Hypercars are at the top of the automotive food chain. They have the best drivetrains, the most advanced tech, and are the most capable. The Koenigsegg Jesko is one of the latest and best examples of that. And although most of us will not be able to afford one, we can at least watch in awe as Koenigsegg founder and CEO, Christian von Koenigsegg, gives us a tour around the pre-production Jesko before engaging in some spirited driving.

The pre-production Jesko was first showcased about a week ago. Now Christian himself will show us the ins and outs of the Jesko, said to debut in 2022. Christian tells us “this is a validation car that we built according to the principles of the production line and is getting very, very close”. He adds that the production cars will have some minor changes, such as slightly different seats, upgraded steering wheel, and a few others, but this is as close to the production variant as possible.

The Tang Orange Pearl exterior finish goes back to 2004 and commemorates the Koenigsegg CCR. Koenigsegg founder showcases many of the car’s highlights, among which are the carbon-fiber wheels, wrapped in bespoke Michelin high-performance rubber.

Koenigsegg actually explains how the car has been designed from the tires upward. The brakes are massive and the whole braking system has been optimized for maximum heat dissipation. By far, the Jesko’s most stunning figure is the 300 mph (483 km/h) capability. The Jesko Absolut, in particular, has been designed specifically to break the 300 mph barrier. There is also the Jesko Attack, which is a more track-oriented version designed to “attack” the racetracks. The Jesko Attack also has an additional air dam going through the luggage compartment, which means no space for the roof.

The interior is not only as exquisite as it can get but is also more usable, thanks to the carbon-fiber monocoque being stretched by 15 mm (0.6 inches). There’s also better visibility, as the Jesko scores a proper rear window. The digital gauge cluster is mounted on the steering wheel and the infotainment features over-the-air updates.

Of course, one of the most important aspects of any Koenigsegg is the powerplant. Of course, you can also run it on regular pump gas, which will give you “only” 1,280 horsepower and 738 pound-feet (1,000 Nm). This marvel of an engine is mated to a nine-speed LST (Light Speed Transmission), which is said to be the next step in double-clutch transmission evolution. The unit also weighs just 90 kg (198 pounds) and has managed to retain compact packaging.

The 125 lucky buyers have to option to choose from a long list of customization options. The “base” car will cost $2.85 million, but it could go over $4.0 million if you tick all the boxes. That’s almost $50,000 more than a Lamborghini Aventador. Regardless, in true Koenigsegg tradition, the Jesko will offer unparalleled levels of performance, and engineering.

Christian von Koenigsegg makes a point that the car isn’t fine-tuned yet, but that doesn’t stop him from demonstrating some of its capability on the open road as well as the runway at Koenigsegg headquarters. One thing we can tell by looking at this is that the Jesko can be both completely civilized and absolute savage. It’s really up to the driver.