The new Koenigsegg Jesko

The Swedish Company, offering us many a beautiful and powerful cars, decided that it is not enough to have the Regera in its line of production, but went on with a more powerful, more exciting, more exquisite model. They decided to call it : The Jesko which means for a male name : The brave one or the Soldierly one. What it represents for Koenigsegg is the name of the CEO and founder : Jesko Von Koenigsegg

Bravery comes at the form of the revised V8 5.0l that is the heart of the car, it develops 1280 bhp on regular fuel, but if one wants excitement, and more craze from the car, he can only use E85 biofuel to reach 1600 bhp. It is a continuation to the power achievements realized by its older, no less crazier sister, the Agera RS, and Agera One. The power is transmitted to the four wheels through a, strictly reserved to house Koenigsegg, 9-speed Light Speed Transmission (LST) Gearbox. While at its top speed, announced to be around 300 mph, the car carries 1400 kg of downforce. The maximum torque of 1500 Nm is reached @ 5100 Nm.

To achieve a high speed like that, Koenigsegg Jesko uses active aerodynamics, a double- profile rear wing, that was placed to rear maximum to reach higher control and maximum downforce. In addition to that, it was top mounted, to avoid any disturbance, and shaped like a boomerang, to ensure that the aerodynamic surface is maximized, that being able to attain better results. In the front, the car is fitted with what is thought to be the deepest, and the longest splitter ever used on a Koenigsegg, and uses integrated active flaps underneath.

Combine all this power, and all the aerodynamics new features, with the mind used at Koenigsegg and the result is more than staggering, it catches the hearts and eyes, it is a monster, but wearing a suite, it is ravishing and in the same time dangerous.

 

Koenigsegg Agera RSR

A few days ago, at the Salon Privé Concours d’élégance, Koenigsegg revealed chassis #127 dubbed the Agera RS Naraya, a special Agera made for Pasin Lathouras. In Japan, Koenigsegg announces 3 more special edition cars and they prefer to call them the RSR.

The RSR was revealed in Japan, where it is marketed, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Tokyo. It is part of the Agera RS 25 cars program. 3 of them are destined to Japan. Only two were revealed. Chassis #122 and chassis #123 were presented. #chassis #122 was painted in turquoise blue, chassis #123  in pure black and chassis #124 was in white with black stripe. The RSR is distinguished by a new roof scoop similar to which fitted to the One:1, and a new special rear wing. The rear wing comes as an option to all the Agera RS, but for the RSR it comes as standard.

Koenigsegg Agera RSR chassis #124 – Photo by @photochristofferf on IG

The engine is the same found in all Ageras, a 5.0L v8 twin-turbocharged, producing 1160 bhp, although, the engine mounted on the RSR will go close to the 1 MW in the Koenigsegg One:1.

Mercedes AMG more serious on making a hypercar

The last hypercar from Mercedes was the legendary Mercedes Benz CLK GTR. It was able of doing a lot, and cost a lot too. After the Belgian GP, from “a high level source at Mercedes AMG”, confirmation came to Top gear that the hypercar is coming. 2017 is the 50th birthday, so it could be a good project to mark the dates.

After The AMG GT, and the C63 AMG, Mercedes is allowing production to another car from AMG division, it is said to be a hypercar, with many F1 characteristics, especially for the engine, it could be powered by three electric engines and a thermal F1 engine, exactly the internal combustion engine that is powering the W07 Mercedes car. Coupled with MGU-H and MGU-K units, this engine produces 730 bhp.  AMG CEO confirmed that the car will be fighting against Porsche 918, Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1. About the body, it may be a monocoque, carbon-fiber body, with weight reduction to achieve power to weight ratio 1:1.

The body could be similar to Aston Martin and Red Bull fruit of collaboration the AM-RB 001 with more class, and more sensual touch from Mercedes. It could also feature Mercedes technologies like the magic body control, active body control, rear-wheel steering, and even newer. The revealing depends on how fast the minds at Stuttgart are working.

 

Koenigsegg Agera RS Naraya

Only a day or so separate us from the Salon Privé Concours d’Élégance, and the big revealing of the chassis #127 Koenigsegg : The Agera RS Naraya. Naraya name was chosen from the owner : Blancpain GT Series driver Pasin Lathouras, and it is a name closely associated to his family.

Under the hood is the same engine powering all the Agera RS; a twin-turbocharged V8 engine, producing 1160hp and 1280Nm of torque, power is transmitted to the 4 wheels via a CIMA 7-speed paddle-shift transmission, a Koenigsegg E-differential and Koenigsegg’s own traction and stability control systems.

As you can see, the car is finished in blue carbon-fiber body. Gold finishing of the leaf are made by a craftsman from Italy named Ettore ‘Blaster’ Callegaro, by hand, in Koenigsegg factory in Sweden. The whole process took two full weeks, working 12 hour days, six days per week. Interior features blue Alcantara with gold stitching. There is 18 carat Naraya name plate with 155 cultured diamonds created by Ada Diamonds in California encrusted to the dashboard.

