The Koenigsegg CC is the prototype that began the Swedish manufacturer. Work started in 1994, the target was a car quicker than the McLaren F1 and faster than its 386 km/h, and the prototype evolved through several engines before the production CC8S followed.
Koenigsegg CC at a glance
| Maker | Koenigsegg Automotive, Sweden |
|---|---|
| Type | Prototype sports car |
| Work started | 1994 |
| Target | more than 386 km/h, set by the McLaren F1 in 1997 |
| Design inspiration | McLaren F1 and Ferrari F40 |
| Engines considered | Audi 4.2 V8, Motori Moderni flat-12, Ford Modular V8 |
| Engine used | Ford Modular V8 |
| Doors | dihedral synchro-helix actuation |
| First colour | silver, later black |
| Other prototypes | white European-spec car (2000), pre-production CC8S |
| Development | led to the CC8S, the first production Koenigsegg |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Koenigsegg CC.
History of the Koenigsegg CC
Starting point
Work on the car began in 1994. Christian von Koenigsegg wanted to build a sports car that could exceed the standards set by the McLaren F1 at the time and beat the 386 km/h the F1 reached in 1997. The design of the CC was inspired by the McLaren F1 together with the Ferrari F40.
Colour and doors
The car was initially painted silver. It was then painted black when the new dihedral helix synchro actuation doors were fitted, and finally it was painted in its current colour.
The engine question
The first plan was to use Audi’s 4.2-litre V8, but the deal fell flat after von Koenigsegg made clear that he intended to tune the engine far beyond its standard output. The next candidate was the flat-12 race engine developed by Motori Moderni for the Scuderia Coloni Formula One team, raced under the Subaru badge in the 1990 season. These Subaru 1235 engines were bought and modified for the CC, but that deal failed too when the founder of Motori Moderni died and the company went bankrupt. Following this, Koenigsegg made a deal with Ford for the Modular V8.
Two more prototypes
Besides the original car there were two other prototypes: a white European-specification car produced in 2000, and a pre-production version of the CC8S, which was the first CC8S Koenigsegg built.
Design and features
- Dihedral doors: the synchro-helix mechanism that became a Koenigsegg trademark was fitted during the prototype’s development.
- Supercar targets: the car was designed around the performance of the McLaren F1 and Ferrari F40.
- Ford power: the final engine choice was Ford’s Modular V8 after the Audi and Motori Moderni plans collapsed.
- Test bed for production: the prototype led directly to the CC8S.
Koenigsegg CC versions
- CC prototype: the original car, silver, then black, then its current colour.
- White European-spec prototype: built in 2000.
- Pre-production CC8S: the first CC8S Koenigsegg produced.
The prototype led to the CCR, and its engine work fed into the later CCX. More Koenigseggs are in the Koenigsegg collection.
Video: Koenigsegg CC
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Koenigsegg CC, English Wikipedia: origins, design, engines, prototypes
