Established in 1994, Swedish manufacturer Koenigsegg has developed into a notable sports car builder quite rapidly. The CCR and CCX of the mid-2000s placed the brand on the automotive map, while the Agera, introduced in 2010, established its reputation as a solid maker of limited-edition supercars. The One:1 and the Regera further cemented its place among iconic companies such as Ferrari, Bugatti, and McLaren. Come 2017 and Koenigsegg is working on new products, including a four-door sedan. Word has it we might also see an SUV in its lineup in the future, but Christian von Koenigsegg said, back in 2016, that such a project won't happen. However, we believe that a people hauler is definitely on the company's drawing table.

While it might not arrive in the immediate future, an SUV wearing the Koenigsegg badge is likely to happen beyond 2020. With Bentley having already joined the market and Lamborghini set to do the same by the end of 2017, Koenigsegg will probably find it difficult to say no in a few years. SUVs are becoming increasingly popular, and a high-performance luxury model would be quite popular among folks with deep pockets. That's exactly why we created a rendering of a Koenigsegg SUV and put together a speculative review about what it may bring to the table.

Continue reading to learn more about the Koenigsegg SUV.

2020 Koenigsegg SUV

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2020 Koenigsegg SUV
  • Segment: Array
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 700
Pros
Cons

Exterior

If you look at Koenigsegg's current supercars, the Agera and Regera, it's pretty obvious that the Swedish firm has some sort of design language going. So it's safe to assume that the SUV will be penned along the same lines. It might not be a supercar, but it must be familiar as a Koenigsegg and fit in the lineup along existing and future products.

Take a closer look at our rendering, and you'll notice some of the styling cues seen on the Agera and Regera. Up front, the headlamps are essentially a larger version of those seen on the Agera, also with a new LED pattern at the edges. Sure, you might argue that the Regera's headlamps look cooler and feel more modern, but I think they're too aggressive for an SUV. Also, they might not be that practical on a larger vehicle with headlamps sitting higher above the ground.

Koenigsegg Agera RS1

Koenigsegg Regera


Similarities continue below with large outlets on the sides in the upper section and a flowing lower section that thinner below the vents and taller in the middle. This setup is taken off the Regera and restyled for a milder look. Naturally, we removed the aggressive carbon-fiber splitter of the Regera in favor of a metal plate to keep the engine safe in rough terrain.

Moving onto the sides, this Koenigsegg will be nowhere near as aggressive as the company's familiar supercars. Sure, it will be pretty sporty for an SUV, but forget about beefed-up fenders, wide side skirts, and deep-cut intakes in the rear fenders. Our vision is that this SUV will have a sleek, low roofline with short side windows. And unlike some sports crossovers, which have coupe roofs, Koenigsegg will go with a straight roof and heavily raked C-pillars and rear windscreen. Large wheels with lightweight rims, likely from carbon-fiber, and massive brake calipers should complete the sporty look.

The rear should be pretty simple and employ horizontally oriented taillights and detailing for a wide stance. Also look for a diffuser-like element flanked by large exhaust pipes.

Interior

Note: Koenigsegg Agera RS interior pictured here.

Both the Agera and Regera boast sporty interiors with a dash of luxury, but the SUV will get more of the latter. It should also get a unique configuration, starting with a redesigned dashboard. It's too early to tell what kind of styling we'll see here, but maybe Koenigsegg will go with a more imposing dash, to go with the wider center stack and the taller center console. Naturally, the SUV will also have a higher seating position, but that's not to say that it won't have sports seats and maybe even an option for bucket seats.

By the time this crossover arrives, Koenigsegg will have a new infotainment system with more features, more options, as well as a larger display. A new instrument cluster is also likely with a more complex display for data beyond the usual performance numbers. Leather and Alcantara will be standard and plentiful but expect to see aluminum and carbon-fiber elements too.

Koenigsegg Agera RS

Koenigsegg Regera


Being an SUV, this vehicle will also be the most comfortable Koenigsegg ever, with significantly more headroom for the driver and passenger. It will also be the first to offer seating for rear passengers, also with sufficient headroom, shoulder room, and legroom for a comfortable trip. Depending on where the firm wants this SUV on the market, a rear-seat entertainment system will be standard. Highlights should also include Wi-Fi connectivity, inductive charging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.

Koenigsegg Regera0}

The big question here is whether Koenigsegg will go with a conventional drivetrain or an all-electric setup. Or both.

Should it go with the former, the SUV will use a twin-turbocharged, 5.0-liter V-8 engine and a dual-clutch transmission. This gas unit was offered in just about every Koenigsegg supercar until now, save for the Regera, and it's capable of generating well in excess of 1,000 horsepower. However, the crossover will likely have less than that, most probably around the 600-to-700 horsepower mark. Despite being less powerful than the Agera, it will be one of the most potent SUVs on the market, and most likely the quickest. Expect a 0-to-60 mph sprint time of less than three seconds and a top speed of around 200 mph.

