Koenigsegg is paying tribute to the original CC8S with a wild new hypercar called the CC850 that’s positively bursting with intriguing technology.
Power comes from a twin-turbocharged 5.0-litre V8 engine making 1030kW of power and 1385Nm of torque, mated to what Koenigsegg calls an Engage Shift System (ESS) that can act as a nine-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission.
There’s nothing conventional about any part of this powertrain. The V8 is shared with the Jesko and doesn’t feature a flywheel in a bid to make it “the most responsive, fast-revving engine possible”.
It’s mated with the ESS, which is an adaptation of the Light Speed Transmission (LST) from the Jesko. Working in the Koenigsegg naming department sounds like fun…
In manual mode, the driver is able to select from two different sets of gear ratios: a more relaxed set for road driving, or a shorter set for track action. The clutch features feedback like a conventional hydraulic unit, but it’s actually a pure by-wire setup.
The mechanical shift linkage (pictured below) is inspired by Swiss watches, but is actually a front – the driver’s shifts are carried out electronically by the automatic transmission.
Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s going to make average drivers look good: Christian von Koenigsegg told Road and Track it’ll punish poor inputs with classic three-pedal bunny hops, and the car will stall if you get it wrong.
“Great care has been taken to make the ESS one of the most engaging manuals ever created,” the brand says in its press release.
Given it takes inspiration from the CC8S, it’s no surprise the CC850 looks the way it does. From the telephone dial wheels to the simple head- and tail lights, and the slick bodywork with a removable hardtop, it’s a subtly modernised take on what was already a stunning car.
The body is made carbon fibre and kevlar, draped over a carbon monocoque. At 4364mm long and 2024mm wide, it’s quite compact – even a Porsche 718 Cayman is longer.
Inside, the CC850 has a clean design inspired by that of the CC8S.
Koenigsegg says its symmetrical design makes it simple to convert from left- to right-hand drive, while the analogue gauges, round steering wheel, and manual shifter are designed to underscore the depth of engineering underpinning the car.
