Image Source: autoevolution

When Koenigsegg released the CC850, the automobile world pretty much went crazy — and rightly so. This Swedish hypercar is all about record-breaking speed (like, of course). It’s about raising new standards for what a hypercar can do. So, naturally, the question on everyone’s lips: is the Koenigsegg CC850 the new benchmark for hypercar performance?

Let’s take a peek.

We start with a bit of history first. The CC850 is a nod by Koenigsegg to its very first production car, the CC8S. Don’t let the retro-designed look fool you, though. Behind the retro-designed bodywork is some of the most advanced car technology in the universe. The CC850 has a twin-turbo V8 5.0-liter engine with an astonishing 1,185 horsepower or 1,385, on E85 fuel, that is. Rimac and Bugatti territory, people. And the best news is it’s only 1,385 kg, so its power-to-weight ratio comes close to mythic rather than mortal at 1:1.

The Wild Transmission Everybody’s Talking About

The transmission is where things really get interesting. Koenigsegg introduced us to something called the “Engage Shift System” (ESS), which is just plain crazy and allows the CC850 to shift between an automatic mode and a gated six-speed manual, with a real clutch pedal. Yes, you heard correctly. You can still have a 1,000+ horsepower hypercar like a manual in 2025. It is a love letter to the real drivers, and to be honest, no other hypercar manufacturer is attempting anything even remotely similar to this. Place that against the likes of Bugatti Chiron, Rimac Nevera, or Ferrari SF90 Stradale — blimey, no question, but tech and efficiency-led rather than mechanical involvement. The CC850 gives you both.

Performance Figures? Breathtaking.

Koenigsegg has not yet announced official 0-60 mph times (classic Koenigsegg ploy — it’s a secret), but ballpark estimates are possibly in the range of 2.5 seconds or so. Top speed? Over 280 mph. Koenigsegg’s focus isn’t just straight-line speed; it’s creating a car that feels alive, whether you’re blasting down an autobahn or carving up a canyon road. The CC850’s power distribution, poise, and attitude quite possibly make it the more practical, more thrilling hypercar.

The Competition: Holding Their Ground

To stay impartial, competition has never been stronger. Rimac Nevera’s electric torque is ruthlessly quick. Ferrari SF90’s hybrid setup is a masterclass in delicate engineering. And McLaren Speedtail is a thing that will be driven by Batman.

But where Koenigsegg surpasses them all is: soul.

Where everyone else is completely devoted to complete electrification and digitalization, the CC850 offers you a mechanical, analog driving experience without compromising anything when it comes to innovation. It’s not exactly a computer on wheels but a pure, breathing, raw machine for genuine driving aficionados.

So… Is It the New Benchmark?

Short answer: yes.

The Koenigsegg CC850 isn’t just another hypercar with screaming hp numbers. It’s a clarion call — a wake-up call to the industry that technology has to serve passion, not fight it. In a world racing toward electric silence, Koenigsegg has given us something loud, raw, and beautiful. And we’re all better for it.