While Bugatti’s recent breach of the 300mph speed barrier with a modified Chiron (which they will be selling, obviously, under the name Super Sport 300+), Swedish hypercar boutique manufacturer Koenigsegg might have set a slightly more impressive one, from a certain point of view.
In a stock standard example of one of their newest production models, the hybrid-assisted Regera managed to accelerate from rest to 400km/h and then back to rest again in just 31.49 seconds, beating the existing October 2017 record by 1.8 seconds. Incidentally, that was held by another Koenigsegg, the Agera RS, which managed it in 33.29 seconds.
By comparison, Bugatti also made its own run at the 0-400-0 world record a mont prior to the Agera’s, which it held at Volkswagen’s private test track in Ehra-Lessien closer to the debut of the Chiron in 2016, setting a time of 41.96 seconds.
For the Regera’s turn, Sonny Persson, a longtime factory test driver for Koenigsegg and former three-time Swedish Karting Championship winner, was at the wheel. From a standstill, the car needed just 22.87 seconds to reach 400km/h before the brakes were aggressively applied and, amazingly, reached a dead stop just 8.62 seconds after first deceleration. The mind boggles.
“What is really impressive is how incredible the Regera brakes – 8.62 seconds from 400 km/h to 0 km/h is just unheard of. It is a testament to the Regera’s balance, suspension, aerodynamics and of course its in-house design and built Koenigsegg brake callipers. The proven numbers now show the greatness of the Regera. Having said that, we know we can improve these already impressive numbers on a track with better conditions,” said Persson.
According to founder Christian von Koenigsegg, attempting to break the Agera RS’ record came down to demonstrating the Regera’s one-of-a-kind Direct Drive Transmission, which uses a single-speed fixed gear with a 2.73:1 reduction ratio instead of a traditional gearbox.
A hydraulic coupling manages the connection between the engine driveline, relying on a trio of electric motors to aid it during low speed situations. From there, once sufficient torque has been reached, the coupling locks up to sustain the speed increases to redline, equating to an electronically limited maximum of 410km/h. How convenient.
Mounted amidship is a 5.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 developed in-house by Koenigsegg and almost identical to the engine in the Agera-based One:1. On its own, it develops 1,110kW and 2,000Nm. However, combined with the Regera’s aforementioned three electric motors, its maximum output is raised to a heady 1,340kW.
With numbers like those, it’s almost unsurprising that the Regera would be capable of beating the Agera RS’ record. That said, conditions weren’t ideal during the car’s top speed and braking run as the surface grip at the Råda military airfield were low by comparison to, say, a race circuit. This had a noticeable impact on acceleration and braking performance.
On top of that, there were certain imperfections and uneven bits along the runway that required Persson to avoid and, to create a long enough stretch, a portion of taxiway was used as a starting area, making for a somewhat curved route.
In total length, the Regera completed the 0-400-0km/h run in 2,048.46m.According to Mr Koenigsegg, the Regera would have been capable of a faster time and in done so under 2,000 metres.
