Koenigsegg Jesko review

Join us as we clamber on board. In your hand you have the shield shaped key. Amongst its powers is the ability to open all four apertures at once – both doors plus the front and rear clams. Press that button now.

The doors push outwards and then pivot up through 90 degrees, the clams unlatch and rise slowly to reveal what lies beneath. You don’t really see the engine under the rear, it’s tucked right up behind the rear bulkhead, and sat down as low as it possibly can. What blocks the view of the V8 is the X-shaped rear sub-frame support and in-board suspension. That includes a lateral heave damper to combat the effects of downforce attempting to compress the springs at high speed. 

AND WHAT ABOUT THE CABIN ITSELF? 

There’s a wide sill to negotiate before you drop into the thinly upholstered cockpit. The carbon seats don’t have much adjustment, but they don’t need much. They are way more supportive than they look, and have enough give in them to be comfortable for extended periods.

The steering wheel has plenty of adjustment, the pedals move as well and the controls are all pretty logical. Stubby little gear lever, start button behind it, magnetic holder for the key on the dash and mostly understandable buttons on the steering wheel. The physical buttons operate with all the tactility you’d hope, but the thumb pads on either side are less satisfying. Oh well, console yourself with the way the screen graphics tilt to remain upright when you turn the steering wheel. And then look beyond that to the bright orange G meter as it spins and rotates in its housing. You might not need it, but don’t you want it?

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE DESIGN?

That whole thing about it being a lux Le Mans racer? Yeah, that’s what you’ve got going on. It’s like Group C made a comeback and got a carbon overload. The narrow windscreen wraps around to A-pillars placed a long way back, which mean you’ve got a widescreen view forwards. 

Inside it’s stripped back, the surfaces are mostly bare or covered with Alcantara, but their finish, the execution and feeling of solidity in here is remarkable. 

CAN IT CARRY STUFF?

Besides two people? Yes, it can. There’s a 50-litre compartment under the bonnet, and another 50 litres of storage capacity in lockers under the rear deck.

AND WHAT ABOUT EQUIPMENT? WHAT DOES IT COME WITH?

It gets a lot of the gadgets you’re used to seeing on conventional cars, such as birds-eye view parking assistance, cameras, climate control, Apple CarPlay and airbags, but beyond that not a great deal. But then what more would you want? If you can answer that, then off you go to Koenigsegg for a full personalisation program.