex Suspension system for the Agera in 2010. A third, horizontal damper added at the rear allowed the car to employ natural physics to combat squat – the tendency for the car’s rear to lower itself under hard acceleration.
Jesko is equipped with a second Triplex unit in the front suspension, extending this capability to the front of the car. Jesko has over 1,000 kilograms of downforce available. The forward Triplex unit helps to keep the front of the car level, maintaining optimal ride height during high aerodynamic loading without compromising grip and handling at lower speeds.
ACTIVE REAR STEERING
Koenigsegg has equipped Jesko with an adaptive, active rear steering system that increases responsiveness and heightens the senses at both high and low speeds. Using inputs such as speed, throttle and brake positions, steering and slip angles and other parameters, the steering system can turn the rear wheels up to three degrees in either direction for quicker cornering and increased stability. At low speeds, the system counter-steers the rear wheels. This gives Jesko a faster turn-in, effectively shortening the turning circle of the car.
AERODYNAMICS
The Koenigsegg Jesko features aerodynamics designed with one goal in mind – blistering on-track performance. As Jesko is an all-new vehicle, Koenigsegg went back to the drawing board and designed an all-new rear wing, new front splitter and new rear diffuser. These form the core of an active aerodynamics and airflow package that maximises downforce while minimising drag.
The signature, airplane-like wrap-around windscreen stays intact, albeit improved for visibility. The Koenigsegg wrap-around windscreen has always played a crucial role in the aerodynamic performance of Koenigsegg cars, as no other windscreen solution can offer the same drag efficiency and high-speed stability. It also reduces upper body lift and delivers high quality airflow to the rear wing.
SUSPENSION
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
TRACTION CONTROL