Student envisages ‘entry-level’ Koenigsegg

A FINNISH student has rendered what he envisages “a lightweight entry-level” Koenigsegg hyercar could look like in the near future.

Esa Mustonen is the mastermind behind the stunning design, dubbed Raw by Koenigsegg, with the project being overseen by brand founder and CEO Christian von Koenigsegg as well as head of design Sasha Selipanov.

Mr Mustonen dreamt up the concept for Raw Design House – Koenigsegg’s in-house design arm – and to use as the basis for his graduation thesis.

In a recent interview with TopGear.com, Mr Mustonen said he wanted to “challenge some of the automotive design standards” while using a mixture of modern and classic concept cars for inspiration.

Visually, the Raw by Koenigsegg looks unlike anything in production with an incredibly squat and aerodynamic body shell free from any meaningful lumps, bumps or even mirrors.

The familiarly shaped wrap-around glasshouse and subtle double-bubble streamliners are the only giveaways the design is that of a Koenigsegg.

The most striking aspects of the design are the squared off front end and the non-existent rear overhang, a move which would reportedly be made possible due to the extremely compact nature of the car’s powertrain.

This attention to detail clearly paid dividends as the young designer garnered the praises of Mr Selipanov, who commended the youngster for using more than just “stylistic thinking” in his design.

According to Raw Design House, power would come courtesy of Koenigsegg’s own and very real 2.0-litre three-cylinder Freevalve TFG petrol engine – the same one found in the ballistic new Gemera four-seat hypercar.

In this guise, the engine would produce an even 522kW (700 horsepower) while the body and underpinnings would be created using the brand’s “vast composite and light-weighting experience”.

When all is said and done, Mr Mustonen said the Raw by Koenigsegg would weigh about 700kg, pointing to a new interpretation of the legendary 1:1 ratio first achieved by the One:1 hypercar of 2014.

“Raw by Koenigsegg has a strong focus on innovative aerodynamics with its flow-through architecture and jet fighter afterburner inspired articulated rear diffuser,” Raw Design House said in a statement.

In true Koenigsegg fashion, Mr Mustonen was sure to fit perhaps the wildest action doors imaginable, specifying his concept with ‘suicide’ (backwards) opening versions of the doors first seen on the CC8S way back in 2002.

Inside there is a McLaren F1-esque three-seater setup with the driver sat squarely in the middle, flanked by two rear-mounted passenger seats.

Exterior lighting front and rear is taken care of three LED strips running along and perpendicular to the top edges of the front and rear ‘bumpers’.