Koenigsegg Lands in Canada With Grand Touring Automobiles, Showcasing Gemera and Jesko Models
Super Swedes.
Getting your hands on a Koenigsegg in Canada just became a bit easier, as Grand Touring Automobiles has announced that it will serve as the exclusive national retailer for the Swedish supercar brand.
The news coincides with Grand Touring Automobiles’ acquisition of the Alberta Weissach Group and the Dilawri Group, introducing a new Calgary location for the dealership. That means Grand Touring Automobiles will now represent Aston Martin, Automobili Pininfarina, Bentley, Bugatti, Koenigsegg, Lamborghini, Lotus, Rimac, and Rolls-Royce in Calgary and around the country.
To commemorate the launch of the new Grand Touring Automobiles location, Koenigsegg is hitting the road, going on a cross-country tour, starting in Montreal. The brand is showcasing the four-seater Gemera as well as the incredibly fast Jesko Absolut. Let’s take a closer look.
First, there’s the hybrid-powered Gemera, which sports three electric motors as well as a twin-turbo three-cylinder engine for a total of 1,700 horsepower. It’s the first four-seater made by Koenigsegg, and it isn’t messing around. Thanks to the proper placement of those electric motors, with two for the rear wheels and one for the front axle, this all-wheel-drive family car can hit highway speeds in under two seconds.
That three-cylinder engine isn’t some mundane buzzy powerplant, as it utilizes an incredibly innovative camless design and features cylinder deactivation. This motor is matched to another unique innovation: the Koenigsegg Direct Drive, which is essentially a single-gear transmission. Those components make the Gemera unbelievably efficient and lightweight, handy traits when you have to include a large battery to juice those electric motors. The 15-kilowatt battery provides roughly 50 kilometres of all-electric driving range, which extends to 1,000 kilometres of total range when the speed machine is handled in hybrid mode.
Climbing into the vehicle is easy thanks to the large dihedral doors that open to reveal both the front and rear seats. The pillarless design allows for a sleek profile. The cabin is far more approachable and practical than in other supercars. There are eight cupholders and several information screens, including a pair that serves as the side-view mirrors, displaying a video feed of what’s occurring beside the vehicle.
Just 300 units of the Gemera will be produced, which means it will be way more common than the other megacar Koenigsegg is presenting on this tour. There will be just 125 examples of the Koenigsegg Jesko and each one already has been spoken for. The version that Koenigsegg is taking on tour is the even more speed focused Absolut model, which is expected to be the brands fastest vehicle yet.
A more traditional exotic, the Jesko features a five-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine instead of electric or innovative camless motors. It features an output of 1,600 horsepower and an incredibly lofty top speed. The Absolut model is designed to see a maximum velocity above 483 km/h, though that’s only been tested in simulations. In reality, you’d need an incredibly long track, excellent tires and a driver crazy enough to give it a shot.
Hitting that kind of speed requires slippery aerodynamics. The vehicle has to cut through the air like a knife, so all the wings and splitters that create downforce on the standard Jesko have been removed on the Absolut model. Instead of the big rear wing, there are a pair of fins, evoking images of a jet-fighter. The rear tires have removable covers to improve stability at high speed. In addition to that, the vehicle sports a low ride height, and closed off air ducts, improving the coefficient of drag to an impressive 0.278.
While the standard model uses a special Triplex suspension, the Absolut model features a slightly more conventional configuration, which frees up space under the hood. This means you can stow the targa top under there, which is handy. The ride is also said to be softer and better suited for the street when compared to the Absolut model. Who said speed has to be harsh and punishing?
Finally, putting the power to the ground is a nine-speed transmission. Now you may have heard of speedy dual-clutch transmissions, but the Jesko sports seven clutches to make quick and intelligent gear choices.
Everyone can recognize a Ferrari and Lamborghini, but if you really want to stand out, a Koenigsegg will do the trick. Now, thanks to the recent announcement with Grand Touring Automobiles, you’ll be able to pick up your Swedish supercar at any of these retailers across the country.
