Koenigsegg CCX
| Koenigsegg CCX | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Koenigsegg |
| Production | 2006-present |
| Designer | Sven-Harry Åkesson |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Supercar |
| Body style | 2-door roadster |
| Layout | Mid-engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 4.7 L twin-supercharged V8 |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 4293 mm (169 in) |
| Width | 1996 mm (78.6 in) |
| Height | 1120 mm (44.1 in) |
| Curb weight | 1180 kg (2601 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Koenigsegg CCR |
| Successor | Koenigsegg CCXR |
The Koenigsegg CCX is the second and latest supercar from Swedish car manufacturer Koenigsegg, now superseded by the Koenigsegg CCXR. CCX is an abbreviation for Competition Coupe X. The X commemorates the 10th anniversary of the completion and test drive of the first CC vehicle in 1996. The CCX is intended to be more suitable for the U.S. market and thus engineered to comply with US regulations.
Features
Engine
The CCX is powered by a Koenigsegg designed and assembled, all aluminium, 4700 cm³ DOHC 32-valve V8 engine based on the Ford Modular architecture enhanced with twin Rotrex centrifugal superchargers with response system, 1.2 bar (120 kPa, 17½ psi) boost pressure and an 8.2:1 compression ratio. The engine produces 806 hp (601 kW) and 678 lbf·ft (920 N·m) on 91 octane (U.S. rating) gasoline, 870 hp (649 kW) on 110 octane (Euro rating, 95 octane US rating) gasoline and 1,018 hp (760 kW) on biofuel (see CCXR below). The engine is lubricated via a dry sump with external oil pump, features oil spray piston cooling, and an external oil cooler.
Body
Two-door, two seater with removable hardtop stowable under the front hood lid. Body made of pre-impregnated carbon fibre/Kevlar and lightweight sandwich reinforcements. The dihedral synchro-helix actuation doors are a unique piece of engineering from Koenigsegg, which allow for maximum space efficiency when parked.
Chassis
Standard:
Front & rear brakes: Ø362 x 32 mm cast iron ventilated discs with 6 piston AP Racing calipers, 2 pads per disc.
Optional:
Front brakes: Ø380 x 34 mm carbon-ceramic ventilated discs with 8-piston Brembo calipers, 4 pads per disc.
Rear brakes: Ø362 x 32 mm carbon-ceramic ventilated discs with 6 piston AP Racing calipers, 2 pads per disc.
Wheels
Koenigsegg magnesium alloy wheels with centre locking.
Optional: carbon / magnesium wheels (first carbon fibre wheels on a production car.)
Front: 19" x 9.5"
Rear: 20" x 12.5"
Tires
Michelin Pilot Sport 2
Unidirectional with asymmetric tread pattern.
Front: 255/35-19" (Y)
Rear: 335/30-20" (Y)
Performance
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) 3.2 seconds
Standing quarter mile: 9.9 seconds, 235 km/h (146 mph)
Top speed: 403 km/h (250 mph+)
Braking distance: 60 mph - 0 mph: 27.7 m (91 ft), 100 mph - 0 mph: 44.8 m (147 ft)
Transmission
Specially developed 6-speed manual gearbox by Cima. Torque sensitive, limited slip differential.
Clutch: Dual plate, Ø 215 mm (8.46 in)
Gear ratios:
Final Drive: 3.545
1st gear: 97 mph
2nd gear: 127 mph
3rd gear: 173 mph
4th gear: 204 mph
5th gear: 228 mph
6th gear: 245 mph
Reverse gear: 103 mph
Pricing
As of March 2006, pricing starts at €458,000 ($578,866 or £303,373). Fully equipped the CCX costs €510,000 ($644,589 or £337,817). [1]
Koenigsegg CCXR
The Koenigsegg CCXR is an environmentally-friendly version CCX powered by essentially the same twin-supercharged V8 engine but converted to use E85 ethanol fuel. Surprisingly the engine in the CCXR is more powerful than that of the CCX, putting out 1018 hp (759 kW)@ 7200 rpm and 1060 N m of torque @ 6100 rpm. This power increase is a result of the natural cooling properties of ethanol in the engine's combustion chambers and the biofuel having a higher octane rating of 113 RON compared to 95 RON for petrol in North America and 110 RON for petrol in Europe. Despite the power increase, the CCXR's carbon dioxide emissions are lower than those of the CCX. Koenigsegg promise that existing CCX customers will be able to have their CCXs converted to the same engine specification as the CCXR. To date, no official performance figures have been given for the CCXR though it is anticipated that its performance will exceed that of the CCX and rival (if not possibly exceed) the Bugatti Veyron.
