Koenigsegg Strikes Back: Jesko Absolut Smashes Speed Record—Again

Just a month after losing its hypercar speed crown to Rimac, Koenigsegg has roared back, snatching the title with its monstrous Jesko Absolut. And the secret? A few clever software tweaks.

The Swedish speed wizards fine-tuned the Jesko’s Light Speed Transmission, optimized its engine management, and added a new torque control system for near-perfect traction. Dubbed Absolut Overdrive, these upgrades aren’t just for show—they’ll soon be rolled out to existing owners, turning their already-insane hypercars into even bigger monsters.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

During testing, the Jesko obliterated the 0-249-0 mph sprint in 25.21 seconds and the 0-250-0 mph run in 25.67 seconds—just half a second faster than the Rimac Nevera R.

What makes this even wilder? The two cars couldn’t be more different. The Nevera R is a 2,107-hp all-electric AWD beast, while the Jesko Absolut relies on a 1,600-hp twin-turbo V-8—and only rear-wheel drive. Yet somehow, the gap between them was paper-thin.

Christian von Koenigsegg put it best:
"Beating all-wheel-drive EVs in a straight line with a combustion-powered, rear-wheel-drive production car feels almost like magic. It shows that even the ‘rules’ of performance can be rewritten."

On August 7, factory test driver Markus Lundh took the same Jesko that set the brand’s previous record in 2024 and reclaimed the title at Örebro airfield—proving that old-school fire-breathing engines still have some fight left.

How Fast Is It, Really?

Let’s break it down:

• 0-400-0 km/h (0-248.5-0 mph): 25.21 seconds (vs. Rimac’s 25.79)

• 0-400 km/h (0-248.5 mph) in just 16.77 seconds

• Braking from 400 km/h to 0 in 8.44 seconds

For perspective, the Bugatti Chiron needed 41.96 seconds for the same test back in 2017—meaning the Jesko is over 16 seconds quicker. And it did all this on a drying runway, showing just how dialed-in its grip and power delivery are.

The Bigger Picture

Koenigsegg didn’t just reclaim its record—it sent a message. While the world obsesses over electric hypercars, the Jesko Absolut proves that internal combustion isn’t done yet. At least for now, gasoline still has a few surprises up its sleeve.

So, Rimac… what’s your next move? 🔥