Koenigsegg CCX

Koenigsegg CCX at a glance

Christian von Koenigsegg's company in Ängelholm built its first road car, the CC8S, in 2002 and followed it with the CCR, which briefly held the record for the fastest production car in 2005. The CCX was a deep rework of that design rather than a facelift. It was 88 mm longer than the CCR to meet US rear-impact rules, and its engine was developed in-house to pass Californian emission standards on ordinary 91-octane petrol.

The wider story of the company is in the history of Koenigsegg.

The 4.7 V8, gearbox and performance

The engine is Koenigsegg's own aluminium 4.7-litre V8 with two centrifugal superchargers. On 91-octane petrol it produces 593 kW (806 PS) at about 7,000 rpm and 920 Nm (679 lb-ft) at about 5,500 rpm; published sources give slightly different engine speeds for both peaks. The gearbox is a six-speed manual made by CIMA in Italy, with a six-speed sequential manual as an option, and a torque-sensitive limited-slip differential.

Koenigsegg claimed 0–100 km/h in about 3.2 seconds and a top speed of more than 395 km/h (245 mph). The top speed was not confirmed by an independent test.

The CCXR used flex-fuel hardware: stronger injectors and fuel lines and revised engine management. Ethanol's higher knock resistance and cooling effect allow more boost, which is why the same engine makes about 26% more power on E85 than the CCX does on petrol.

With a kerb weight of 1,456 kg, the standard CCX carries about 2.5 kg per kW; the CCXR, at a similar weight, about 1.9 kg per kW. You can see how these figures compare with other cars in the fastest cars ranking.

Carbon body, dimensions and chassis

The chassis is a carbon-fibre monocoque reinforced with Kevlar and aluminium honeycomb, and the body panels are carbon fibre too. The roof panel can be removed and stowed under the front lid, turning the coupé into a targa. Doors swing forward and upward on Koenigsegg's "dihedral synchro-helix" hinges.

Optional carbon-ceramic brakes measure 380 mm at the front with eight-piston calipers and 362 mm at the rear with six-piston calipers. Launch-era data list about 45% of the weight on the front axle and 55% on the rear; the steering needs only 2.7 turns from lock to lock, and the carbon seats were developed with Sparco.

The Top Gear lap and the rear wing

In 2007 the BBC's Top Gear tested the CCX on its test track. On the first attempt, without a rear wing, The Stig spun the car at about 210 km/h (130 mph) after a power-steering failure and set a time of 1:20.4. Koenigsegg returned with an optional rear wing and chassis changes, and the CCX lapped in 1:17.6, the fastest time on the board until the Ascari A10 recorded 1:17.3. The Stig credited the wing; Koenigsegg said the chassis and suspension changes did more. The episode made the wing a popular option.

Inside the CCX

The cabin is narrow and low, with two carbon-fibre bucket seats and a compact instrument panel. Koenigsegg described an electrical system with solid-state relays and digital fuses instead of conventional ones, reporting faults directly on the dashboard display. Luggage space is limited to the front compartment, which also has to hold the roof panel when it is off.

Value and collecting today

With 49 cars of all versions and about 30 standard CCX, the model is rare even among supercars. Koenigsegg never published a dated euro price for the CCX. The CCXR Trevita, with its white-woven carbon body, is among the most valuable Koenigseggs ever sold, and a CCGT racing car went under the hammer at Bonhams' Goodwood auction in 2023. Buyers should insist on factory service records from Ängelholm, check the clutch and gearbox, and confirm whether the car has the US or European specification.

Rivals: how the CCX compares

The CCX had more power than the Enzo and the Zonda and weighed far less than the Veyron, but it was a manual car with fewer driver aids. Its direct successor, the Koenigsegg Agera R, went further with a twin-turbo V8 and a dual-clutch gearbox. Put any two of these cars side by side in the 1cars comparison tool.