Founded in 1994 with the precise goal to produce a world-class supercar, Koenigsegg launched its first production model in 2002. Dubbed CC8S, it was the result of eight years of development and an improved version of the CC prototype, which is said to have been inspired by the McLaren F1 and Ferrari F40. The CC8S was followed by the CCR in 2004, but it wasn't until 2005 that Koenigsegg introduced its first state-of-the-art supercar, the CCX.

Short for Competition Coupe X, the CCX was built to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the completion and test drive of the first CC prototype and was the company's first global car. Designed and engineered to comply with global safety and environment regulations, especially those required by the U.S. market, the CCX features significant alterations compared to the CCR. It also had a brand-new, designed in-house engine, a choice of two transmissions (a first for Koenigsegg), and ran of 91 octane fuel, making it suitable for the United States and meeting the strict Californian emission standards.

It was also the first Koenigsegg to be produced for more than a coupe of years, with the last example being built in 2015. A total of 30 CCX units were produced in ten years, plus another 19 special-edition models such as the CCXR, CCXR Edition, CCXR Special Edition, and CCXR Trevita. One CCX was used for crash tests and one was kept by the factory as a test car. Some CCX cars have later been upgraded to CCXR specs.

All told, the CCX was an extremely important car for Koenigsegg, one which ultimately helped the Swedish company to develop the Agera and the One:1. That's why we decided to have a closer look at the supercar that basically turned Koenigsegg into a global manufacturer.

Continue reading to learn more about the Koenigsegg CCX.

2007 Koenigsegg CCX

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2007 Koenigsegg CCX
  • Engine/Motor: 4.7L V8
  • Horsepower: 806@6900
  • Torque: 5700
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

Essentially an evolution of the CCR, the CCX shared much of its exterior design with its predecessor. But even though the overall shape remained about the same, the CCX received several redesigned parts. Up front, it had a more intricate bumper design that included larger vents, a revised carbon-fiber diffugser, and LED foglamps. The headlamps were significantly larger, while the front hood gained a central vent for better cooling. The bumper was also larger and also incorporated the headlamps compared to the CCR.

Viewed from the side, the CCX had similar features, including the massive vent in the door and rear fenders, nearly flat haunches, and identical side mirrors. However, the shape of the front hood was different, the rear fender insert had a "CCX" logo, while the side skirts were larger. Changes were even less significant around back, where Koenigsegg maintained the same taillights configuration with three lights on each side, the two-tier grille configuration, and the split diffuser with a large exhaust outlet in the middle. The rear hood, on the other hand, featured a larger glass window over the new engine.

Design changes aside, the CCX was 88 mm (about 3.5 inches) longer than the CCR in order to comply with the U.S. rear impact regulations. The longer body also helped Koenigsegg free up space around the rear mufflers, which received improved cooling. The rear license plate recess was adapted to suit both U.S. and Euro-size number plates.

Interior

Inside, Koenigsegg also made various changes compared to the CCR. The targa-top configuration and the "dihedral synchro-helix" actuation doors were retained, but the car earned a further 50 mm (about two inches) in headroom, which at the time made the CCX the most spacious supercar on the market, offering plenty of room for taller drivers. New race-spec seats were redesigned in cooperation with Sparco and test driver Loris Bicocchi. The carbon-fiber structure was kept, but the new design featured fully padded front surface and a tilting backrest. The more comfortable seats in CCR were also available on special order.

Styling-wise, the cabin was rather spartan, despite bringing together loads of carbon-fiber, fine leather and Alcantara, and a wraparound dashboard design with contrast stitching. The instrument cluster was a simple round unit with three gauges, while the aviation-inspired A/C outlets were raised just above the dash. The dial-like unit on the center stack was particularly interesting. Both the pedals and the gear shifter were inspired from the world of motorsports. Various color combinations were made available.

