Koenigsegg's New Engine Option will Cost R7m+
Koenigsegg has been in the spotlight for a while now due to its record-breaking successes and classic one-of-one race cars emerging on the auction block. However, news of the Gemera having a second engine option that comes at the same price as high-end supercars is worth discussing.
The Gemera originally came with a twin-turbocharged 3-cylinder powerplant assisted by three electric motors. It allowed the 4-seater to produce 1,030kW and 1,850Nm, laying down a 0-100 km/h time of 1.9 seconds. These figures are mind-boggling, but the new optional V8 turns this brutal car into an absolute monster.
Koenigsegg’s HV8 motor is a 5.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, which on its own produces 1,103kW. When met with Koenigsegg's 588 kW Dark Matter electric motor, the total output amounts to 1,692kW with 2,750Nm of torque.
This 662kW increase comes in at the hefty price of R7,450,307, and considering the Gemera starts at R31,404,355 for the 3-cylinder variant, basic math suggests a sticker price out of reach for most. So if you have at least R38,854,662 in your piggy bank, you could consider the V8 spec Gemera as your next family car.
Typically it would be best if you didn't refer to a hypercar or supercar as a family car. However, during its launch in 2020, the internet went berserk over the Gemera's four-seat configuration with a rather impressive amount of cabin space.
Initially, Koenigsegg informed us that there would only be 300 units produced when the 3-cylinder TFG or Tiny Friendly Giant variant was launched. Unfortunately, the launch of this new power unit won't increase the number of units built, meaning that the Gemera HV8 will be an incredibly rare car.
The Gemera was already an extraordinary engineering marvel, and with such a massive power improvement, it almost doesn't make rational sense. Since there's nothing to compare it with, it stands as an extraordinary car in its own right.