Koenigsegg to release CCX for American market

05:00 January 10, 2006 PST

the CCX

Image Gallery (5 images)

Less than twelve months ago, the Koenigsegg CCR was the most powerful and fastest production car in the world, having just achieved a top speed of 388 km/h (Caution: large WMV movie) , raising McLaren's mark of 372 kmh set in 1993 by a whopping margin.

Prior to the CCR, the company’s CC8 was the world’s most powerful production car and the Swedish company has a proud history of creating brutally powerful roadsters.

Then Bugatti finally put the long-awaited Veyron into production in October last, and it immediately became the world’s fastest (407 km/h), most powerful (987 bhp), most torquey (1,250 Nm at 2,200 rpm) and most outrageous (16-cylinder engine with four turbochargers and that’s just for starters) production automobile in automotive history.

When Koenigsegg sent us this image and a quaint invitation to the launch of a new car at the 76th Salon International de l´Auto in Geneva we were kinda hopeful that they'd found another 200 horses and 20 km/h and were aiming to reclaim their place at the top of the speed charts.

Sadly, the CCX will be the second fastest car in the world with the same top speed (388 km/h) as the CCR produced from its 806 bhp engine pushing the 2200 pound carbon fibre body. It goes 0 to 62 mph in just 3.2 seconds, and runs the standing quarter mile in just 9 seconds at 146 mph.

The American-only CCX will only be sold in one location - Exotic Cars in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace Las Vegas has just been appointed the first and only dealer in the United States for its exclusive supercars.

Exotic Cars at Caesars Palace currently displays more than 40 vehicles with prices in excess of US$1 million, including such exclusive lines as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Bentley. Thousands of people visit the two-story, 34,000-square-foot showroom each day.

Koenigsegg plans to deliver a limited number of cars during the first year, and orders are being taken on a first come, first served basis. The base price for this prestigious automobile is US$650,000.