Just met Christian von Koenigsegg . . .

island911 · 01-26-2006, 03:29 PM

So I met Christian von Koenigsegg in LasVegas yesterday. (founder of the supercar company, Koenigsegg)

Now you all know that I don't exactly 'go easy' on the engineering & design solutions provided by others . . . well other than Porsche design solutions.

I generally see the low-production 'supercars' as nothing more than some ego-tripp'n eccentric stuffing a big motor in an outrageously stylized body. . . . ho-hum.

Yet there I was, giving rather pointed engineering & design questions to the young (33) Koenigsegg. . . and being absolutely floored by his solutions.

Really stunning sol'ns . . .This guy knows balance. He knows how to pick the right solutions. He is pushing innovations, from seating, to exhaust.

I'm keeping an eye on this guy. I believe that he has the potential to be the next Dr Porsche equivalent. . . but from Sweden.

Please post what you know about this guy. Now that I've heard from the automotive-architect, I'm very intrigued.

djmcmath · 01-26-2006, 04:04 PM

They look pretty decent, really, and I've heard good things about them. I suppose that if you have to ask, you don't want to know, but ... what does a car like that cost, anyway?

Or, a more practical question, where do you take it for maintenance? Where do you get Koenigsegg parts?

Dan

island911 · 01-26-2006, 04:50 PM

they run about 600k. ....Considering they spank the 1M Ferrari's in so many ways, I suppose it's a bargin.

Parts? Sweden . . .just kidding. Many components are Bosch, et al.

What really impresses me are the many fwd thinking solutions. This supercar has outstanding (low) drag coef. (.297) an outstandingly stiff yet safe body, . . .an innovation using composites, that I have long felt has been missing in car design. That is; something like a box-beam has great rigidity (even torsionally). .. Honeycomb has the best energy absorption (per weight) . . .Use CF (stiffest, weight specific) Aramid (toughest, weight specific) . . mix and voilà!

I'll go into more of the design stuff later. But for now, I'll just say that I think that this car has significant automotive contributions.

--someone please correct me, if I'm wrong.

M.D. Holloway · 01-26-2006, 08:23 PM

ya but does he know how to lube it?

dd74 · 01-26-2006, 08:35 PM

Since Glenn provided no link or photos, here's one:

And here's the test driver that took Glenn for a little ride...

Jared at Pelican Parts · 01-26-2006, 09:47 PM

I love the canopy design on that car, looks like a spacecraft.

Doesnt it have a theoretical top speed of 250MPH? Or did they confirm it?

island911 · 01-26-2006, 11:16 PM

IIRC, He said 242mph . . and went on to add, that at those speeds, you are covering (converting units for us) ~120 yards (think football field) per second . . . that pretty much, by the time something comes into your field of vision, that you are passing it (hopefully) by the time your brain processes it.

Quote:

Originally posted by dd74
...
And here's the test driver that took Glenn for a little ride...

Who's that?

Here's a shot for ya, dd.

livi · 01-27-2006, 12:14 AM

Like I mentioned before, I live only 3 miles from their factory here in the south of Sweden. Drive by them every day. Have passed their cars at numerous occasions. Totally awesome. Friend of mine is well acquainted and is working on a free ride for me in the future.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 01-27-2006, 03:32 AM

http://www.koenigsegg.com/thecars/engineering.asp?engineering=13

I'll take mine in dark grey

Jared at Pelican Parts · 01-27-2006, 03:43 AM

Im seriously impressed with the ideas in this car

MotoSook · 01-27-2006, 04:32 AM

Hey Glenn, we built an aluminum honeycomb chassis in college...does that count as a plus in your book

I've got to look into this cat some more, but all the things I've see, read or heard have been good.

masraum · 01-27-2006, 05:43 AM

I REALLY like his car. Attractive, fast, looks well engineered. Pretty freakin' awesome.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Nice car.........and the top comes off, just like it should on a sports car.

island911 · 01-27-2006, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts
. .. I think they could have used Pinninfarina on this one though...

-Wayne

to that; Koenigsegg responded; (paraphrasing) "hour-glass shapes do not perform well in the wind-tunnel . . . (that) "natural shapes seem to perform the best. (that) "the shape of a dolphin never goes out of style."

Now (back to my commentary) if you compare the Koenigsegg shape to that of the latest Ferrari (599?) . .. my money is on the Koenigsegg shape, being the newest supercar bench-mark. The Koenigsegg is truely a form following function design; whereas teh latest Ferrari is a form following 'Corvett has bastard-child with Mitsu-Evo' - design.

Now, granted, the Ferrari styling . . .even (esp?) the old (now)slow ones have optical appeal, BUT, like any 'art' one must appreciate the context of what they are seeing.

Just another quick thought; The Koenigsegg and the CGT are very similar basic forms (IMO) Though, the Koenigsegg is a much 'softer' version. (perhaps some of our ID guys here can chime in . . Kenik, turbo-dave . ..?)

MikeWinDC · 01-27-2006, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by island911
[B]IIRC, He said 242mph . .

IIRC, that is the speed they acheived on the Nardo banked oval test track. I'm not an engineer, but wouldn't it theoretically be a bit faster on say a salt flat?

dd74 · 01-27-2006, 10:38 AM

The test driver on the Koenigsegg website, Glenn. I thought he looked like a characted from "Days of Our Lives."

Seriously: I'm not sold on the car. Heard too many tall tales and promises in regard to cars like Vector and Solo.

island911 · 01-27-2006, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Souk
Hey Glenn, we built an aluminum honeycomb chassis in college...does that count as a plus in your book
. ..

It's all in the implimentation.

Though, yeah, points!

I worked on a SAE sponsored Hybrid car in college (suspension team lead). A couple months ago, I found a video tape of we made to document some of the progress . . Believe it or not, even way back then,

I had some very harsh words for the guys who designed the Aluminum tube frame. (who, me; opinionated?

)

dd, I hear ya. For many of these producers, they seem to fizzle, once they've achieved the one goal of making a proto, or two. As far as I can tell, this guy has lots of drive . .. and again, he started at 22 y/o, and is now is in his early 30's! --not some late-lifer w/ deep pockets.

masraum · 01-27-2006, 11:30 AM

I've read that the Nardo track is harder to top out than a flat track. So, yes, I believe you are correct, it would probably be faster on a long straight flat road.

djmcmath · 01-27-2006, 02:12 PM

Beautiful car, but let's face it ... if I had $600K to play with, I'd rather have a CGT. Actually, if I had $600K to play with, I'd rather have a $500K house (paid for!) and a 996tt.

I celebrate innovative ideas, but 600 large is a lot of innovation to celebrate all at once.

tabs · 01-29-2006, 04:14 AM

Sad to say I just don't get excited by Supercars anymore...number 1, 600,000 is a bit outa my league for a car, and I can't even fit in a new Porsche, Corvette etc...so how am I gona fit in his car??? And even if I did have 600K disposable I don't think I have enough interest in fancy schmancy cars to buy it, there are other things that I am far more interested in having. I don't even think I could spend the 600K on a gun come to think of it...U can build these magnificent collections of whatever but sooner or later they all go back to the auction house.

Another thing...I have had some pretty decent rides...RR, Big Block 66 Vette, 69 428 Mach 1 Mustang. etc....after awhile you bin there and done that and anonimity starts to look sweet.

So I think I'll just stick to my lowly, old 69S and be done with the whole mess. NEXT