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Agera's Bespoke Interior
The interior of the Koenigsegg Agera
is like no other car. No other materials than those deemed worthy by Koenigsegg
are allowed. This means that what you get to touch and see inside the Agera is only
aluminum, carbon fiber, precious metals, alcantara and aniline leather.
All
switch gear is highly bespoke and features wonderfully unique solutions, as for
example the Koenigsegg Ghost light, that make solid aluminum buttons gleam
with LED powered symbols appearing out of nowhere. The illumination shines through the billet
aluminum buttons and
surfaces by way of almost invisible micro holes, creating excellent
visibility of the symbols as well as a very clean and stylish appearance, framed
by an all-new carbon fiber center console and tunnel assembly.
The new
super light full carbon airbag steering wheel incorporates many vital functions
directly in front of the driver. Similarly to the CCX, the shifting paddles
are mounted directly on the steering wheel to enable shifting without taking
your hands off the steering wheel during hard cornering.
The central
high-definition touch screen infotainment system controls the audio functions,
satellite navigation, Bluetooth phone and secondary functions such as
performance meters and car telemetrical data.
The very comfortable and
optionally heated carbon seats are great for long journeys but also give
excellent lateral support when needed.
The interior of the Agera is truly
minimalistic and efficient in the purest Swedish sense. Nothing in the interior
is there only to add visual drama; instead everything is there for a
functional purpose. According to Koenigsegg, this is the essence of beauty, as
it follows a less is more philosophy that embodies every engineering aspect of
the Agera.
CI - Configurable Instruments
The CI is specifically developed for the Agera by Koenigsegg. It features a
unique and configurable interface that can be adapted to driver specific
demands. As it is connected to the cars CAN bus system it freely communicates
with the infotainment screen and all other functions in the car.
By
pushing the left stalk button, different priority graphics can be chosen,
depending on need. For example in track driving mode, there is a focus on;
RPM, pressures, temperatures, lap times, and g-forces. Compared to GT mode,
where: car speed, auto shift, satnav, power, music etc is prioritized.
Luggage Space
The luggage space in the 2012 Agera is something Koenigsegg is very proud of. It
is the largest luggage compartment in the hypercar world, with a space of
over 120 liters. It is so well shaped that it actually can fit the one piece
Agera roof/hardtop, meaning the driver can choose to go open or closed at any
given time during a longer trip. Given the fact that Koenigsegg has engineered
the roof to fit the car, it is actually also possible fit a set of golf clubs. Given the high comfort level
and the large luggage space, the Agera can truly been seen as one of the first
GT hypercars.
Lightweight, High-Powered Engine
Developed In-House
Koenigsegg differs from other low volume hypercar manufacturers by the fact that Koenigsegg develops and
produces its own engine in-house. This is, by most observers and competitors,
deemed as more or less impossible or way too expensive to even consider.
However, year after year Koenigsegg has proved them wrong. Not only are the
engines developed in-house, they also have class leading characteristics in many
important areas.
The Agera features the lightest and most compact
hypercar engine in the world, weighing only 434 lbs (197 kg) complete with
flywheel, clutch, dry sump system, Inconel exhaust manifold with turbo. The low
engine weight is quite astonishing, as the Agera engine also has class leading
power and torque characteristics. The Koenigsegg 5-liter V8 bi-turbo engine
develops more than 900 hp on 95 octane regular fuel, and more than 1100 hp on
E85 bio fuel. The Agera produces over 738 lb-ft (1000 Nm) of torque from 2500
rpm.
These are extraordinary numbers considering the size and reliability
of the engine without forsaking drivability or flexibility. This is truly
downsizing, without drawbacks. These characteristics make it one of the most
flexible and easy to use hypercar engines in the world.
The Koenigsegg
engines also meet all the required emission standards in the world. This is
nothing short of astounding, given their size and power output.
Koenigsegg has its own engine lab, with simulation programs, rapid prototyping
machines, engine and chassis dynamometers, and a one mile (1.7 km) test track
adjacent the factory enabling Koenigsegg to take the cars to 0-200-0 mph
(0-320-0 km/h) at any time. Furthermore, a 25 minute drive away from the
Koenigsegg Factory there is Knutstorp Racetrack, which is described by many as a
miniature Nordschleife. Here Koenigsegg can put the engine and car through
serious testing and make sure they work in perfect harmony.
No other
production engine in the world, regardless of car type, has the same amount of
power potential compared to its EU cycle average CO2 emission (310 g of CO2) or
cycle fuel consumption( 14.7 liter per 100 km / 16 mpg). However, what makes
Koenigsegg most proud is how drivable, smooth, responsive, torquey and reliable
the engines are - especially given their extreme performance.