Drivetrain

The drivetrain of the CCX was the biggest change compared to the CCR. While previous Koenigseggs used a Ford Racing V-8 with in-house manufactured components, the CCX received a brand-new powerplant with no connections to Ford. Koenigsegg made its own block casting and refined the existing components, putting them together in a twin-supercharged, 4.7-liter V-8. Specifically created by Grainger & Worrall, a company with plenty of experience in Formula One, the engine was assembled and tested at the company's production plant in Sweden. The unit was lubricated with a dry sump system with a separate oil pump and the pistons were cooled through an internal cooler that sprayed oil onto them in order to run high cylinder pressure with 91 octane fuel.

The CCX's engine was rated at 806 PS and 920 Nm of torque (795 horses and 665 pound-feet) and enabled the supercar to hit 62 mph from a standing start in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 245 mph. Compared to the CCR, it was a half-second quicker and its top speed was three-mph higher. Also, it was only eight mph slower than the Bugatti Veyron 16.4, which set a world record only month before the CCX arrived. The world record was later improved at 257.87 mph by the Veyron Super Sport, a figure that still stands as of 2016.

Despite being incredibly powerful and fast, the CCX returned somewhat decent fuel economy, being rated at 14 mpg combined and 18 mpg highway.

The 4.7-liter V-8 was later souped up for the CCXR, which came with 1,018 PS and 1,060 N, of torque (1,004 horses and 782 pound-feet) on tap. A 4.8-liter version was then developed for the special edition models that followed. The CCX Edition arrived with 888 PS and 940 Nm (875 horses and 693 pound-feet), while the CCXR Edition, Special Edition, and the Trevita generated 1,018 PS and 1,080 Nm (1,004 and 797 pound-feet) of twist.

Braking power for the CCX came from high-performance braking systems, while the standard forged alloy wheels were wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires. Optionally, Koenigsegg offered industry-first carbon-fiber wheels and eight-piston caliper carbon-ceramic brakes at the front and six-piston caliper brakes at the rear. The carbon wheels were 6.6 pounds lighter than the standard rollers, while the optional braking system saved another 4.4 pounds of unsprung weight.

Prices

The Koenigsegg CCX was priced from around $650,000 in its first year on the market. Naturally, most customers actually paid a lot more than that, as the sticker increased dramatically with the options and the massive amount of customizing features offered by the company. Still, the CCX was significantly more affordable than its most competitor at the time, the Bugatti Veyron. CCXs don't usually show up on the used car market, but they tend to keep their value due to the very limited production run.

Competition

Bugatti Veyron

The Veyron arrived in the same year as the CCX and took the CCR's crown as the world's fastest production car after only a few months. Originally powered by a quad-turbo, 8.0-liter W-16 rated at 1,000 horsepower, the Veyron 16.4 set a new world record for top speed by hitting 253.81 mph in 2005. The benchmark was only 11 mph higher than the CCR, which stole the record from the McLaren F1 earlier than year. The Veyron SS received a more powerful, 1,184-horsepower engine and in 2010 set a new world record at 257.87 with the speed limiter and a whopping 267.85 without the electronic device. Since then, Koenigsegg has been gunning to come up with a faster car, and even though the One:1 is said to be capable of a new record, the Swedish company has yet to make an attempt. Unlike the CCX, the Veyron was available in both coupe and targa-top versions. Pricing was set at an astounding $1.7 million for the 16.4 and around $2.7 million for the Super Sport version. Bugatti built 450 Veyrons in a span of a little over 10 years, with the model being displayed at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.

Find out more about the Bugatti Veyron here.

Conclusion

Despite not having the brand cachet of the Bugatti Veyron or a Ferrari Enzo, the Koenigsegg CCX surfaced the supercar market as a impressive piece of automotive engineering that set new standard for boutique high-performance vehicles. Its design and stunning performance quickly turned it into a favorite poster car among enthusiasts and gave the term "exclusive supercar" a new meaning. More importantly, the CCX was extremely important to Koenigsegg, which used everything it learned from building and selling it globally to develop the even more impressive Agera and even the bonkers One:1. It also made it clear that Christian von Koenigsegg is a talented and motivated entrepreneur and in only 15 years managed to turn a tiny project into a serious company that produces some of the most exciting supercars on the market. For the first time in decades, Saab and Volvo weren't the most talked about automakers based in Sweden.