Koenigsegg Pays Tribute To Its Origins
Those who know the lore behind how Christian von Koenigsegg got his start in creating extraordinary cars will be aware that the Jesko hypercar is named after his father, paying tribute to the man who helped him find his place in the world. Continuing that naming strategy is the new Sadair’s Spear. Allow us to explain. Jesko von Koenigsegg was a gentleman jockey and his favorite racehorse, which was also the one he rode in his last race in 1976, was named Sadair’s Spear. With production of the Jesko hypercar being wrapped up this year, it’s an apt way to celebrate how far this megacar manufacturer has come. But as is always the case, the name was by far the easiest part of this car’s creation.
Astonishing Aerodynamic Advances
The Sadair’s Spear is described as the most track-focused car Koenigsegg has ever made, and it looks it. The rear wing is reminiscent of the one on the Jesko Attack, but it’s a new design that delivers even more downforce. This is combined with an elongated rear end for better efficiency and stability, and to balance things at the front, the dive planes are larger. Koenigsegg has also lengthened the strakes in the diffuser and added vents to the wheel arches. This, new air intakes, and a vented hood with a redesigned Gurney flap all work together to increase cooling by 30% (allowing the engine to develop an extra 20 hp on pump gas and an extra 25 hp on E85) and downforce by 20% – all while still reducing drag by 5%. Wider tires help make this safe, with 275-width front tires and 335-width rears, available in Michelin Cup 2 or Cup 2 R flavors, but the wheels are the truly amazing part.
An evolution of the company’s proprietary Aircore carbon fiber wheels (which only have a tiny sliver of metal in the air valves but are otherwise all-carbon), this exclusive 7-spoke design sucks air out from under the car to help improve downforce and brake cooling, but because of the other aero elements added to the Sadair’s Spear, each corner has a unique design, which Christian von Koenigsegg describes as an immense challenge. Finally, the carbon-ceramic brakes have been upgraded with new pad materials and the suspension setup – including the company’s unique Triplex dampers – has been retuned for this application.
$5.1 Million Buys A Record-Breaker
In total, the Sadair’s Spear delivers 1,282 hp on regular unleaded and 1,603 hp on E85 fuel, from the same 5.0-liter twin-turbo flat-plane crank V8 found in the Jesko. Also carried over is the nine-speed Light Speed Transmission, but some things have been lost. While climate control, infotainment, and electric seat luxuries exist (with six-point harnesses optional), Koenigsegg has shed 5.7 pounds worth of sound insulation and cut another 2.8 lbs with new carbon fiber techniques. Other undisclosed measures have contributed to a total weight saving of 77 lbs. Acceleration and top speed claims have not yet been made, but it’s already a record-breaker. Late in 2023, the Jesko Attack obliterated the Gotland Ring lap record with a time of 2:56.9. Christian calls this the Nürburgring of Sweden, and as one of the longest and most technical, it qualifies. During a shakedown run, the Sadair’s Spear reportedly lapped the 4.5-mile track some 1.1 seconds quicker, and Koenigsegg has high hopes for what else it might yet achieve. Just 30 will be made, all of which are already sold out, and according to Top Gear, it costs £3.8 million, or over $5.1 million at current exchange rates.
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