Following the Koenigsegg tradition the engine has a dry sump
lubrication in order to lower the engine as far as possible in the chassis
and have full control of the crankcase oil even given the massive g-forces
involved.
The large 80-litre tank ensures long driving range, due to the
relatively low average consumption. The Agera follows the previous generation
Koenigsegg and has its fuel tank well protected, built-in centrally into the
carbon fiber monocoque chassis.
Inconel/Titanium Exhaust System
The inconel/titanium patent
pending exhaust system is key in order for the Koenigsegg Agera to achieve its remarkable
emission and power levels. The exhaust system uses a completely new principle
created by Christian von Koenigsegg. The new technology drastically reduces
back pressure and gives earlier catalytic light off than any other turbo exhaust
system. At the same time the acoustics of the exhaust has been examined
carefully in order to maintain the typical Koenigsegg thunderous growl.
Dual-Clutch Transmission
The newly developed 7 speed gearbox for the
Koenigsegg Agera features a
world's first dual clutch system for a single input shaft gearbox.
In order
to keep the gearbox light, compact strong and reliable, Koenigsegg together with
Cima chose to develop a new gearbox type that enables the use of a
combination of a dry and wet clutch system, in order to get class leading shift
times. First there is the normal twin disc dry clutch that operates in a
traditional fashion. Then there is a hydraulically operated wet clutch-brake
inside the gearbox that is engaged during each up shift in order to slow down
the input shaft, simultaneously as the gears are changed and prior to the
normal synchronization. This cuts the synchronization time by two thirds, as the
gear is presynchronized.
The result is a very sporty, smooth and extremely
fast shift. Compared to a traditional DCT system, this gearbox is lighter,
smaller, has less moving parts and gives a more distinct shift feel, with almost
no interruption to the acceleration. Furthermore, the electro hydraulic shift
mechanism actuates the shift forks directly with no intermediate mechanical
parts. This brings down the inertia of the shift mechanism and any potential
slack is minimized since the shortest possible path of engagement is
achieved.
The entire transmission weighs only 179 lbs (81 kg), which is by far the
lightest 7 speed Hypercar transmission in the world.
The transmission can
also be set in full auto mode.
Koenigsegg E-Diff
The Koenigsegg Electronic Differential
(E-Diff) is lighter and faster, compared to traditional E-Diff solutions. The
difference lies in the fact that Koenigsegg has retained a limited slip
differential with plates and ramps with a built-in amount of analogue limited
slip functionality. This means that the active hydraulic element can be smaller,
more compact and therefore faster and lighter compared to traditional E-Diff
solutions. The analogue part of the functionality also has zero processing time
as it reacts directly. The analogue system is supplemented by a digital
active system. This way Koenigsegg has obtained one of the lightest and
fastest E-Diff solution on the market.
Furthermore the Koenigsegg developed
algorithms that control the E-Diff, takes input from; throttle angle, g-force,
steering wheel angle, yaw angle, car speed, engine rpm, selected gear, plus
weather condition.
The way all this data is analyzed and how the car reacts
to this data also makes the Koenigsegg E-Diff unique and that makes the Agera
very safe on the limit and improves performance and feel.
The Koenigsegg
E-diff works in harmony with the new traction control system that is the fastest
reacting in the industry, with auto adapt functionality to different road
conditions and driving styles as well as several manual settings.
Carbon-Fiber Monocoque Chassis
The Koenigsegg Agera's unique carbon-fiber monocoque chassis is designed to achieve its
maximum stiffness without a roof, as the roof is detachable and stow-able in
the front of the car. This in itself is an unusual feature for such a compact
Hypercar.
The Koenigsegg carbon monocoque chassis has an astonishing
stiffness of 65.000 Nm/deg and only weighs 154 lbs (70 kg) including the integrated
fuel tanks.
The result of constant weight saving exercises is a dry weight of
only 2932 lbs (1330 kg) making the Agera the lightest fully homologated Hypercar
presently in production.
Bespoke Michelin Tires
Koenigsegg continued its long standing partnership with
Michelin in the tire development for the Agera. Hence the Agera features
specially developed, latest generation Michelin Super sport tires.
Due to the
tires, advanced suspension and aerodynamics, the Agera achieves lateral
accelerations up to 1.6 g in dry conditions with improved handling in wet.
The new tires were developed for the Agera through testing at the Michelin
Ladoux test center in France. The tires fitted to the Agera are rated for
speeds over 261 mph (420 km/h) making it the highest top speed rated tire in the world,
whilst offering cup tire levels of grip and outstanding wet performance, all
in one package.
VGR Wheels
The Koenigsegg VGR
wheels are not only for looks. They are real air turbines, increasing the down
force of the car by measurable amounts and improve brake cooling. All four
wheels are individual so that turbine blades always face the correct
direction for extraction. Given that the offset and width is different front to
rear, all four wheels have their unique design.
