Meet the Jesko Absolut, the fastest car Koenigsegg will ever make

At last year’s Geneva Motor Show, Koenigsegg revealed its latest hypercar, the 1280–1600 horsepower Jesko. Named after Christian’s father, this all-carbon, twin-turbo V-8 tour de force’s set run of 125 units sold out within a few days, with Koenigsegg also promising a low-drag alternative for 2020. Following the canceled 2020 show, Jesko customers can now choose whether they want the track-focused, big-winged Jesko shown in 2019 or the new straight-line rocket Jesko Absolut. With no cars built yet apart from the prototypes, the final production ratio between the two models will be all up to demand.

Initially called the “Jesko 300,” the new Jesko Absolut is designed to be the fastest car ever from Koenigsegg, with a top speed well exceeding 300 miles per hour. To achieve this, Koenigsegg spent 3000 hours fluid-dynamic testing and another 5000 engineering and developing a body that creates a drag coefficient of just 0.278 Cd. To put that figure into context, it’s better than the much smaller, all electric Nissan Leaf’s drag coefficient.

The tradeoff, of course, is a significant drop in downforce levels. The track-ready Jesko’s boomerang-shaped rear wing and deep front splitter produces 1760 pounds at 155 mph at the wing’s most aggressive setting. Somewhere north of 190 mph, this number goes up to a maximum of over 3000 pounds. Compared to that, the Jesko Absolut makes 330 pounds at best. However, those striking new hood fins should still provide enough straight line stability.

Gone are the splitter, side winglets, and wild front wheel louvers, while the rear of the Absolut version is 3.34 inches longer. As proven by Bugatti, even instantly retired top speed runners prefer to have a long tail.

Each Koenigsegg Jeskos packs a 5.0-liter twin-turbo V-8, which produces 1600 horsepower or E85 or 1280 hp on pump gas. Compared to previous years, Koenigsegg is using a new fuel injection system, decreasing cylinder temperatures close to the engine’s 8500 rpm redline. This evolution of the Koenigsegg V-8 also features individual pressure sensors in each cylinder, which is another world’s first in series production for the brand. This upgrade allows for better control over the combustion process, as well as more flexibility in relation to the variables in fuel quality.

Also new in the Jesko is Koenigsegg’s self-designed and built nine-speed transmission. This unit is half the size of the old gearbox, weighs 198 pounds with all its fluids, and thanks to having several wet multi-plate clutches, can jump to any gear in an instant, depending on how vigorously the dual-notch paddles are pulled behind the steering wheel.

With these “almost light-speed” gear changes and minimal torque losses, the Jesko’s powertrain promises unmatched performance with either body style. Still, those choosing the Absolut will get a softer ride, as well as more storage space thanks to the lack of the front Triplex damper and the track version’s air dam.

Koenigsegg calls the Jesko Absolut the fastest car it ever intends to make. Now, the only question remains whether Christian von Koenigsegg can secure a venue where the Jesko Absolut can stretch its legs. In both directions, that is.