KOENIGSEGG CCX

The 'Koenigsegg CCX' is a supercar from Swedish car manufacturer Koenigsegg, to replace the Koenigsegg CCR. ''CCX'' is an abbreviation for ''Competition Coupe X'', the ''X'' commemorates the 10th anniversary of the completion and test drive of the first CC vehicle in 1996.^[2] The CCX is intended to be more suitable for the United States market and thus engineered to comply with US regulations.² A base model CCX costs approximately US$540 000 (€395 000) but with all optional extras the car costs US$600 000 (€440 000).^[3]
The CCX was first unveiled on February 28, 2006 at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show although its existence was announced earlier.^[4][4] The CCX is also available as the CCXR, the difference being that CCXR's engine is tuned to run on biofuel. The different fuel and tune allows the CCXR to produce 25% more power than, but maintain the same weight as the CCX .¹⁵

Contents

Development

Specifications

Performance

Engine

Exterior

Transmission

Wheels and brakes

CCXR

Reception

References

External links

Development

Koenigsegg began the CCX project with the aim of entering the world market, though particularly the United States car market.²³⁹ Development engineer Magnus Jaasund said "We wanted to go into the world market, but we couldn’t do it with the old car."²³ To sell cars to the North American market many alterations were made to the design of the CCR; the previously used Ford Modular engine was replaced by a Koenigsegg engine designed to run on 91 octane fuel, readily available in the United States, and to meet the Californian emission standards.²³¹² The front bumper of the CCX is designed to be safer in low speed collisions than previous Koenigseggs and the whole body is 88 millimetres (3.46 in) longer to comply with the United States' rear impact regulations. Additionally the CCX can display United States or European number plates.¹²
The CCX is 41 millimetres (1.61 in) taller than the CCR and, combined with the carbon fibre reinforced plastic sports seats by Sparco, the CCX allows for 50 millimetres (1.97 in) of extra headroom that ''Autoweek'' reviewer Mark Vaughn hypothesises is "to accommodate U.S. NBA stars."¹²²³ The electronic control unit has also received an upgrade over the CCR meaning that the CCX is without physical fuses and it is lighter than the previous system.¹²

Specifications

Performance

The CCX can accelerate from stationary to 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) in 3.2 seconds and 160 kilometres per hour (100 mph) in 7.7 seconds.¹³ It can complete a standing quarter mile in 9.9 seconds with an end speed of 235 kilometres per hour (146 mph) and according to Koenigsegg it has a top speed of 395+ kilometres per hour (245+ mph) because it has not officially been tested on a long enough straight to confirm it's maximum speed.¹ The CCX has a turning circle of 11 metres and can turn at 1.3 lateral Gs at speed.^[6]

Engine

While the previous Koenigseggs were powered by a V8 Ford Modular engine, the engine of the CCX was designed by Koenigsegg and built for them by Grainger & Worrall, a British company that builds Formula 1 engines.^12[7] The engine is a 4.7 Litre (4712 cc, 287 cu in) V8, with dual overhead camshafts and 4 valves per cylinder.¹¹²¹¹ The engine block is made of 356 Aluminium that has undergone a T7 heat treatment, a form of accelerated precipitation strengthening.^12[4] The engine is boosted by twin Rotrex centrifugal superchargers that increase the compression to 1.2 bar (120 kPa, 17.5 psi) with an 8.2:1 compression ratio. The engine produces 601 kilowatts (806 bhp) at 6900 rpm and 920 Newton metres (678 lbf·ft) of torque at 5700 rpm on 91 octane (U.S. rating) petroleum.¹³ The engine is lubricated with a dry sump system with a separate oil pump, the pistons are cooled by oil sprayed onto them and the oil itself has an external cooler.¹ The CCX engine burns 17 Litres per 100 kilometres (14 mpg).⁶

Exterior

The Koenigsegg CCX is a two-door targa top and the removable roof can be stored under the front hood meaning that, unlike many of its competitors, it can be changed at any location, not only one where the roof can be safely left.^1[9] The body, made of pre-impregnated carbon fibre and Kevlar, is 4293 millimetres (169 in) long, 1996 millimetres (78.6 in) wide and 1120 millimetres (44.1 in) tall with a ground clearance of 100 millimetres (3.9 in).¹ As with all previous Koenigseggs the "dihedral synchro-helix" actuation doors rotate forward and upwards similar to scissor doors though the Koenigsegg design avoids the problem of the open door obscuring the passenger's entry or exit.^[4]
The car has a frontal area of 1.867 square metres (20.096 sq in) but a drag coefficient of just 0.3.¹ It also has a flat underside with venturi tunnels at the rear and an optional carbon rear spoiler to improve aerodynamics.¹ Between the 2 speedster humps (humps behind the seats) is a vortex generator used as a ram-air intake that allows higher pressure in the air box without a roof scoop that would increase the frontal area.¹² At 200 kilometres per hour (125 mph) there is 60 kilograms (132 lb) of downforce over the front axle and 65 kilograms (143 lb) over the rear.^[11]

Transmission

The CCX has a six speed manual gearbox made for Koenigsegg by Cima with a twin plate clutch of diameter 215 millimeters (8.46 in) as default but a sequential manual transmission option is available. The power is fed to the wheels through a torque sensitive, limited slip differential.¹ The option to select gear ratios is available, but the default ratios of the 2007 CCX are in the table.²³

