The intense rivalry among hypercar manufacturers recently witnessed a significant turn in the quest for ultimate acceleration. Just a month ago, Rimac's Nevera R seized headlines by establishing a new record for reaching 400km/h (249mph) from a standstill, completing the impressive feat in 25.79 seconds. This performance surpassed the previous best set by Koenigsegg's Jesko Absolut, igniting a fresh challenge in the high-performance vehicle sector.
Undeterred by its rival's brief triumph, Koenigsegg promptly responded, demonstrating its unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of automotive engineering. The V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive Jesko Absolut, known for its formidable capabilities, swiftly reclaimed its position as the fastest production car in this critical acceleration metric. On August 7th, the Jesko Absolut achieved an astonishing time of 25.21 seconds for the 0-400km/h dash, decisively beating the Nevera R's mark and re-establishing its supremacy.
What makes this record-breaking achievement even more remarkable is the method behind it. Koenigsegg did not rely on traditional hardware upgrades like increased power output, novel tire compounds, or enhanced braking systems. Instead, the gains were realized through ingenious software refinements. The implementation of 'Absolut Overdrive' software, targeting the nine-speed, triple-clutch Light Speed Transmission and the engine's ECU, enabled the engineers to extract significant additional performance from the existing robust hardware. This highlights a shift towards sophisticated digital optimization as a key differentiator in hypercar development.
Even without physical modifications, the Jesko Absolut continues to be a powerhouse, boasting an immense 1600bhp and 1106lb-ft of torque delivered to its rear wheels via its in-house twin-turbo V8 engine. This prodigious power output ensures that the vehicle is never lacking in raw capability. Further underscoring its exceptional performance, the Absolut has also been independently verified to accelerate from 0 to 250mph in a mere 17.18 seconds, a time that vividly illustrates its blistering speed, making a compelling statement about its engineering excellence and setting new benchmarks for extreme automotive performance.