The Koenigsegg CC 8S was first conceptualized back in 1994. The brainchild behind the project, Christian von Koenigsegg, set up co-operation between numerous Swedish entities to work on the car. The first production test mule finally saw the light of day in 2000, and the first car was ready for delivery in 2002.
Both the body and the chassis are made of carbon fiber. This makes the car light and completely resistant to corrosion, like many other supercars. The chassis was designed by engi
neers with Formula 1 experience. The semi-monocoque self-supporting center unit provides exceptional rigidity, while making up a shell protecting the driver. The hard top is removable for somewhat open air driving, and it fits in the front luggage compartment. The interior is clad in leather, aluminum and carbon fiber, while funky-opening doors provide easy access.
The supercharged and intercooled quad-cam 4.7L V8 engine delivers 655 hp and 553 lb-ft, thus making it just as powerful and more torquey than the Enzo's V12. The boosted engine revs hard to produce those figures though. The small and lightweight engine makes extensive use of carbon fiber, titanium and aircraft-grade aluminum alloy. Unlike the high-tech Enzo, the Koenigsegg avoids electronic driver's aids, making the CC a pure driver's car and shedding additional weight too. The only gimmick is a KACS system that allows the driver to adjust road holding, suspension, aerodynamics and braking components to suit individual preferences.
In late 2002, Koenigsegg conducted their own high-speed tests, which were prematurely abandoned due to a wet track. However, their test driver managed to do a preliminary run, speeding to 228 mph with power to spare. That makes the CC 8S faster than the Enzo and S7, and everything else out there except the McLaren. Koenigsegg feels confident that the car can reach a top speed of 245 mph. The Swedish niche player is the closest competitor the McLaren has had since its debut.