It was a terrible blow of fate that befell the owner of this Koenigsegg Jesko during a major car rally in Greece. The Swedish hypercar, a one-off sporting an entirely exposed carbon fiber body with gold accents, caught fire and was completely destroyed on an Athens highway. A drama which raises many questions about the circumstances of the fire and the future of this exceptional model, while the 125 copies planned have already all been sold.
The Koenigsegg Jesko “Nur Edition”, a unique piece reduced to ashes
The Koenigsegg Jesko involved in this tragic accident was far from being an ordinary model. Called “Nur Edition”, it was distinguished by its body entirely in visible carbon fiber, enhanced with golden elements on the front fins, the rocker panels and the end plates of the rear wing. A livery reminiscent of the Jesko “Odin”, but without the gold flakes embedded in the carbon fiber.
Unfortunately, all that remains of this work of art on wheels today is a sad mass of melted metal and carbon. Images and videos taken at the scene of the tragedy show the Swedish hypercar completely ravaged by flames, even before the firefighters arrived. A spectacle of desolation for this exceptional Koenigsegg, whose owner had paid an additional $443,400 for the visible carbon finish.
An express fire on the highway, the causes of which remain unknown
The fire broke out while the Jesko Nur Edition was taking part in the “6to6 Motor” rally across Europe, among more than 70 other sports cars, supercars and hypercars. For the moment, no official cause has been put forward to explain this sudden and violent conflagration:
Fortunately, no casualties were reported in this accident. It remains to be hoped that the vehicle was well insured, even if that will not be enough to erase the sadness of seeing such a jewel of the automobile go up in smoke.
The nightmare of hypercars, between power and fragility
With its 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine developing 1,280 hp on standard fuel, and up to 1,600 hp on E85, the Koenigsegg Jesko is one of the most powerful and exclusive hypercars in the world . Phenomenal power that flows to the rear wheels via a 9-speed multi-clutch gearbox, for truly mind-blowing performance.
But this riot of technology and noble materials has a price: that of fragility in the face of the hazards of the road and the elements. Fires are unfortunately not rare on these cars of more than 1,500 hp clad in electronics and carbon elements, as evidenced by the case of this Jesko. A drama which reminds us that even the most exceptional cars remain subject to the laws of physics and mechanics.
An irreplaceable loss for the owner and for Koenigsegg
Beyond the financial value of this Koenigsegg Jesko Nur Edition, estimated at several million euros, it is a unique and irreplaceable piece which went up in smoke on this Greek highway. Its owner, who took delivery of this precious model at the start of the year, will have to turn to the second-hand market if he wishes to acquire another Jesko, because the 125 examples planned have already all found buyers.
A hard blow also for the Swedish manufacturer Koenigsegg, which sees one of its jewels reduced to nothing in still murky circumstances. Even if the brand is used to pushing the limits of performance, this accident is a cruel reminder that the quest for the extreme sometimes has a very heavy price to pay. Let us hope that lessons will be learned from this tragedy, so that the hypercars of tomorrow combine power, new fuels, and optimal safety.
SRQ Backlot