Koenigsegg One:1

[AudiMan2011]

Aside from Ehra-Lessien, which is owned by Volkswagen, are there any other proving grounds where the One:1 could hit it's true top speed? 240 MPH is an mind-boggling number, but I think it can go beyond that.

The only other way I think the One:1 could theoretically hit it's max speed would be to ship one out to America and close a long straight stretch of highway like what the SSC Ultimate Aero did. I don't think there's any other test track or airfield close to long enough.

Christian said last year they would need at least 10km of straight.

Road&Track
Our customers are generally far more interested in, driving excitement, usability and overall performance than outright top speed that is impossible to reach unless one has access to a closed of 10 km straight!

They know that the car is brutally fast and they know that it will do what we say it can do. So the question becomes – is testing the extreme outer limit of the car a necessity, or just good for marketing?

#2 – You have to have the right venue to do it. VW's Ehra-Lessien test track would be ideal, but they are not likely to allow a Bugatti competitor to use it. So far we have not found any airfield in the world long enough, the longest we found was around 5 km and this is about half the distance needed.

 

[Dan]

The only other way I think the One:1 could theoretically hit it's max speed would be to ship one out to America and close a long straight stretch of highway like what the SSC Ultimate Aero did. I don't think there's any other test track or airfield close to long enough.

Christian said last year they would need at least 10km of straight.

That's very interesting. I never imagined they would a straight that long. I'm just wondering now, how far do they have to travel before they can hit 240 MPH?

 

[AudiMan2011]

That's very interesting. I never imagined they would a straight that long. I'm just wondering now, how far do they have to travel before they can hit 240 MPH?

The One:1 in the vid a few posts above hit 240mph from a standing start at Bruntingthorpe in just 1.4 miles in not very suitable conditions. However, the increase in aerodynamic drag as the speeds climb means the initial acceleration would drop off.

I'm no aerodynamicist but James May also highlighted the drag/speed issues when he drove the Veyron SS.

 

[JC_Dude]

Where did Hennessey do their run in the Venom? Could they just use that place?

 

[TS050]

Where did Hennessey do their run in the Venom? Could they just use that place?

IIRC, they used a shuttle landing strip. I can't recall if it was NASA's or anything but I do remember it was about 3 miles long.

 

[Dan]

IIRC, they used a shuttle landing strip. I can't recall if it was NASA's or anything but I do remember it was about 3 miles long.

That is correct. They only did one run because NASA was testing one of their vehicles at the other end.

 

[AudiMan2011]

Where did Hennessey do their run in the Venom? Could they just use that place?

It was the Kennedy Space Center runway at Cape Canaveral.

 

[Crash]

Aside from Ehra-Lessien, which is owned by Volkswagen, are there any other proving grounds where the One:1 could hit it's true top speed? 240 MPH is an mind-boggling number, but I think it can go beyond that.

The only other way I think the One:1 could theoretically hit it's max speed would be to ship one out to America and close a long straight stretch of highway like what the SSC Ultimate Aero did. I don't think there's any other test track or airfield close to long enough.

Christian said last year they would need at least 10km of straight.

Yeah, there are probably a bunch of stretches of highway in the US that is straight for longer than 10km. Might be difficult to get the approvals and permits to shut down and use for testing though, especially if it's a US Highway or Freeway instead of a state highway.

Bonneville Salt Flats used to be long enough, though it looks like the salt flats are deteriorating to the point where it's not long enough anymore. There are a few USAF bases that have runways long enough, Edwards Air Force Base comes to mind. It's probably extremely difficult to get in and do commercial top speed testing though.

 

[Minty]

Yeah, there are probably a bunch of stretches of highway in the US that is straight for longer than 10km. Might be difficult to get the approvals and permits to shut down and use for testing though, especially if it's a US Highway or Freeway instead of a state highway.

Bonneville Salt Flats used to be long enough, though it looks like the salt flats are deteriorating to the point where it's not long enough anymore. There are a few USAF bases that have runways long enough, Edwards Air Force Base comes to mind. It's probably extremely difficult to get in and do commercial top speed testing though.

There are plenty of long, flat-enough roads to test on in the US, actually. The Ultimate Aero set it on a pretty iffy stretch of highway in Washington, I think, so they shouldn't have any problem finding a suitable road. The issue is permits and approvals, as you said.

And the salt flats work, but they do actually have a pretty big impact on actual top speed.

 

[Dan]

Sad news. Koenigsegg was testing the One:1 on the Nurburgring and the driver crashed. He was taken to a hospital and was released the same day. Glad he's alright. http://koenigsegg.com/2664-2/

EDIT: Here's some photos. Completely obliterated. http://www.motorauthority.com/news/...possibly-rings-most-expensive#image=100558571

 

[20832]

Sad news. Koenigsegg was testing the One:1 on the Nurburgring and the driver crashed. He was taken to a hospital and was released the same day. Glad he's alright. http://koenigsegg.com/2664-2/

EDIT: Here's some photos. Completely obliterated. http://www.motorauthority.com/news/...possibly-rings-most-expensive#image=100558571

Here's another article by BridgeToGantry about the crash: http://www.bridgetogantry.com/update-koenigsegg-one1-crash-at-foxhole/

 

[JohnBM01]

Seven figures... now scrap metal. Truly sad. That's just some vicious damage.

 

[Dan]

Seven figures... now scrap metal. Truly sad. That's just some vicious damage. Of course, my condolences go out to the driver who was killed in that crash as well as the friends and family whom have known and loved this driver.

The driver isn't dead.

 

[JohnBM01]

Okay. I edited the previous post. Still a brutal crash.

 

[ProjectWHaT]

http://koenigsegg.com/koenigsegg-analysis-of-nurburgring-accident/

The One:1 experienced front axle brake lock-up at approximately 170 km/h on a section of the track known as Fuchsröhre before hitting the fence at Adenauer Forst at approximately 110 km/h. The impact with the fence launched the car into the air for an estimated 22 meters while it turned 180 degrees before it landed on its left rear wheel and pivoted to land parallel with the fence. The airbags, fuel shut-off and other safety systems all deployed as they were designed to do.

There was a small fire in the rear section of the car due to contact between the carbonfibre rear panels and the exhaust upon landing. This fire was extinguished by the driver using a fire extinguisher that was located inside the car.

The accident has been traced to a fault with the front left ABS wheel sensor signal.

...

While the One:1 sustained severe damage to its exterior panels and sub-frames (front and rear), the carbon monocoque chassis and airbag restraint system performed according to design specifications and protected the driver well. Examination of the vehicle at our factory in Ängelholm shows that there were no fuel leaks, no oil leaks and no hydraulic fluid leaks whatsoever, which is positively reassuring, given the force of the impact.

The carbon monocoque chassis has been examined at our factory in Ängelholm (photographed today, above). The monocoque is intact and will form the basis for the rebuild of the car in the near future, together with the engine, gearbox and many other systems. Both doors were fully operational, opening and closing in their original positions. The removable roof is fully intact and properly aligned.

 

[bremics]

Amazing how safe and sturdy cars are these days.