Koenigsegg could also opt for a hybrid drivetrain similar to the Regera, in which case the 5.0-liter V-8 will be paired to a trio of electric motors. While the gas engine will spin the rear axle, the front wheels will be motivated by the all-electric motors. Again, it's safe to assume that the SUV won't be as powerful as the supercar, so forget about the Regera's incredible 1,500-horsepower and 1,475-pound-feet rating. But this version will definitely crank out more oomph than the gas-only SUV, so expect around 900 horses. In this configuration, power will be sent to the wheels through the Koenigsegg Direct Drive, a patent-pending technology that replaces the car’s traditional gearbox with an electric motor. Performance should be similar to the gas-only version.

Finally, it wouldn't be surprising for the Swedish firm to offer an all-electric drivetrain too. Sure, things would be a bit complicated as Koenigsegg needs to redesign the whole setup so that the electric motors spin both axles, but I'm confident that the firm's engineers are already working on it. A 500- to 700-horsepower setup is definitely doable here, but the SUV would also need a lightweight battery pack and a fast charging option.

Koenigsegg Agera

Koenigsegg Agera RS

Koenigsegg Regera

Engine

5.0-liter V-8

5.0-liter V-8

5.0-liter, V-8 + three electric motors

Horsepower

940 HP @ 7,250 RPM

1,360 HP @ 7,800 RPM

1,500 HP

Torque

811 LB-FT @ 5,100 RPM

1,011 LB-FT @ 2,700-6,170 RPM

1,475 LB-FT

0 to 62 mph

3 seconds

<2.5 seconds

2.8 seconds

Top Speed

245 mph

250 mph

250 mph


Prices

Much like any Koegnisegg produced so far, this SUV will be far from affordable. It's likely that it won't be as expensive as the Agera, which was known to cost around $2 million before options, mostly due to the fact that Koenigsegg will build significantly more units a year, but don't expect it to cost less than $1 million. This sticker will make it the most expensive production SUV on the market.

Competition

Lamborghini Urus

Unlike Koenigsegg, Lamborghini has already confirmed that it will enter the SUV market with the Urus, which should be here by the end of 2017. Employing an aggressive design that reminds of the company's supercars, the Urus is still somewhat of a mystery, with many rumors flying around about the engine it will use. While the existing V-10 and V-12 units sound like the logical options, the Urus will get a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 and become the first Lambo to use turbocharging. A hybrid or all-electric version are also rumored but don't expect either of them to arrive before 2020. The Urus is said to cost well in excess of $200,000, which will make it the most affordable Lamborghini, but the most expensive SUV - at least until the Koenigsegg arrives.

Learn more about the Lamborghini Urus here.

Bentley Bentayga

Introduced in 2016, the Bentley Bentayga is the only high-performance, luxury SUV available right now and one of the reasons why Lamborghini is joining this market. Fitted with a massive 6.0-liter W-12 engine under its hood, the Bentayga hits the road with 600 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque, which makes it the fastest and most powerful SUV on the market. However, its four-second 0-to-60 mph sprint will be no match for the Urus or the Koenigsegg, while its 187-mph top speed is likely to drop to third place once its rivals arrive. In short, the Bentley isn’t as quick, but it's likely a much better model for comfort and luxury. Pricing starts from $229,100, which makes it the most expensive SUV as of July 2017.

Find our more about the Bentley Bentayga here.

McLaren SUV

Much like the Koenigsegg, the McLaren SUV is just the result of our imagination right now. But even though McLaren said it wouldn't build an SUV, I think that at some point the Brits are likely to cave in. We envisioned this SUV around the new Mclaren 720S and gave it an aggressive stance with massive shoulders and a coupe roof. I expect it to use a version of the current twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8 engine rated at more than 500 horsepower, but depending on when it will arrive, it could get a pair of electric motors too. McLaren made a promise to introduce hybrid drivetrains for all of its nameplates, and the SUV won't be an exception from this rule. Either way, look for an SUV that can hit 60 mph from a standing start in less than four seconds and reach a top speed of at least 190 mph. Pricing will probably start from around $250,000.

Read more about the McLaren SUV in our speculative review here.

Conclusion

I have to be honest here and admit there's a chance that Koenigsegg will never build an SUV. While it will be very difficult to stay away from this niche with both Lamborghini and Bentley in it, the Swedish firm may choose to stick to building sports cars only. But assuming an SUV will come at some point, it will be the most powerful, dynamic, and quick people hauler out there. And that's a very good reason to remain optimistic and get excited at the though of a crossover wearing this already iconic badge. Sure, it will be awfully expensive, but it won't stop it from becoming popular with drivers that want the best.