2004 Koenigsegg CCR Overview - World Record Carm Koenigsegg,CC8S,CCR,CCXR,Koenigsegg CC8S,Koenigsegg CCR,2004 Koenigsegg,Bugatti,Veyron,top speed

If I ask you what car held the world's top speed production car record in the 90s, most of you would answer the McLaren F1. If I would then ask what is the top speed production car record for the 2000s, most of you would answer the Bugatti Veyron and Veyron Super Sport. But what most of you don't know, is that there is a small Swedish company, no - not IKEA, that briefly held that record as it transitioned from the F1 to the Veyron: the Koenigsegg CCR.

The CCR, an enhanced, face-lifted version of the original CC8S, grabbed the top speed world record from McLaren in 2005 but it's fame was short-lived as only two months later Bugatti triumphed over both McLaren and Koenigsegg. In terms of ranking first place down that means that the Koenigsegg is a lesser car than the Bugatti, at least in terms of top speed, but this isn't a discussion about the world's highest top speed, this is an overview of the engineering ingenuity, automotive enthusiasm and sheer passion that has led to the creation of one of the best hypercars on this planet.

The CCR is a ripened version of the original Koenigsegg CC8S that was produced from 2002 to 2004 with only six versions made. In 2004, at the Geneva Auto Show, Koenigsegg revealed the CCR which is essentially a face-lifted, lypo-suctioned, version 2.0 of the CC8S. The major features remained the same such as the engine, body and chassis but enhancements were made throughout to yield a significant overall improvement.

A larger front splitter was added to improve downforce, headlight arrangement was tweaked and the rear-end was revised. Larger tires with wheels were added along with bigger brakes and better suspension. The resulting body changes actually led to a relatively immaterial increase in the car's weight from the CC8S's 1,175 kg (2,590 lbs) to the CCR's 1,180 kg (2,601 lbs). The honeycomb kevlar-reinforced carbon fiber semi-monocoque body structure remains unchanged.

The engine remained the same, a rear mid-engine 4.7 liter V8 paired to a 6-speed manual transmission. The output; however, did not remain the same as the CCR pushes out 795 horsepower at 6,900 RPM and 680 lb-ft of torque at 5,700 RPM due to the addition of another supercharger. The Twin Rotex superchargers increased output for the CCR by 140 horsepower and 130 lb-ft torque over the CC8S. As a result, the CCR is able to go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and on to a claimed top speed of 245 mph, although the actual world record that Koenigsegg set was at 241.01 mph in 2005, only to be trumped by the Veyron's 253.81 mph record.

World record or not, this car wasn't made to put trophies on a shelf. This car was purpose-built by Koenigsegg to scare your exceedingly boring great-grandmother out of her grave, and with this leaned out and improved build over the CC8S, there are 14 very angry zombie great-grandmothers out there.

Posted in: Koenigsegg