 

Audi R10

The Swedish department of the German magazine, Auto Motor und Sport, has confirmed the rumors that were told about the Audi R10. Audi is to make this hypercar, to enter in competition with Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche… And it is as a result to the huge success Audi is getting in LeMans series.

The Audi R10 is based on the successful R18 e-Tron, but it is a road car. That is a very good news to all Audi’s fans around the world. Audi was known to produce clean cars, with the right amount of performance, something you can use while taking your family in vacation, and still look reasonable and cool to their eyes. However when it came to supercars, R8 was well presented, but it was not a car to compete against Ferrari, Mercedes, Aston Martins. It lacked power and weight control.

With the new R10, Audi is hoping to get everything fixed. For starters, the diesel engine idea was rejected, and Audi is considering a petrol engine alternative. It is considering, a more powerful V10, twin-turbocharged, it is said to produce 850 bhp, yet, there is a rumor about a hybrid variant that could produce even 1000 bhp. It will be more powerful that the LaFerrari, the 918, the P1 engines, but would it be as fast? Rumors say that the R10 will include a cylinder-deactivation system technology, that is a technology that allows the engine to operate only under 6 cylinders regime when it is not on full power, and that is one way to save energy.

Concerning the design, it is said to be based on the R18 e-tron, aerodynamically and aesthetically similar to it. The chassis is slightly larger than the R8 one’s, but will be stronger.

Price may reach 1 million €, and production would be programmed for 2016. There are a lot of rumors about the car, but, it is closer to reality now.

Source : Audi

The last of the Legends

Bugatti unveiled The legends series a year ago, in the Lemans 90th anniversary, and on August 15, in the Peeble Beach Concours d’Élégance the world will see the last of them :  The Ettore Bugatti Legend.

The Ettore will be be an honor symbol to the founder of the company, Ettore Bugatti, it will be based on the Bugatti 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, just like all the previous Legends : The Black Bess, The Rembrandt Bugatti, The Meo Costantini, The Jean Bugatti, and The Jean-Pierre Wimille. All named after Bugatti Legends, racing champions. And like all the Legends, only 3 editions will be made. It will be sold at a price of 2.35 million€.

As far as the engine is concerned, it is the same as a Veyron 8.0 L W16, that delivers 1200 bhp and produces 1500 Nm (1106 Ibs-ft) at the range of 3000 to 5000 RPM, allowing the car to get from 0 to 100km/h in just 2.6 seconds to a top speed of 408.84 km/h. Thus being the world fastest roadster. Power is transmitted through a 7-speed DSG (Direct Sequential Gearbox).

The design of the Ettore is based on the historical, yet elegant Type 44 Royale. The body is made of both carbon and hand-polished aluminium and finished with a clear coating making Bugatti the only manufacturer to use clear-coated aluminium on a production vehicle. Aluminium is used for the entire front and side panels including the following : bonnet, mirror housings and bases, exterior door handles, corners of the bumpers. The rear part of the vehicle is finished with dark-blue exposed carbon. The design features also polished, diamond-cut whee, with 8 spoke and dark blue finish.

Moving to the inside, completely luxurious, royal luxury, with 2 types of leather being used:

– Traditional calf leather : it is used throughout the interior.

-Cordovan leather, one of the most expensive types of leather, used on the steering wheel rim, gear lever, door handles…

The most interesting feature in the car interior is the the platinum-coated dancing elephant. It is encrusted in the cover of the rear center box being a voyage in time to remind us of the hood ornament of the Type 41 Royale.

 

We won’t have to wait long to see the Ettore, it will be unveiled to public at on August 15 at “The Quail : A Motorsport Gathering” and on August 17 at the “Peeble Beach Concours d’Élégance”

Bugatti Veyron replacement is coming….

Days after that the Hennessey Venom F5 was unveiled, Bugatti decided to unveil its weapon, the successor to the Veyron. The world does not know its name yet, but all we know that the duel between Bugatti and its rivals is getting hotter.

The announced new model will appear in 2016. Bugatti claims that it will have a top speed of around 460 kph, so claims Hennessey for its F5. It will go from stop to 100 kph in just 2.3 seconds. Thanks to a massive power unit : an 8.0L quad turbo W16 egine, the same as in the Veyron that generates 1500 bhp with a few bits of change. New technologies will be introduced to the it, like fuel direct injection, and electronic compressors, same as those tested by Audi in the RS5.. The car will have also a heavily revised electronically assisted powertrain. Power will be transferred to the wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and a multi-plate-clutch four-wheel drive system.

As all Veyrons, The new car will have a carbon monocoque, a rear engine, will have 300 bhp more than the Super Sport though. The interior, it will be a luxurious cabin with the latest technologies, yet to be revealed by Bugatti. Bugatti will work also on the weight on the car, trying to go under the 1880 kg of the Veyron, thus reducing consumption (23.1L* to the 100) and CO2 emissions 539g/km*. Only 450 units will be made, to a price that is yet to be known.

* Super Sport numbers.

