10 Things You Didn’t Know About the Koenigsegg CC8S
Sports car aficionados are more familiar with the Koenigsegg name than the layperson. The Swedish automobile manufacturer actually only makes high performance sports cars, one of which is the Koenigsegg CC8S. This mid-engined sports car is a multi award-winning vehicle. That’s something impressive to say about the company considering that the CC8S was Koenigsegg’s first ever street-legal production car. The production of the CC8S is a historic achievement not only for the company but also for the entire automobile industry as well. This car has set the standard for many other sports cars that followed it. Here are 10 things you probably didn’t know about the Koenigsegg CC8S.
1. Years of research
It took Koenigsegg at total of 8 years of research and development before they finally came out with the CC8S. Their patience paid off because by the time this vehicle was produced, they had built one of the best cars of the time while having the most limited resources.
2. Targa top
This car has many fascinating features, but one of the most fascinating ones is the Targa top. This design is part of the semi-convertible factor; a part of the roof is actually removable and can be stored in the front of the car, which is where the trunk is. The Targa is a registered trademark of Porsche AG, which was the vehicle that first used this technology and terminology.
3. Paris Auto Show
The pre-production car was first revealed at the Paris Auto Show back in 2000. The reactions to the car were overwhelmingly positive, and that’s how the contracts started coming in. This Koenigsegg vehicle was one of the most demanded car from that auto show.
4. Only 6 cars
The demand for the car after the auto show skyrocketed. However, despite all the interest and large orders, only 6 of the Koenigsegg CC8S were ever made. This is largely due to the high production costs, which is basically from all the unique features that the car had. Out of those 6 Koenigsegg CC8S cars, 2 were manufactured as right hand drive vehicles.
5. Top speed
Given that Koenigsegg is known for producing high performance cars, you could probably surmise that the CC8S was pretty fast. In fact, the car can reach top speeds of up to 240 mph with an acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in under 3.5 seconds. That’s an impressive feat for a company’s first car.
6. Guinness World Record
The CC8S managed to land a lucrative title since it’s first production. This vehicle is holding the title as the Guinness World Record for the Most Powerful Production Engine. If the vehicle didn’t win any other accolades after that—which it did, the Koenigsegg would still hold one of the best titles it ever could.
7. The price
The culmination of the design, the power, and the rarity of this vehicle are evident in the price tag. On rarity alone, this Koenigsegg model is one of the most rare models ever produced by the company. Everything else about the car probably can justify the $350,000 price tag. But that’s just the base price. If a buyer wants even more customization, they have to be prepared to pay even more.
8. Customization in China
One of the CC8S cars that had undergone customization was located in China. The Koenigsegg was decked out with a gold-plated interior. Everything from the dashboard to even the various knobs in the car was manufactured from gold. That’s exactly the type of luxury that only buyers of Koenigsegg could afford.
9. Swedish engineering
This car can boast many things on its resume, but Swedish engineering is at the top of the list. One of the most impressive features of this car is the carbonfibre tub that is unique to the Koenigsegg vehicle. It’s supposed to be better than any other ones in the sports car industry today. Koenigsegg clearly puts a lot of effort towards research and development.
10. Short production time
The CC8S was produced only between a period of two years, from 2002 until 2004. Even though it took almost a decade in research, the production was halted to make room for the development of the CCR model in 2004. The CCR was more powerful than the CC8S, and only 14 of those cars were ever made.