Geneva motor show: Koenigsegg challenges Bugatti with 1,490hp hybrid

If you've never heard of Christian Von Koneigsegg, then don't blame yourself. The softly-spoken Swedish supercar magnate has made a business of making insanely fast mid-engined supercars that speak relatively softly with their styling and which can challenge the likes of Bugatti and Ferrari with their performance.

And this Regera model, revealed in production form at the Geneva motor show, is almost enough to steal the thunder of the vastly more expensive Bugatti Chiron being unveiled across the hall. It uses a twin-turbo 5.0-litre V8 (distantly related to the Chevrolet engine) with 1,090hp and then adds to that three electric motors - one for each rear wheel and one mounted on the crankshaft. Combined, they produce a total output of 1,490hp - almost enough to match the Bugatti's 1,500hp.

Koenigsegg says that the light (just 90kg) battery stack, encased in a sealed unit for better cooling, is at F1-levels of technology and that the Regera will sprint from 0-100kmh in just 2.8secs. It uses a specially designed transmission, unique to Koenigsegg, which is said to cut energy losses by as much as 50 per cent compared with a conventional gearbox. A top speed hasn’t yet been mentioned but it should be at least 360kmh.

Koenigsegg himself says that he wants to “find the best possible solution to a given challenge. Our enduring goal is maximum performance, the pursuit of automotive perfection.”

A few years ago, Koenigsegg was given the opportunity to buy ailing Saab from General Motors, but he turned down the offer. What might have been, eh?