Lykan Hypersport

W motors, a Lebanese motor company funded by the Lebanese entrepreneur Ralph R Dabbas, has in Qatar Motorshow in 2013, the car that will be the third most expensive car in the world, the Lykan Hypersport. The most expensive car in the world is the Maybach Exelero, 8 million $, second to it is the Lamborghini Venevo, 4.5 million $ and the third is the Laykan a 3.4 million $ hypercar.

This high price, comes from all the luxurious features in the car, its headlights encrusted with 420 15 cts diamonds, and fine gold lines in the seats. Also, the dashboard is a complete holographic 3D dashboard. The chassis, all in carbon fiber, was made by the Austrian manufacturer Magna Steyr. And the car had the luxurious treatment from the German automotive constructor RUF Automobile, an impressive power unit in the form of a 3.7L flat 6 engine, that delivers thanks to the twin turbos a mesmerizing 740 bhp, and 960 Nm of torque. As a result, the car goes from nothing to 100 kph in 2.8 seconds and 0 to 200 in 9.4 seconds. It is expected to reach a top speed of 385 kph.

The power is delivered to the rear wheels via two gearbox options, a 6-speed sequential or a 7-speed double-clutch automatic with a limited slip differential to prevent any excessive power from being allocated to one wheel, therefore keeping both wheels in powered rotation. The car will have anti-roll bars both in front and rear. It is fitted also with performance brakes : 6 pistons pistons aluminium mono-bloc calipers, and ceramic disks, ABS, ASR, ABD, and traction control.

In addition to all that, the car is considered light ish, with only 1400 kg, thanks to a all fiber carbon body, and the carbon fiber chassis, carbon fiber center console finish, a holographic dashboard…

As far as fuel consumption is concerned, the urban consumption is 20L to 100 km, non-urban 9.9 to the 100 and the combined 13.5L to the 100. Not a lot for 740 bhp

 In the interior, a client will enjoy having all of this, dual-stage passenger/driver airbags, heated rear screen, automatic temperature control, Trio computer, Bluetooth Telephone, Satellite Nav, Rear view camera, 3G internet router, Remote control central door locking, tracking device, LED ambient lighting, 9″ holographic Mid-Air display with interactive motion, Gesture recognition, Premium sound system, Integrated hard drive and customizable digital dashboard.

Not luxurious enough? when buying the car, the clients will have the pleasure of having a limited edition 200k$ Cyrus Klepcy watch. Only 7 exemplary were made though.

Hennessey Venom F5 confirmed for 2015

               The race to the world’s fastest car title is a never ending race, Bugatti, Hennessey, Koenigsegg are all contenders to the title. Now, it is detained by the Bugatti Veyron 267 MpH at Ehra-Lessien, The Venom Gt had their chance with a try, beat the record with one mile. Today, Hennessey is presenting its newest fire bullet, and obvious contender to the title.

                 Top Gear was the 1st to unveil Hennessey’s Performance newest toy to be, the Hennessey Venom F5. A name reference to the mightiest and most destructive type of Tornadoes, the F5, a storm which is estimated to have had winds in excess of 261 mph (420 km/h). Not strange to Hennessey’s aim of top speed, 290 MpH,  to destroy the old record detained by the Bugatti Veyron, 267.86 MpH at Ehra-Lessien. Although,Venom F5 older sister, the Venom GT had a try at it, beat it, by a mile, in the NASA-Kennedy Space Center, the Guinness book of records’ people were not there to see it, and the record stayed with Bugatti. Message made clear by Hennessey, we have a fast hyper car too, and we are ready to go further.

 

       The Venom F5 comes with a 7.0 L, twin turbo supercharged V8 engine, and that is claimed to deliver 1400 bhp (because let’s face it 1244 bhp wasn’t enough), giving it one of the highest power by weight rates : 1000 bhp to a tonne, while the Bugatti Super Sport has a rate of 630 bhp to a tonne. This power is reached by bigger turbos, upgraded fuel system, and a bigger intercooler. The aim of a speed of 290 MpH is no strange thing to Hennessey, having already the fastest 0 to 300 KpH record, done in 13.63 seconds, and an unregistered world’s fastest car, due to the non presence of Guinness book of record’s people, and the car had to make a come and go in the test, but Hennessey settled for just a one way test.  The car is fitted with a new single-clutch paddle-shifted transmission, which is faster than the optional manual 6 speeds gearbox. Both transmissions will transmit power to the rear wheels.

 

 

Looks: The Venom F5 won’t have the usual Lotus Exige Look, but will go for something more American, it is already clear, that is had the Chevrolet C7 headlamps. But it will keep the light Lotus Chassis.It is expected to weigh 1300 kg (2866 pounds), will have an entire carbon fiber body, which will reduce the drag coefficient from 0.44 to 0.40, but, John Hennessey guarantees it will have the required down force.
Only 30 exemplary will be made, and they are told to cost more than the Venom GT, deliveries will be made starting 2016.

On paper, Hennessey say they are working on the car to make the record, but will they find a straight line, long enough to reach 467 kph?

 

Sources :  Top Gear ;  Autonews ;  Planète-GT ;  Turbo