Skip to main content

The ‘World’s First Megacar’ is the poetically extreme Koenigsegg One:1

You’d better invest in superlatives because they’re going fast: Koenigsegg fully revealed the incredible One:1 last week at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and the Swedish manufacturer is dubbing it “The World’s First Megacar”.

Because a Megacar is clearly better than a supercar, sports car, or hypercar, we knew the One:1 would be special, and my goodness is it ever.

The One:1 features a harmonious, almost poetic balance of power and weight. The horsepower to kilogram ratio is a perfectly balanced 1:1, which is impressive in its own right, but even more staggering when you realize the car generates 1,341 horsepower. With a matching curb weight in kg (2998 pounds), the One:1 makes the monumental McLaren P1 look sluggish and timid in comparison, and I don’t use those words carelessly.

The extreme levels of power are generated by a tweaked version of the twin-turbo, 5.0-liter V8 from the Agera R. The massively powerful engine is connected to a redesigned seven-speed dual clutch transmission and takes a single technician three weeks to build.

The weight savings come from carbon fiber, which makes up the body panels, suspension springs, and even the wheels.

These incredible specs allow for a sprint from 0 to 248.5 mph (400 kph) in approximately 20 seconds and an estimated speed of over 273 mph. Koenigsegg hasn’t released a 0 to 60 mph time for the car, but it’s a fair guess it’ll be far south of the 3.0 second mark.

The One:1’s cloud-connected suspension is one of the most interesting features of the car, even if it’s slightly overshadowed by the staggering power-to-weight ratio. When driven on a track, the One:1 will interface with the Koenigsegg cloud and retrieve the manufacturer’s recommended suspension settings for that particular circuit. The suspension will continue to react to the tarmac as you drive, continuously adjusting itself for the optimum track experience.

Only six examples of the One:1 are being built, and with a car like this, you won’t be surprised to learn they have all been reserved.

Andrew Hard
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
Tesla and Elon Musk sued over use of AI image at Cybercab event
tesla and spacex CEO elon musk stylized image

Tesla’s recent We, Robot presentation has run into trouble, with one of the production companies behind Blade Runner 2049 suing Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, for alleged copyright infringement.

Tesla used the glitzy October 10 event to unveil its Cybercab and Robovan, and also to showcase the latest version of its Optimus humanoid robot.

Read more
Qualcomm wants to power your next car with the Snapdragon Cockpit and Ride Elite platforms
Qualcomm Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Ride Elite automotive platforms

It’s been a big year for Qualcomm. Alongside its massive launch into laptop chips through the Snapdragon X Elite series, Qualcomm is now entering the automotive space. The company has announced the new Qualcomm Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite platforms at its annual Snapdragon Summit, which it flew me out to attend.

The two platforms are designed for different purposes, and can be used togetheror separately. The Snapdragon Cockpit Elite is built for in-vehicle infotainment systems and services, while the Snapdragon Ride Elite is built to power autonomous vehicle systems, including all the cameras and sensors that go into those systems.

Read more
Scout Traveler and Scout Terra forge a new path for EVs
Scout Traveler and Scout Terra.

Electric vehicles are inseparable from newness, whether it’s new tech, new designs, or new companies like Rivian, Lucid, and Tesla. But the Volkswagen Group’s new EV-only brand also relies heavily on the past.

Unveiled Thursday, the Scout Traveler electric SUV and Scout Terra electric pickup truck are modern interpretations of the classic International Harvester Scout. Manufactured from 1961 to 1980, the original Scout helped popularize the idea of the rugged, off-road-capable utility vehicle, setting the stage for modern SUVs.

Read more