Koenigsegg Sets Speed Record

Sweden’s Koenigsegg AB’s Agera RS supercar achieved an average top speed of 277.9 mph on a closed highway in Nevada to shatter the previous record of 267.8 mph set in 2010 by a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.

Koenigsegg driver Niklas Lilja piloted the Agera racer to the record run on Saturday. The speed is a two-way average of 271.2 mph in one direction and 284.6 mph in the other direction to account for the differences in wind and road gradient. The data was recorded and verified on site by Racelogic.

The privately owned car also set a new zero-to-250 mph and back to zero time of 33.9 seconds. That breaks its own record of 36.4 seconds set last month in Denmark.

Powered by a 5.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine, the rear-wheel-drive Agera RS generates 1,341 hp and about 1,000 lb-ft of torque. Standard Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires were used during the record run.

Volkswagen AG’s Bugatti unit hopes to regain the speed record next year with its new 1,480-hp Chiron hypercar. That vehicle briefly held the record for the fastest time for zero to 400 kph (249 mph) and back, before being eclipsed by the Agera RS. Houston-based tuner Hennessey Performance Engineering also is readying its 1,600-hp Venom F5 supercar for a record attempt.