Epic Kimera K-39 gets 1,000hp Koenigsegg V8
Kimera wildly exceeds expectations with new ground-breaking, ground-up supercar - that's coming to FOS, too
Some things seemed guaranteed when it came to Kimera’s K-39 project: we knew it would look to classic Lancias for design influence, specifically the Group C machines; we knew it would go to Pikes Peak; and we knew it would be shown to the world at Villa D’Este. Nothing out of the ordinary there for Kimera, given it’s a regular presence on the shores of Lake Como and given that the EVO37 and 38 have celebrated Lancia heritage so proudly.
What is out of the ordinary, however, is 1,000hp. That’s how much power the K-39 is going to get. Not just any old 1,000hp, either, but 1,000hp courtesy of a twin-turbo Koenigsegg V8. The same monster that goes in Regeras, Jeskos and so on. Kimera isn’t simply buying them in, either - this is a proper collaboration between the two brands. Therefore K-39 customers will benefit from the Koenigsegg Cloud (and the over-the-air updates it brings) as well as specific calibration for their market. Nobody is getting less than 1,000hp, basically, whether they’re in Jacksonville or Jakarta. And there really can’t be many companies, if any, better placed to handle the demands of global approval for a 1,000hp V8 than Koenigsegg.
Furthermore, while not quite at full 1,500hp lunatic spec, the Kimera-Koenigsegg tune sounds plenty potent enough: peak power at 7,350rpm (with the limiter at 8,250rpm), 885lb ft at 5,500rpm, plus smaller, lighter turbos - ‘optimising response and drivability for the K-39’s specific mission.’ A gearbox choice hasn’t been confirmed.
What’s the benefit for Koenigsegg? Showing off what it can do to a wider audience, really. Those embedded in the Koenigsegg community will know all about its expertise when it comes to engines, batteries, motors, inverters, software and so on, but they’re understandably keen to spread the word a little further. So the Kimera deal ‘reflects a broader strategic direction: to make selected technologies developed for its own hypercars available to exceptional external projects.’
Dallara is another storied name involved in the K-39 project; it’s not entirely clear how just yet, though it’d have to be assumed on a chassis and architecture basis given Dallara’s carbon fibre nous. Whatever’s going on is said to be ‘not a structured technical partnership in the conventional sense, but an authentic dialogue made of mutual respect, shared ideas and cultural affinity.’ It’s Italians working together to make the best kind of Italian car, basically. And when we're talking about crazy-powered supercars, that sounds pretty great to us.
With nods to the earlier EVO cars, the K-39 is recognisably a Kimera creation, albeit much more extreme than we’ve become used to. It’s a fascinating combination of retro styling cues with modern aerodynamic features, most notably the S-duct up front and that chunky rear diffuser. Safe to say that this is going to steal the show wherever it turns up, unlike anything else and yet immediately recognisable as well. Kimera says that the styling of the K-39 is ‘an ensemble in which function and beauty are indistinguishable.’
And if the Stradale spec isn’t wild enough, wait until you see the race car going to Pikes Peak. Looking like the lovechild of a Lancia 037 and that Gran Turismo Suzuki Escudo, the motorsport machine must be in contention for one of the fastest times in Colorado. And a few buyers will be able to experience it for themselves, too, as a ‘Pikes Peak configuration’ is being offered to the first 10 people who ‘believed in the project from the very beginning.’ Deposit holders, as they’re otherwise known.
That arrangement will see these wild aero appendages offered on customer cars, fusing ‘road, track and mountain in radical harmony.’ A Pikes Peak spec will also remain road legal, however, so we’re going to guess they’re removable parts. Let’s see - but just in case the K-39 project wasn’t exciting enough, it would seem that a car resembling the Martini-liveried machine could make it to a track day.
In fact, there’ll be plenty of opportunities to see the K-39 throughout this year, as it’ll be seen at Spa, Le Mans, The Aurora in Sweden, Festival of Speed (including a run up the hill), Monterey Car Week and the Las Vegas concours, amongst others. Those 20 people who’ve already signed up for one of these Kimeras will surely be joined by a few others later in 2026. Whatever’s in the collection right now, it definitely doesn’t have a 1,000hp V8 like this in it.
Christian von Koenigsegg said of the Kimera K-39 (not a sentence we ever thought would be on PH): “The K-39 is exactly the kind of project that deserves something truly special: independent, emotional, technically ambitious and built with a clear sense of purpose. We developed a dedicated version of our twin-turbo V8 to match the character Kimera wanted for the K-39, and I am confident that this engine will give the car the performance, response and reliability it needs to express its full potential. This collaboration is also a strong example of how Koenigsegg technology can support selected projects beyond our own cars, when the values and ambition are right.”
So maybe this won’t be the last time a Koenigsegg engine will feature in a non-Swedish supercar. Any other would surely be doing well to be this exciting, however. For now, continue to gawp - Pikes Peak will be here before you know it.
I see an end to this.
With racing colors, please.
Or I just take the bike
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