KOENIGSEGG / CC850

Sold out, and then some…

Just as my daughter was being born, so was the Koenigsegg CC8S. The year was 2002 and now 20 years later, and to pay homage to the birth of the CC8S as well as Christian Von Koenigsegg’s 50th birthday (as well of course my daughters 20th)…

…We celebrate the new baby. The CC850. The 50 to celebrate aforementioned’s birthday and as a run of only 50 units.

Well, not quite. As we go to press on this issue, the launch has just taken place and all 50 build slots have already been filled. Taken aback, Koenigsegg immediately increased the number to 70. So maybe we should be celebrating Christian’s 70th birthday now? Is that how it works?

Well anyway, doubtless there’ll soon be 20 more very happy people transferring $3.65m to Koenigsegg for their CC850, (or is it now CC870?) or maybe CC850+20. That’s catchy. The message from Koenigsegg is that the 50 represents CvK’s 50th birthday and the extra 20 celebrates the 20 years. Clever.

“The response to the CC850 is overwhelming. Producing an additional 20 on top of the planned 50 CC850s is still not even close to demand, but it gives us the chance to consider the brand loyalists to a larger degree, while also welcoming a small portion of new owners,” says Christian von Koenigsegg.

So what’s so special about the CC850.

Where to begin. Designed in house by the team at Koenigsegg, led by Sasha Selipanov, (a good friend of B500 and who was also responsible for the groundbreaking Gemera not so long ago). The CC850 commands attention in so many ways and stands as an example of just what CvK has achieved in just over 20 years from the CC8S to the CC850.

Recently unveiled at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering the CC850 features a twin-turbo 5.0 Litre V8 capable of producing 1382hp, which is over twice the output of the CC8S. The flat-plane crank, dry-sumped engine can run on synthetic fuels and doesn’t use a flywheel to improve responsiveness. There is a revolutionary engage shift system (ESS) which functions as both a gated six-speed manual with a clutch pedal and a nine-speed automatic giving the driver some serious driving options and the redline sits at 8,500rpm.

Koenigsegg has achieved a kerbweight of 1,385kg with the CC850, thanks to extensive use of carbonfibre and Kevlar body panels in its monocoque. It’s expected to reach 0-62mph in less than three-seconds and a top speed well in excess of 200mph.

Overall the CC850 is a contemporary reimagination of the original CC8S and which pays homage to, “The single most meaningful car in Koenigsegg history”, said Christian von Koenigsegg. It’s true, the CC8S did put Koenigsegg firmly on the map and was indeed a showstopper which broke records and won awards and set the industry alight, and all from a small but highly focused and determined Swedish supercar company.