Gear	1	2	3	4	5	6	Reverse	Final Drive
'Ratio'6	2.875:1	1.652:1	1.125:1	0.865:1	0.711:1	0.604:1	3.000:1	3.545:1

Wheels and brakes

The standard CCX wheels are Koenigsegg's magnesium alloy wheels, though the option to upgrade to carbon/magnesium wheels which each weigh 3 kilograms (6.6 lb) less than the standard wheels is available.^[12] The front wheels have a diameter of 480 millimetres (19 in) and the rear, 510 millimetres (20 in). Each of the wheels is attached by centre locking wheel nuts.¹ The car comes with Michelin ''Pilot Sport 2'' unidirectional tyres with asymmetric tread. The front tyres have codes of 255/35 Y19 and the rear 335/30 Y20.¹
The front and rear cast iron disc brakes are 362 millimetres (14 in) across with 32 millimetres (1.25 in) of contact at any point and six calipers per wheel. The brakes can be upgraded to carbon ceramic brakes which weigh 2 kilograms (4.4 lb) less per wheel, a diameter of 380 millimetres (15 in) with 34 millimetres (1.34 in) of contact and eight calipers per wheel.¹¹²

CCXR

The 'Koenigsegg CCXR' is an "environmentally-friendly" version CCX powered by essentially the same twin-supercharged V8 engine but converted to use E85 ethanol fuel.^[13] The engine tune in the CCXR is more powerful than that of the CCX, putting out 759 kilowatts (1004 bhp) at 7200 rpm and 1060 Newton metres of torque at 6100 rpm, 25% more power than the CCX.^[14][15] Christian von Koenigsegg said that "Our engineers couldn't quite believe the figures when we tested the car".¹⁷ The increased power is a result of the cooling properties of ethanol in the engine's combustion chambers allowing for a higher pressure in the cylinder and the biofuel having a higher octane rating of 113 RON compared to 95 RON for petrol in North America and 110 RON for petrol in Europe, although the CCXR burns slightly more fuel than the CCX with 17 Litres per 100 kilometres (15 mpg).^13[4] The only changes to the engine are modified fuel injectors, upgraded fuel lines and piston rings and a higher boost setting on the superchargers.^[17] Koenigsegg stated that CCX owners will be able to have their cars converted to the same engine specification as the CCXR for approximately US$100 000 (€80 000) extra, although the CCX remains available for purchase as biofuel for the CCXR may not be available in some locations.¹³¹⁴¹⁷

Reception

A pre-production CCX was featured on the May 7, 2006 episode of BBC motoring programme ''Top Gear''.^[18] It was test-driven by Jeremy Clarkson, who praised the car highly but criticised its lack of downforce, which he attributed to the lack of a rear spoiler.^[19] He said "Unlike any other supercar [...] this doesn't feel sanitized or tamed", Clarkson continued "It's just completely wild and mad. It's raw, vicious, unbridled power."¹⁹ The first power lap time was 1:20.4, with The Stig encountering short-shifting problems.¹⁸ Later in the same episode, The Stig lost control of the car during his second attempt to beat the Pagani Zonda F's time of 1:18.4 around the Dunsfold Park track; The Stig also went on to suggest that the car would be significantly faster and more stable with a spoiler.¹⁹ Koenigsegg then said that they would put a rear spoiler on the car and bring it back to ''Top Gear'' for further testing.^18[20]
For the May 28, 2006 episode of ''Top Gear'', Koenigsegg supplied a CCX fitted with a rear wing, aerodynamics tuned for cornering and a better suspension tune. The Stig had another attempt, this time setting a new lap record—1:17.6 that remains the fastest power lap.²⁰ The carbon-fibre rear wing is available as optional equipment, though it drops the car's top speed to 380 kilometres per hour (242 mph).¹⁸
In June 2006, Swedish car magazine ''Bilsport'' published an article in which Koenigsegg press contact Lotta de Salvatore claimed that the improved lap time was not thanks to the rear wing, as the ''Top Gear'' presenters claimed. Instead, a better chassis set-up had allowed The Stig to improve the Koenigsegg CCX's lap time by 2.8 seconds.^[21]
The first North American test drive of a CCX was performed by Collum Wood, Editor-in-Chief of ''Modified Luxury & Exotics'' magazine, shortly after the car's unveiling at Exotic Cars at Caesars Palace.^[22] Wood praised the supercar's ease of operation yet commented that "it didn't quite feel like 800+ horsepower".²² The CCX at the showing was noted as the same car that The Stig crashed on ''Top Gear'' and had notched 3000 track miles.²²
''Autoweek'' reviewer, Mark Vaughn, praised the car greatly after driving it around a road course outside Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He said that "The car was flawless in every respect as far as we pushed it" and complimenting the car's brakes, cornering and acceleration.^[23]
When Matt Davis test drove a CCX for ''Winding Road'' he approved of the style of the CCX, specifically the control interface and seats. Davis also praised the engine and its acceleration, "The engine makes the most wonderful racket before and after it meets the purely frightening and masterful performance exhaust".⁷

References

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External links

★ Official site - Koenigsegg's CCX on the official site

★ 2007 Specifications - Koenigsegg's 2007 Geneva Motor Show press site

★ CCX Brochure (55 MB) - Official brochure