Koenigsegg returns to Australia with the country’s most expensive car

After attempts to launch earlier, Swedish hypercar maker Koenigsegg is preparing to re-enter the Australian market, poised to sell its range of multimillion-dollar exotic cars to Australian customers.

Now sold through specialist car dealer Sullivan Kerr in the suburb of Sandringham, Victoria, Koenigsegg cars now have a specific home in a repurposed WWII munitions factory.

It comes after the brand was first introduced to the country in 2008 with demonstration versions of the CCR and CCX. Both cars, black and orange ones respectively, are still in Australia.

But Sullivan Kerr is targeting the new line of hypercars, including the Koenigsegg Jesko hypercar and the Gemera four-seat “hyper grand tourer”.

Priced at 2.34 million euros ($AU3.5 million) and 1.6 million euros ($AU2.38 million) excluding Australian taxes respectively, the two Swedish hypercars can be customized with a variety of bespoke finishes and modifications, directly from the factory in Angelholm, Sweden.

Somewhat odd for an Australian new car dealership, Sullivan Kerr says prices are quoted in Euros to account for currency fluctuations as the cars are built. There are no taxes on the above price, meaning luxury car tax, GST, import tax and stamp duty will still have to be applied once the cars arrive.

The low-drag Jesko Absolut is the high-speed version and uses aerodynamic fins in place of the regular, high-downforce Jesko’s giant rear wing, but costs 3.1 million euros ($AU4.62 million) before Australian taxes are applied. . Once taxes are applied, the Jesko is likely to be the most expensive vehicle in the Australian new car market.

Strong demand for the Jesko means that Australia’s allotment of three is now exhausted – you wouldn’t be able to buy one even if you had the means.

The one-of-125 Jesko is powered by a twin-turbo 5.0-litre V8 engine with an output of 955 kW/1500 Nm to the rear wheels.

This powertrain is mated to a nine-speed “Light Speed” transmission developed by Koenigsegg. In fact, according to the brand, every part used in the car is manufactured by Koenigsegg itself, except for the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.

The company’s founder, Christian von Koenigsegg, has already said that the Jesko Absolut will be the fastest car the manufacturer has ever built – with a theoretical top speed of 565 km/h under the right conditions.

But suppose you have a family to drive around. Koenigsegg has you covered in that department too with a vehicle that might be more interesting than the all-out Jesko: the Gemera four-seat plug-in hybrid grand tourer.

It uses a twin-turbo 2.0-litre three-cylinder engine mated to three electric motors – one on the crankshaft driving the front wheels and one on each rear wheel.

Nicknamed “Tiny Friendly Giant” for its minuscule weight of 70 kg, the petrol engine is so small thanks to its camless piston design – a first for any production car. The combined power is 1268 kW/3500 Nm, which is sent to all four wheels via a Koenigsegg Direct Drive transmission at one speed.

According to Koenigsegg, it sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 1.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 400 km/h. It can also travel 50 km on full electric power thanks to a 15 kWh battery.

It is limited to 300 copies worldwide, of which “a small handful” are available to Australian customers.

Koenigsegg shipped two mock-up copies of the Jesko Absolut and Gemera to Melbourne in anticipation of the dealership launch.

Speak with Motive at the Koenigsegg dealer launch, Sullivan Kerr CEO Andrew Kerr said now was the right time to relaunch the brand in Australia.

“The exclusivity of [Koenigsegg] is very attractive to people,” says Kerr.

“Ferraris, and all those things are” [still desirable] but there are more than before. People are ready to take that next step in a new market.”

“What Koenigsegg offers in terms of everything in-house, there’s not really anything else from a product perspective that even comes close. It’s a good draw card.”

“We expect to see the first Jesko hopefully in March or April 2023, pending specifications.”

According to Kerr, the sky is the limit when it comes to personalization. An unlimited number of exotic materials can be used to upholster the car, while Koenigsegg can color to sample any shades or finishes for the interior or exterior.

“Obviously if our customers want crazy customization, or even something like exposed carbon, that can blow production by 1,000 hours.”

In terms of after sales care, Sullivan Kerr will set up a standalone facility to service cars in the Australia area, including the pair of Koenigseggs currently in New Zealand.

It will be 2024 when the first Gemeras arrive on Australian soil.