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Review (2/2)

Production Version of the Koenigsegg Agera Debuts at Geneva

Source: Koenigsegg | Published: Thu Mar 03, 2011

(continued from the previous page)

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

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