February 09 2007
What: Koenigsegg CC8S
Where: Livingstone, Scotland
Price: £300,000+ PAKISTANI PRICE BY £300,000Multiply 118PKR
Key rivals: Ferrari Enzo, Mercedes McLaren SLR, Pagani Zonda, Lamborghini LP640, Maserati MC12, Bugatti Veyron
Art or science – which one do you prefer? Is it the minutiae of facts that appeal, or the freedom of expression? Should you find yourself with enough money that a supercar can appear on your shopping list, then you have to ask yourself that very question.
Click images to enlarge, more belowThe pursuit of numbers has been an occupation for supercar makers everywhere. Just like a gunslinger’s shootout, there’s no point in being second fastest, in which case the Bugatti Veyron should be at the top of your list. On the other hand, you might be after something a little slower (relatively speaking of course) that is more of an experience. Like the 1994 Ferrari F50, which used an F1-derived V12 engine to create a Formula 1 car for the road, or the Pagani Zonda, which is the closest thing to wheeled sculpture.
Middle of the road?
The Koenigsegg CC8S arguably sits somewhere in the middle. Should 655bhp not be enough for you, you can select the 806bhp CCX and go chasing Veyrons on the autobahn, but it is unlikely that you will find the CC8S too slow. Like many of its breed, the Koenigsegg giants its supercar status with a combination of exotic materials, low weight, uncompromising design and an almighty power source. Here it is a supercharged V8 of a mere 4.7-litres, but in a sufficient state of tune to deliver that incredible 655bhp.
Driven: Pagani Zonda S
In a car clothed in ultra lightweight carbonfibre and mounted a Kevlar and aluminium honeycomb chassis, the CC8S tips the scales at a lithe 1175kg – about the same as a base model Renault Megane. It’s not just about the fireworks over your right shoulder. The Koenigsegg uses pushrod suspension, just as you would find on a Formula 1 car, to operate its double wishbone suspension and high specification dampers. It is also highly adjustable – brakes, suspension stiffness and height amongst others. Not to mention the amount of tailoring that you can indulge in after signing on the dotted line.
The right ingredients
To be a true supercar however, the Koenigsegg must fulfil a few criteria. Firstly, the looks. It certainly succeeds in terms of impact: low and wide is the normally template, and the combination of organic curves and wind-tunnel honed shape is dramatic. Whether or not this qualifies as beautiful is a matter of personal taste, but rest assured that the CC8S will stop traffic better than a burst water main. The other key factor is performance. No supercar can qualify as such without leaving the fastest ‘ordinary’ cars firmly in the rear view mirror. It has more horsepower than most and weighs considerably less than many five-seat familiar cars, so the ingredients are there. Sampling it for real is quite different.
Driven: Bugatti Veyron
At idle the 4.7-litre V8 rumbles menacingly, with an extra layer of mechanical cacophony provided by the supercharger. It is also enormously difficult to pull away without stalling or setting the traction control off. Once rolling however, the Koenigsegg is remarkably easy to pilot. The view out is remarkable, thanks to the unusual wraparound windscreen. It’s more like looking out of a gun placement than a car, but it heightens the sensations. More remarkable is the steering – it’s incredibly light, but with sufficient feel to instil some confidence.
Packing a punch
Which is essential, because the CC8S can punch hard. Unlike most superchargers which work from tickover, the Koenigsegg’s doesn’t really doing anything until you hit 4,000rpm. It’s already on the markedly rapid side before this, but as you reach the right revs, the push in the back becomes more akin to freefall and the scenery turns liquid. The soundtrack is equally brutal, still with a V8 backbeat but with much more menace. As an experience it is right up there with the best, and in performance terms it is equally strong: 0-60mph takes less than 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 240mph is first class.
Driven: Lamborghini Murcielago LP640
The way to Koenigsegg handles the bends is something of an arbitrary matter. The harder you push the more it grips, until you reach a point where bravery runs out. To reach the limits of grip in a £350,000 supercar on public roads requires a severe lack of responsibility. However, the Koenigsegg can be set up for the track, which is the only place to really explore the outer limits of one’s own bravery and the car’s performance envelope.
MSN Cars verdict: ****
Then comes the hardest question: should you buy one? More than any other vehicular purchase, a supercar is a personal thing. To fulfil its admittedly limited and arguably pointless role in life, it must leave you weak at the knees, daydreaming about it and salivating at the prospect of getting behind the wheel. Whether the Koenigsegg does those things is up to you, but even if it doesn’t, be grateful that cars as wild and wacky as this one still exist.
Driven: Caterham CSR260
Ratings out of five: Koenigsegg CC8S
Performance *****
Ride & handling ****
Interior ***
Safety *****
Price **
Practicality ***
Economy *
MSN Cars verdict ****
Petrol engine 4.7-litre, V8, supercharged
Power (bhp) 655
Torque (lb/ft) 550
0-62mph (secs) less than 3.5
Top speed (mph) 240
Economy Not good
CO2 emissions (g/km) Lots