The VGR wheels are forged and
then fully machined to the final shape. Due to the forging and machining process
all excess material has been removed minimizing weight, whilst displaying
outstanding levels of stiffness.
Aerodynamics: Developed with CFD and
in Wind Tunnel
The aerodynamics of the
Koenigsegg Agera has been honed and perfected over many years in CFD and wind tunnel in
order ensure best possible outcome. Even with the massive dynamic rear wing,
the drag of the Agera is only Cd 0.33, in high speed mode and Cd 0.37 in track
mode. Even though the Agera is a78.8 inches (2 meters) wide, it only has a frontal
area of 1.87 m2. This results in a Cd*A value of only 0.62.
All 2012 Agera models are limited to
233 mph (375 km/h) in standard mode,
but can be unlocked by Koenigsegg for shorter periods of time, if all
necessary conditions are met, such as road condition, tire wear, service level
of car etc. The car is set in full speed mode by unlocking the top speed mode
in the Infotainment system.
The two
large side air intakes greatly add to the Agera's high speed stability as they
ensure that the pressure point of the car is behind the mass center of the
car. This makes the car more directionally stable with increasing speed. This is
a crucial safety feature when it comes to driving at extreme speeds. Great
care has been taken that the car also is stable under high speed braking. The
front splitter and rear diffuser has been designed and optimized with this in
mind.
For maximum performance and safety it is important that the down force
stays as constant as possible even in yaw situations. Therefore the rear
diffuser was developed and evaluated specifically to give substantial down force
even at wide yaw angles.
Dynamic Rear Wing
Hypercars of today generate
massive amounts of down force in low to medium speed and less down force in very
high speed, in order not to overload the tires and not to create too much
drag. Most hypercars therefore have heavy hydraulically operated wings and
flaps to cater for this need.
Koenigsegg however, following the "less is
more" philosophy, has designed a dynamic system to that take care of the above
described needs. The most visual and obvious part of this system is the new
dynamic rear wing. The wing changes its angle of attack, not with the help of
hydraulics, but with the pressure of the wind. It is therefore dynamically
controlled by the speed or wind resistance at any given moment in time and
thus actually compensates for headwind or tailwind at the same given speed.
This is an intelligent way of dealing with adaptive aerodynamics, as the system
becomes lighter, less complex and more intuitive compared to heavy and
complex hydraulics systems. Koenigsegg had to work heavily with CFD in order to
create the dynamically controlled adaptive aerodynamics of the Agera.
Furthermore, an interesting multifunction feature of the adaptive wing is that
the pylons for the wing also act as air extrusion channels. The air channels
goes from the engine bay to the back of the pylons, thereby creating an air
passage. This causes a venturi effect, from the air rushing past the pylon,
evacuating hot engine bay gases, reducing pressure in the engine bay and
increasing the flow of cooling air through the side radiators. This also means
that the pressure under the car is reduced and giving more low drag down
force.
Intelligent
Lifepo4 Battery - ILB
The Agera is the first combustion engine powered
production car in the world, with an intelligent Lithium Iron battery as
standard equipment. First of all, this battery type saves significant weight and
is more compact compared to traditional led acid batteries. Secondly lithium
iron cells cannot reach thermal runway, unlike Li-ion batteries, which makes
them very safe for
automotive use.
Furthermore, the ILB carries many
intelligent functions, developed by Koenigsegg together with the battery
supplier. Hypercars tend to be parked long periods of time and therefore
their batteries can be drained if the car is not hooked up to a trickle
charger. Even though all Koenigsegg cars come as standard with a trickle charger
it is not always easy to remember, or even possible depending on location, to
use it. It is also possible that a driver sometime forgets to turn off all
consumers, like parking lights etc causing early battery drainage.
Koenigsegg has therefore implemented a minimum current protection mode, to make
the above issues something of the past. The new ILB therefore has an
intelligent circuit built into it, so if the car is left on or standing for a
long time, the battery shuts down when the voltage drops below a certain
threshold. The shut down does not occur sooner than a traditional battery would
have been left depleted and useless, so it does not take away any expected
battery capacity. Then, if any essential buttons or a door knob is touched,
the battery kicks back into life for 5 minutes and has enough power to operate
all the functionalities in the car and start the engine and thereby giving
charge back to the battery.
Given this strategy, battery concerns are a thing
of the past. No matter of the behavior of the car user. To prove a point you
can leave the car with the high beam on and the stereo at full blast in the
evening, without the engine running. Wake up in the morning, open the car
door, start the engine and drive away. Alternatively, leave the Agera for a couple
of months, open the door, start the car and drive away.
Koenigsegg Agera: Photo Gallery, Review (1/2) and Specifications