Top Gear
A pre-production CCX was featured on the May 7, 2006 episode of BBC motoring programme Top Gear. It was test-driven by Jeremy Clarkson, who praised the car highly but criticised its lack of downforce, which he attributed to the lack of a rear spoiler. He also claimed it was a replacement for smoking, saying it 'is the worlds most expensive nicotine patch'. The first power lap time was 1:20.4 seconds, with The Stig encountering short-shifting problems. Later in the same episode, The Stig lost control of the car during his second attempt to beat the Pagani Zonda F's time (1:18.4 around the Dunsfold Park track); the Stig also went on to suggest that the car would be significantly faster and more stable with a spoiler (according to Clarkson, as the Stig never speaks on camera). Koenigsegg then said that they would put a rear spoiler on the car and bring it back to Top Gear for further testing.
For the May 28, 2006 episode of Top Gear, Koenigsegg had supplied a CCX fitted with a rear wing. The Stig had another attempt, this time setting a new lap record—1:17.6. The carbon-fibre rear wing is available as optional equipment, though it drops the car's top speed to 242 mph from 250 mph.
On the episode of The Stig's crash, Jeremy Clarkson claimed that with the Koenigsegg CCX, he had found a substitute for smoking. He said "Unlike any other supercar [...] this doesn't feel sanitized or tamed". Clarkson continued "It's just completely wild and mad. It's raw, vicious, unbridled power." The Koenigsegg is able to virtually match the performance of the Bugatti Veyron, despite it having approximately 200 bhp less, because it is approximately 700 kg lighter.
In June 2006, Swedish car magazine Bilsport published an on-line article [2] where Koenigsegg press contact Lotta de Salvatore claimed that the improved lap time was not thanks to the rear wing, as the Top Gear presenters claimed. Instead, a better chassis set-up had allowed The Stig to improve the Koenigsegg CCX's lap time by 2.8 seconds.
The reason The Stig went off the first time was that we hadn't had time to set the car up properly, it was oversteering slightly. For the second attempt the CCX had a perfect set-up and better grip. The wing doesn't do any good at the speeds seen on the Top Gear track, only above 300 kph does it start helping.
— Lotta de Salvatore, Bilsport
Other appearances
A yellow Koenigsegg CCX appears on the 2007 film Redline.
The Koenigsegg CCX appears in the Collectors Edition of Need for Speed: Carbon. In the game, the car's maximum speed is only 202 mph—far less than the actual speed of over 242 mph.
The first North American test-drive of the CCX was performed by Colum Wood, Editor-in-Chief of Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine, shortly after the car's unveiling at Exotic Cars at Caesars Palace. The dealership, located in the forum shops at Caesars, is the exclusive US dealer for Koenigsegg. The reviewer praised the supercar's ease of operation yet felt it didn't quite "feel" like 800+ hp. The CCX at the showing was noted as the same car that The Stig crashed on Top Gear and had notched 3000 track miles.[1]
References
- ^ Modified Luxury & Exotics Driven. Koenigsegg CCX. Look Out Bugatti! By Collum Wood. Photos by Mike Maez. November/December 2006
- Svensson, Gunnar. "Koenigsegg får Top Gear-vinge", Bilsport, 2006-06-05. Retrieved on March_12, 2007.
