Koenigsegg Automotive AB unveiled the Koenigsegg Regera in production specification, heralding a new era in megacar performance – a car that will go from 0-100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and is destined to be a game changer in the super car segment. Since the concept car was originally launched in 2015, Regera has evolved from a promising concept into amazing reality, with the car put through an intense period of development, testing and homologation for worldwide sale.
So extensive was this development period, in fact, that over 3,000 changes were made to the concept vehicle. The weight savings achieved resulted in a curb weight – complete with all water, oils and fuel – of just 1590kg. Dry weight is 1470kg.
The patent-pending Koenigsegg Direct Drive system was the biggest challenge in the Regera development process, but it has also provided the biggest rewards. This is brand new technology that eliminates the weight, complexity and mechanical losses that come with a traditional gearbox. The end result is seamless, effortless driving that features blistering acceleration unlike any other car.
A number of enhancements have been made to elements of the Direct Drive system throughout the development process, making the Regera even more revolutionary than first envisioned. Koenigsegg has developed a clutch-slip mechanism that uses the hydraulic coupling to convert torque at medium/high speeds during fast acceleration. This allows the combustion engine to gain revs and power, thereby giving the sensation of a traditional downshift with the associated aural enjoyment, even without the traditional gearbox.
Shift paddles remain on either side of the steering wheel. The left paddle is used to enhance the regenerative braking effect in recharging the battery pack. The right paddle is used to activate the hydraulic coupling’s ‘downshift’ operation.
Koenigsegg has found the best performing and safest battery pack possible for the Regera. This research and testing has resulted in an 800 volt, 4.5kWh battery pack, making the Regera the world’s first 800V production car. This battery technology will now provide an amazing 525kW of discharge and up to 200kW of recharge. The Koenigsegg Regera battery pack also boasts the highest cooling capacity of any battery in automotive use today. All electric vehicle manufacturers use coolant piped around the battery pack to draw heat from the batteries. There is always an area that traditional cooling pipes cannot reach, however. The Regera battery pack is housed in a sealed unit featuring optimized local coolant flooding across all critical heat-sensitive elements. Every critical surface within and around the battery stack is cooled as efficiently as possible.
The pièce de résistance is the battery pack’s weight. The battery pack used in the production Regera uses Formula 1 grade, hand built cells that not only provide improved performance and regenerative capability, but also save 25kg in weight compared to the battery in the concept vehicle. This new, Formula 1 grade battery pack now weighs a mere 90kg whilst providing enough power to help the Regera to accelerate to 300km/h in just 10.9 seconds.
The Koenigsegg Regera represents a new and unprecedented era of high performance motoring. This is thanks to the car’s massive 1500+ hp output, 2000+ Nm of torque and the Koenigsegg Direct Drive system used to put this power to the ground. The Regera will reach 0-100 km/h in 2.8 seconds, 0-200 in just 6.6 seconds and 0-300 in a blistering 10.9 seconds. Koenigsegg estimate a 0-400 km/h time of 20 seconds and acceleration from 150 to 250km/h in just 3.9 seconds.
Despite such scintillating performance, Regera owners can also expect the most refined driving experience yet from a Koenigsegg car. New active engine mounts provide a sense of isolation and peace within the cabin at lower speeds, but firm up for a more active driving experience when required – a true Jekyll and Hyde proposition.
Although small, Koenigsegg has always been a remarkably self-sufficient and extremely vertically integrated vehicle producer focused on in-house solutions developed at the Koenigsegg facility in Ängelholm, Sweden. Components that all other manufacturers buy in such as, wheels, brake calipers, engine and transmission management systems are all designed, engineered and built in-house by Koenigsegg. Similarly, the entire mechanical drivetrain from combustion engine to DirectDrive unit is all created by Koenigsegg. The benefit of working this way is that critical systems get seamlessly integrated and continuously optimized over time, to levels otherwise unobtainable.
The interior of the Regera features optimum comfort and functionality. Koenigsegg’s unique Autoskin function allows the driver to open the doors and front and rear hoods remotely using a lightweight hydraulic system. Buttons for operation of Autoskin are available both on the driver’s remote control key and via the centre console inside the car. Additional compartments have been fitted in front of the driver and passenger, where personal items such as phones, wallets, etc. can be stored.
The wing mirrors now fold automatically when the doors open to further increase the practicality of the dihedral synchrohelix door actuation system. Furthermore, as the Autoskin function allows for the doors to open automatically, we have fitted the doors and wing mirrors with proximity sensors in order to safeguard against the doors striking nearby objects (curb, low roof, etc.) while opening or closing.
To complement the rear camera and the side door cameras, there is also the option of a forward facing camera that works together with the other cameras in the car to enable a birds-eye view of the of the car while parking or maneuvering in confined areas.
Apple CarPlay is standard equipment in the Regera and with Wi-Fi functionality there is no longer any need to connect a phone via USB. Inductive charging ensures that an owner’s phone remains ready for use once a journey has ended.
The seats now feature heating and electrical adjustment with memory function. All in all the Regera is truly a fusion of luxury, comfort and race car performance. A sense of theatre, mega-performance, luxury and light weight are all in equal focus like never before.
