2016 Koenigsegg Regera
SophiArt - #27/100 (resin)
Published 05/31/18
Koenigsegg Automotive AB was founded in 1994 by Christian von Koenigsegg, in Ängelholm, Sweden, with the intention of producing a “world-class supercar”. After lots of research and development, their first street-legal car was the CC8S, released in 2002. In early 2015 Koenigsegg announced their 5th model, the car that would come “to reign”, the Regera.
The new car was something totally new for the company and to the world. So first things first: it has no gearbox or clutch . Instead it uses a system called “Koenigsegg Direct Drive” (KDD), where the petrol engine is connected to an hydraulic coupler and an electric motor. The Regera is an hybrid, with a 5.0 l V8 with DOHC and 32 valves and three electric motors, and their combined power produces over 1500 hp. Up to 48 km/h the hydraulic coupler disengages the petrol engine and only the electric motors power the wheels, but as speed increases, more of the petrol engine power is transmitted to the rear wheels. At full throttle all three electric motors add their power to the petrol engine and the wheel motors work as torque vectoring units to either side.
All that cavalry and electronic technology allows the Regera to go from a standstill to 100 km/h in just 2.8 seconds, 200 km/h in 6.6 seconds and will be at 400 km/h in 19 seconds, with an electronically limited top speed of 410 km/h. With those numbers you consequently leave supercar territory and get smack in the middle of hypercar capital. And it’s definitively an hypercar, with SR-71 speeds and a Veyron level of comfort and craftsmanship. For instance, it has really thick sound insulation and electronically-adjustable seats. And, it’s the world’s first fully robotized car – all body closures open and close completely automatically, at the touch of a button. You can see the “Autoskin” system in action here (2’16” video).
But let’s talk 1:43 now. Unfortunately, in general Koenigsegg models are not very prolific, and the nice ones are from expensive brands, like SophieArt. However, the detail level is one or two notches above Spark-good. Being honest, I don’t think I need that much, but the model undeniably is a beauty. This version is particularly special because SophieArt only made 100 of these “Carbon Fiber Finish” models, and mine is #37/100. All in all, the brand did an absolute spectacular job on the model. They recreated everything with care, from the carbon fiber wheels to the ghost on the engine cover. I don’t have to say that this is definitively the most exquisite model in the Garage, and my second rarest. I do plan on getting more cars from Koenigsegg, but definitively some cheaper specimens. I’ll gladly sacrifice some exclusivity for less mullah .
If you have the time and want to see more of this exceptional beast, look here (31’37” video). You can see Christian von Koenigsegg himself driving and explaining the car. Absolutely outstanding!