Koenigsegg and Michelin confirm 480km/h+
A WHILE ago the Koenigsegg Agera RS set a new record for a 0-4000 km/h run, beating the Bugatti Chiron barely a month after it had recorded its fastest time.
This new record was set by Koenigsegg factory driver Niklas Lilja, who had on the same day set the record for the highest top speed achieved by a production vehicle with a two-way average of a scarcely believable 447km/h, as well as the highest speed achieved on a public road, an eyewidening 458km/h.
With this in mind, the records were set using a single set of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, the same as Koenigsegg fit as standard on the Agera RS.
The Swedish brand and its owner, Christian von Koenigsegg, and Michelin product manager Eric Schmedding, have now said at the recent North American International Auto Show, that they never intended the tyres to go 270mph (435km/h), somewhat higher than they are rated at.
Confidence in their ultimate ability, however, was instilled during the lead up to the record attempt when Michelin ran tests at its aircraftbase tyre torture facility in North Carolina.
Koenigsegg and Schmedding agree that the tyres could potentially handle more than 300mph (483km/h), a figure Von Koenigsegg is hoping to one day record.
According to Von Koenigsegg, the car would need more RPM and a longer gear ratio, but could hit 300 km/h right now.
‘It’s doable, but it’s not our objective for the immediate future’, said Von Koenigsegg.