Koenigsegg is reportedly preparing to unveil one of the most unusual hypercars in recent memory: a Regera fitted with a manual transmission, built as a single commission for a high-profile owner.
A manual-equipped hypercar runs against nearly every trend in the segment. Automated gearboxes shift far faster than any driver working a clutch and stick, which is why automakers chasing quicker acceleration times have almost entirely abandoned three-pedal setups at the top end of performance. That makes the rumored car all the more striking.
The three-pedal Regera is expected to make its debut at the Aurora Concours in Båstad, Sweden, an event that typically draws some of the rarest and most expensive vehicles in the world. Reports describe the appearance as a surprise hypercar reveal, though the car is said to be strictly a one-off.
The owner is FIA President Mohammad Ben Sulayem, a serious car collector who already owns a bespoke Koenigsegg. That earlier creation, called the Chimera, combined the engine of the Jesko, the transmission of the CC850 and the chassis of the Agera RS. A former rally driver who won the Middle East Rally Championship 14 times, Ben Sulayem is reported to have built much of his fortune through Dubai’s real estate boom.
The manual Regera is not expected to be a simple gearbox swap. The standard car uses a direct-drive system tied to its plug-in hybrid setup, which pairs three electric motors with a 5.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8. Because manual transmissions and full electrification do not work well together, the hybrid components were reportedly stripped out. To compensate for the lost electric power, the V-8 has been tuned to roughly 1,600 horsepower.
The car, which may carry its own distinct name, is expected to make a rare public appearance at its reveal.
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Images Via: Koenigsegg
