Watch the Koenigsegg Jesko Shatter Speed Records in a Single Run
In a breathtaking feat of engineering and driving skill, the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut has just broken four speed records in a single run. If that wasn’t enough to drop jaws, the supercar went from 0 to 256 mph and back to 0 in a mind-blowing 27.83 seconds.
A History of Record-Breaking
The quest for speed has been relentless. Back in 2017, Juan Pablo Montoya piloted a Bugatti Chiron from standstill to 400 kilometers per hour (roughly 249 mph) and back to zero in 41.96 seconds. Just a month later, Koenigsegg slashed over five seconds off that record with their Agera S. Following the momentum, another month saw the Agera S breaking its own record, clocking in at an astonishing 33.29 seconds.
But Koenigsegg wasn't done. With their hybrid Regera, they managed to further shave the time down to 31.49 seconds by 2019. Not to be outdone, Rimac's battery-electric Nevera burst onto the scene last year, obliterating 23 records in Germany and achieving a 0-400-0 record in 29.94 seconds. It wasn’t long before Koenigsegg responded, hitting the tarmac with a Regera to reclaim the throne, accomplishing the feat in 28.81 seconds.
Jesko Absolut: The Ultimate Speed Machine
The Jesko Absolut's recent run at the Orebro airstrip was nothing short of spectacular. Equipped with Racelogic timing gear, the supercar managed to complete the 0-400-0 test in just 27.83 seconds.
The Jesko Absolut is a marvel of automotive design. While the Rimac Nevera relies on an all-wheel-drive, battery-electric setup that produces an astronomical 1,888 horsepower and 1,726 pound-feet of torque, the Jesko Absolut pushes the envelope with a rear-wheel-drive configuration. Powered by a twin-turbocharged 5.0-liter V8, it delivers an astonishing 1,577 horsepower and 1,105 lb-ft of torque on E85 fuel (1,262 horsepower on regular pump gas).
Numbers That Matter
What’s truly fascinating is that both the Nevera and Jesko Absolut used the same Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires for their record runs. Aerodynamics play a crucial role, with the Nevera boasting a drag coefficient of 0.3 in low-drag mode, while the Jesko Absolut nearly matches it at 0.278.
Where the Jesko really pulls ahead is its weight. The Nevera tips the scales at 5,071 pounds, significantly heavier than the Jesko's 3,064 pounds with fluids—a considerable difference in the world of high-speed records.
Tailor-Made for Performance
The Koenigsegg team made minimal modifications for this record-breaking run. The primary alteration was the addition of a roll cage for safety. Company development driver Markus Lundh also opted to use a seat from the Koenigsegg One:1.
In addition to the primary 0-400-0 record, Lundh set additional records by hitting 249 mph (400 kph) in just 18.82 seconds, reaching 250 mph in 19.20 seconds, and completing the 0-250-mph-0 challenge in 28.27 seconds. During the run, the Jesko Absolut also touched a top speed of 256 mph.
Company founder and CEO Christian von Koenigsegg highlighted the significance of these achievements: “This record run validated the accuracy of the simulated and calculated performance of the Jesko Absolut, which gives us great confidence in its ability to outright be the fastest fully homologated production car in the world.”
The results have left the automotive world eagerly anticipating what Koenigsegg's track-focused variant, the Jesko Attack, will offer in the near future.