This is a letter that was published in EVO #053, March 2003.
It is in rebuttal to an article published by Gordon Murray in #052, although I unfortunately don't have this magazine in my possession. I thought this would be funny for all McLaren lovers.

Hush Gordon
I read with the greatest interest the
interview with Gordon Murray (issue
052). First of all I would like to say that I
agree with a lot of what Mr. Murray says
and, like everyone else, I have the
greatest respect for him. However, I
think he is slightly misinformed about
Koenigsegg.
First of all, we have already delivered
cars to England, Dubai and Korea and
are just about to deliver one to Germany.
So we are selling the cars, people are
driving and using them and, as far as we
hear, liking them!
Secondly, we started our development
programme in 1995 and built our first
prototype in 1996, which went through
an extensive testing programme,
including wind tunnel testing, crash
testing, emission testing, etc. All this
work was done before we revealed the
car, and we have always backed our
figures by scientific data.
Thirdly, we have already driven at
365km/h (227mph) at Nardo in
November 2002. According to our test
driver, Loris Bicocchi, there was plenty
left to give, but rain halted the rest
session. We will have another go soon!
Loris has two world speed records with
the EB110 and has driven at 400km/h
with a Dauer 962 at Nardo, so he should
know what he is talking about.
I agree that it would have been cooler to
say nothing until the day we have a
record, but no-one would have known
about us by now, and that would have
caused a different problem. It is much
easier to say nothing to promote your
car, or as Mr Murray puts it 'just shut
up', if you are McLaren, backed up with
Formula 1 as a marketing tool and
therefore automatically receiving high
media exposure.
We have always been forthright and
explained why we believe out car will go
as fast as 390km/h (242mph). One more
time I will present the measured data:
CD as measured full scale (real car in
the Volvo wind tunnel): 0.30
Frontal area M2: 1.82
Final Ratio: 3.364
6th gear ratio: 0.711
Measured drivetrain and tyre losses
(calibrated Busch chassis dyno): 13%
Measured rear-wheel bhp at 7000rpm
(meaning at 390km/h): 601bhp
Required rear-wheel bhp at 7000rpm in
order to obtain 390km/h: 595bhp
Of course there can always be
differences between theory and practice
- time will tell.
If we miss out on our targeted top
speed I think it would not be any
different than when Mr Murray missed
his weight target for the F1: sad but not
the end of the world. The Koenigsegg is
still right now the fastest production car
and, further, it is a good driver's car.
Finally my opinion is that one should
not shoot off one's mouth, period -
whether it is regarding top speed or
competitors. Therefore I hereby officially
invite Mr Murray for a rest drive so that
he can feel first-hand what a
Koenigsegg is made of, thereby
justifying his future comments.

Christian v. Koenigsegg.


I wonder if 'Mr Murray' took him up on that offer. :D
I also wonder if the 242mph claim at the time was the only method of attracting customers to his cars...

I especially like this part - "If we miss out on our targeted top speed I think it would not be any different than when Mr Murray missed his weight target for the F1"

Has anyone got issue 52?

Refer to this thread - it's probably in there:

Gordon Murray letter in Evo to Koenigsegg? (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=222389)

>8^)
ER

Hello,

first thanks for this interesting read.
second, I would like to say two things about Keonigsegg (that I respect and appreciate).

Sport Auto says once again Koenigsegg don't loan the car for testing speed or they say "Ok in august" and there are zero cars available !
also, I was at Le Mans 2007 and could see the fantastic building construction of the CCR :) The gearknob stays in the hand of the driver ! And funnier but not for the passenger, he was blocked by the window !!! Really during 10 seconds and the driver didn't see it !

I will try to find a pic.

Phil

I especially like this part - "If we miss out on our targeted top speed I think it would not be any different than when Mr Murray missed his weight target for the F1"

Has anyone got issue 52?

... here comes that article from evo issue 052:


http://img188.imagevenue.com/loc74/th_33255_1_122_74lo.JPG (http://img188.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=33255_1_122_74lo.JPG)http://img5.imagevenue.com/loc939/th_33262_2_122_939lo.JPG (http://img5.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=33262_2_122_939lo.JPG)http://img176.imagevenue.com/loc430/th_33264_3_122_430lo.JPG (http://img176.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=33264_3_122_430lo.JPG)http://img130.imagevenue.com/loc404/th_33265_4_122_404lo.JPG (http://img130.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=33265_4_122_404lo.JPG)
http://img138.imagevenue.com/loc631/th_33268_5_122_631lo.JPG (http://img138.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=33268_5_122_631lo.JPG)

Roger

:worshippy