The internal combustion engine isn’t ready to surrender to the electric era just yet. In a staggering display of Swedish engineering, Koenigsegg has rewritten the rulebook for straight-line performance, taking the rear-wheel drive Jesko Absolut and destroying the 1/4 mile and half-mile records against a rising tide of all-wheel drive electric supercars.
The runs were conducted at the brand’s Angelholm test facility. Taking advantage of an empty track on the Swedish National Day holiday, the twin-turbocharged V8 hypercar was piloted to a devastating 8.54-second quarter-mile time, crossing the trap at 305.39km/h. This marks the first time in history a fully homologated production car has eclipsed the 300km/h barrier across the quarter-mile.
The sheer force of the 1193kW V8 was further demonstrated over the half-mile, which the Jesko Absolut completed in just 12.76 seconds with an exit speed of 373.87km/h.
What makes these figures super impressive is the vehicle’s mechanical architecture and the track surface. Unlike the Rimac Nevera – which utilises four independent electric motors and all-wheel drive – the Koenigsegg relies entirely on rear-wheel propulsion. Furthermore, the records were achieved on a completely unprepped runway surface, lacking the heavy traction compound typically required for sub-nine-second drag times.
According to company founder Christian von Koenigsegg, the breakthrough in off-the-line traction is the direct result of intense software refinement rather than mechanical upgrades. By dialling in the traction control algorithms, fine-tuning how the triplex suspension settles under hard acceleration, and optimising the shift strategies of the nine-speed Light Speed Transmission, engineers managed to effectively harness the V8’s massive output.
Crucially, these software calibrations will not remain exclusive to the factory test mule; Koenigsegg confirmed the revised launch control will be pushed to all existing customer cars globally via an over-the-air update.
While the Absolut was specifically engineered for maximum velocity by removing the standard car’s massive rear wing to slash aerodynamic drag, management noted that straight-line acceleration is still a secondary priority behind high-speed stability and braking.
However, with the four-seat, all-wheel-drive Gemera hybrid looming on the horizon with even more power, the Swedish manufacturer issued a clear warning that its straight-line development program is only just getting started.
