Transmission-less Koenigsegg Regera revealed at Geneva motor show
Supercar, hypercar, whatever...just don't call it a 1,500-hp hybrid
By Jake Lingeman
Call Koenigsegg's new Regera a supercar, or call it a megacar, just don't call it a hybrid. Christian von Koenigsegg hates that term. The Regera, which debuted at the Geneva auto show, is here to dominate the other serfs on the road, using its electric motor and gasoline-powered engine in unison. But again, don't call it a hybrid.
And don't call that thing in the middle a transmission either, because it isn't one.
On launch, a hydraulic clutch separates the gasoline engine from the driven wheels until about 30 mph; the electric motors fill in the gaps until then.
The Regera {which means "to reign") uses what Koenigsegg calls Direct Drive, or KDD for short. The KDD system replaces the traditional transmission by creating a direct connection between the internal combustion engine and the rear axle at certain speeds. To supplement that power, and to provide torque vectoring, regenerative braking, dynamic responses and reverse, there are three YASA electric motors. One works on each rear wheel and the third is on the crankshaft filling in the torque gaps.
On launch, a hydraulic clutch separates the gasoline engine from the driven wheels until about 30 mph; the electric motors fill in the gaps until then. After that, the direct drive system channels power from the engine to the driven wheels through a 2.85 final drive ratio.
According to Koenigsegg this system saves weight over a traditional two-drivetrain "parallel hybrid," like the early Honda Insight, and has better performance than a series hybrid, like the range-extending BMW i3. The complete system, including the 620-volt battery pack developed with help from Rimac, adds 194 pounds to the vehicle. Koenigsegg compares that to a traditional setup, seven-speed DCT and all. Final curb weight comes in at 3,589, which might seem a little chunky for a car that's meant to reign over the plebes, until you look at the total output specs.
The Koenigsegg Regera has a retractable rear wing.
The Regera delivers more than 1,100 hp from the engine -- a 5.0-liter V8 -- and more than 1,500 hp total. Max torque measures in at an asphalt-melting 1,475 lb-ft. Koenigsegg didn't give normal performance specs, but it did say the Regera takes 3.2 seconds to get from 93 mph to 155 mph and just 20 seconds to get from zero to 248 mph!
With all that power, Koenigsegg had to develop a completely new rear subframe and rear structure that allows the engine to rest on active soft mounts. During normal driving they stay soft, muting noise and vibration. If a driver needs to summon 1,000 or so horses, the mounts firm up for a better response. The shocks also automatically adjust depending on style and drive mode.
The Regera has some other tricks up its sleeve, too. The rear wing from Akrapovic can fold flat and disappear if need be, and the doors, trunk and hood can be opened, simultaneously through a phone app. We looked online for a video of that. So far, no luck.
Like many, um, regular cars that have both an electric and gasoline engine, the Regera can be plugged in at your house via a type 2 charger hidden behind the license plate.
Koenigsegg will produce only 80 examples of the Regera, a number that the press information says "symbolizes the principle of domination, control and achievement in Pythagorean Numerology."
We're not sure about that, but we will guess that it will cost in the millions of dollars. Rumors put it around $2 million, actually.
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