March 31, 2018
Do you love cars? How about fast cars? Imagine a car speeding past you at 447 km/hour?1 That speed translates to 124 m/second, which means traveling slightly more than a full-length rugby field (120 m) in 1 second. This car is an incredible 87 km/hour faster than the world’s only supersonic passenger plane, the Concorde, which takes off at 360 km/hour.2 Let us read on and discover more about the world’s fastest production car of today.
The Koenigsegg Agera RS, ‘born’ and ‘bred’ in Sweden, achieved an average speed of 447.2 km/hour on a restricted section of the Nevada Highway in November 2017.1 It managed to reach a top speed of 457 km/hour on one of the laps. This signaled the defeat of the world’s fastest car, the Bugatti Chiron, which could only reach 431 km/hour. The Koenigsegg Agera RS is a ‘steal’ at USD2.1 million, compared to the USD2.7 million Bugatti Chiron.
The Koenigsegg Agera RS consists of 1,361 kg of carbon fibre, aluminium and Kevlar (high-strength synthetic fibre).1 It is propelled by a twin-turbocharged , 8-cylinder petrol engine, providing a power output of 865 kW,3 and a torque of 1280 Nm. 3 This staggering power output is equivalent to that of 5 Golf GTI models put together. 4
Like the Concorde, the Koenigsegg Agera RS would love to be airborne at high speeds. To mitigate against this risk, specially-designed aerodynamic structures direct and suck air all over the car, ensuring that all 4 tyres are kept firmly on terra firme.1
Driving a Koenigsegg Agera RS is not for the faint-hearted, and requires a driver to go through a learning process to master the car. One challenge to get used to is the amazingly short time it takes to reach an object on the road. This is because the brain can only cope with objects moving at certain speeds.1
Although the Bugatti Chiron had achieved the 0-400-0 km/hour in 42 seconds,5 this was soon to be eclipsed by the Koenigsegg Agera RS, doing the same thing in 36.44 seconds.6 It was accomplished on 1 October 2017, at an airfield in Vandal, Denmark. Small bumps and potholes in the race track provided the Agerra RS with some problems. Another challenge was for the hypercar to complete the 0-400-0 km/hour within the physical limit of a 2.8-km-long track. Setting the record was only the tip of the iceberg, compared to the enormous amount of time and money that had been invested to make it possible.
Although the Koenigsegg Agera RS is used much on the track, it can still be used as an ordinary car. Its sophisticated technology is based on innovation developed for the Koenigsegg One:1 programme, whereas its functionality was derived from the previous S and R models. 3Some improvements to the Agera RS include a rear spoiler that provides a 450-kg downward force, when travelling at 250 km/hour. Improved side air outlets positioned behind the front wheels boosted power and increased the rpm limit. The manufacturer managed to lower the curb weight of the car.
The chassis, weighing 70 kg including the tanks, is made of carbon fibre with an aluminium honeycomb structure. Its ride height can be electronically adjusted.
The car is supplied with a 7-speed paddle-shift, using the automatic shift mode.
The Agera RS’s super light, hollow, carbon fibre wheels, which is a Koenigsegg innovation, are fitted with Michelin tyres. The power-assisted front and rear brakes both consist of ventilated ceramic disks.
Not only is reading about the Koenigsegg Agera RS a breath-taking experience, but also its cost at USD 2.1 million, a price that not many can afford. We look forward to any challenges from the Bugatti Chiron during 2018.
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December 8, 2023
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