Celebrating three decades of the company, Koenigsegg has unveiled a special edition of its Jesko hypercar, the KNC Gold Leaf Jesko Attack. It is a one-of-a-kind car built and delivered to a customer in Australia.
The car was commissioned by 35-year-old Australian billionaire Adrian Portelli and cost around $2.9 million. It features Triplex suspension, a naked carbon fiber (KNC) body, and right-hand drive, giving the car its unique look. There is also a massive air dam that extends through the front hood to create downforce at the front, while an active rear wing is added for downforce at the back, and the Koenigsegg ghost logo in 24-carat gold leaf accents.
The KNC Gold Leaf Jesko Attack is powered by a 5.0-L twin-turbo V8 engine with 1,600 hp (1,195 kW) and 1,106 lb-ft (1,500 Nm) of torque, using E85 fuel. This powerful car recently posted a lap time of 1:24.86 at Laguna Seca.
At the 2023 Munich Motor Show, Chinese company Leapmotor unveiled its new mid-size crossover SUV, the C10. It is the first car developed after Stellantis formed a joint venture with Leapmotor, and the Chinese company is announcing the arrival of a new version of this model, the Leapmotor C10 REEV with a range of almost 1,000 km.
The Leapmotor C10 REEV is a special variant of the C10, which is already on sale in the Netherlands, and will make its debut at the Brussels Motor Show. It will be just the beginning of an expansion to other European markets where Stellantis expects good results.
The car is powered by a single electric motor with 215 hp (158 kW) combined with a 1.5-L gasoline engine. It is equipped with a 28.4 kWh battery that allows a range of 145 kilometers, which is equivalent to many of the latest generation plug-in hybrid cars, but now the total range has been increased to 950 kilometers. The petrol engine acts as a generator, producing electricity, charging the battery and increasing the range. The battery is charged in just 18 minutes thanks to a 65 kW charger. It should also be noted that fuel consumption is very low, only 0.4 l/100 km.
In Europe, the car is currently only available in the Netherlands at a price of 39,050 euros.
Not so long ago, information appeared that Nissan and Honda will join forces and create one of the largest automotive groups. However, the latest information calls the project into question because both companies are not sure what the merger would bring to them.
Honda is in a relatively good position when it comes to hybrid vehicles, but it does not show big ambitions in the EV segment. On the other hand, Nissan has the problem of an outdated electric model range, poor finances and management problems, while its advantages are a better production network, especially in Southeast Asia, and the Sakura model, which is achieving outstanding results in the domestic market. Honda’s partnership with GM collapsed after the bad start of the Prologue model, while its first independently developed long-range EV will not reach the market before 2026.
Those who know the situation at both companies better believe that their strengths could help both companies. However, there are also those who do not believe in this project. Automotive analyst Julie Boote of Pelham Smithers Associates says: “Honda needs to partner with another company to step up its efforts on electric vehicles and software-defined vehicles because it is a mid-sized automaker. Ideally, it would be a healthy and financially sound company, not Nissan.”
There are many reasons why the story of merging these two companies was started, and one of them is the protection of domestic manufacturers from foreign takeovers. Some believe Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) pushed the merger to stop rumors of a takeover of Nissan by Taiwanese technology company Foxconn. Former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn was also against it, saying: “It means you are putting control over performance. Personally, I don’t think it will be successful.”
Even if a merger happens, the entire process could be completed in about six months, while the first effects could be seen in three to five years, which is simply too long for the auto industry.
