Koenigsegg Gemera Boosts Output to 2300 HP with New Optional V

Oct 04, 2023

The production version of Koenigsegg's four-seat supercar will offer a 5.0-liter V-8 along with the original three-cylinder powertrain, with both engines mated to a single e-motor.

CORRECTION 7/25/23: This story previously included an incorrect power figure as the result of a conversion error and has been updated to correctly state the Gemera's power output as 2300 hp.

Jaws dropped around the world when Koenigsegg first took the wraps off the Gemera in 2020, with the dramatic four-seat supercar packing 1677 horsepower and an innovative turbocharged three-cylinder engine that doesn't feature camshafts. Now, three years later, Koenigsegg has unveiled the production specification for the Gemera, bringing major changes including an optional new powertrain that bumps the headlining figure to a mind-bending 2300 hp.

Most of the changes for production are under the skin, with only minor tweaks to the front bumper. The Gemera still sports slippery, low-slung bodywork, which looks resplendent in this emerald green shade paired with gold wheels. The only other noticeable visual difference are the real sideview mirrors, which replace the futuristic cameras on the original show car.

One of the most significant updates is the inclusion of the Light Speed Transmission (LST), first developed for the two-seater Jesko hypercar. The Gemera was originally designed with the single-speed direct-drive transmission that Koenigsegg pioneered on the Regera, but the Swedish automaker decided to incorporate the Jesko's nine-speed automatic gearbox into the Gemera. Rechristened as the "Light Speed Tourbillon Transmission" (LSTT), referencing the mechanical precision of fancy Swiss watches, the transmission does away with the flywheel, with the input shaft directly linked to the engine's crankshaft. This allows for extremely rapid shifts, and Koenigsegg claims it makes the Gemera even more engaging to drive.

The 2020 Gemera show car paired that experimental 2.0-liter inline-three with a trio of electric motors, but for the production-spec car, Koenigsegg has simplified the powertrain. This is the result of a new electric motor developed by the Swedish performance experts. Dubbed the "Dark Matter," the new "Raxial Flux" (a combination of radial and axial flux) motor produces 800 hp and 922 pound-feet of torque. This potent output means the Gemera now packs just the one e-motor, reducing weight and saving space versus the previous setup.

The Gemera is still all-wheel drive with four-wheel torque vectoring, and can power the wheels with the e-motor, the gas engine, or a combination of both. All told, the powertrain spits out 1400 horsepower and 1364 pound-feet of torque—less than originally touted in 2020 but still a mighty figure. Koenigsegg claims acceleration and other performance figures improved due to the weight savings and new transmission, but didn't offer concrete numbers.

For owners disappointed by the three-cylinder-hybrid's drop in power, Koenigsegg is offering a very enticing upgrade. Along with the inline-three, the Gemera will also be available with the twin-turbo 5.0-liter V-8 from the Jesko. This 1500-hp eight-cylinder beast is still mated to a 800-hp Dark Matter e-motor, sending output for the the Gemera HV8 (meaning Hot V8) skyrocketing to 2300 hp and 2028 pound-feet of torque. Koenigsegg claims this makes the Gemera the most powerful production car.

Koenigsegg was only able to offer the V-8 because of the adoption of the LSTT, which freed up enough space to squeeze in the V-8 amidships while still providing adequate room for all four seats. The V-8 also had to be reconfigured from the setup in the Jesko, with Koenigsegg moving the exhaust exits to the top center of the engine, hence the name "Hot V8."

Koenigsegg also opened a new facility at its headquarters in Ängelholm, Sweden yesterday, where it will further develop and later assemble the Gemera. Production is set to kick off at the end of 2024, with deliveries beginning in 2025. There is still no word on price or how much extra the HV8 model will run, but all Gemeras will presumably cost multiple millions of dollars.

Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.

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