In the high-end speed wars, electric power is once again on top
Rimac has set multiple new performance records with its Nevera R electric hypercar, adding another chapter to the speed war between Rimac and Koenigsegg. An even more potent version of the normal Nevera (which itself set a string of speed records back in 2023), the new Nevera R has retaken the crown for the challenging 0-400-0 km/h run from Koenigsegg – that’s zero to 249 mph and back to zero again. The Nevera R’s new time is 25.79 seconds, 2.04 seconds quicker than the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut managed last year. Of course, that’s not all the Nevera R managed to achieve, as it toppled many of the normal Nevera’s accomplishments.
24 New Speed Records
It takes a few minutes to fully digest the scope of the Nevera R’s achievements, as the numbers seem scarcely believable. We’ll start with the new 0-60 mph time, as that’s the easiest reference point most of us have to a normal car. These days, anything under three seconds is enough to rearrange the contents of your stomach. Well, the Nevera R accomplished the run in just 1.66 seconds, beating the normal Nevera’s 1.74-second time.
As the speeds rose, the Nevera R continued to thrive. The 0-100 mph sprint took 2.96 seconds, the quarter-mile took 7.9 seconds, and the 0-200 mph run took 9.25 seconds. A top speed of 268.2 mph adds to the list of staggering achievements; this was a new record for EVs, which are at a distinct disadvantage at very high speeds.
“When we first introduced Nevera it almost seemed like the pinnacle of hypercar performance had been reached,” said Mate Rimac, founder and president of the Rimac Group. “In a single generation, we had created a performance jump that previously would have taken decades. But now, through relentless innovation, Nevera R goes even faster, while still maintaining much of the comfort and practicality that makes the Nevera a real, usable daily car. Breaking records is in our DNA, and we won’t stop here.”
Electric Power Takes The Lead Over Gas Once More
Koenigsegg
Producing 2,078 horsepower from four electric motors, the Nevera R is one of the most powerful cars on earth. Combined with optimized aerodynamics and less weight, it’s little wonder that it has achieved a brace of new speed records. Being able to beat the Jesko Absolut in the 0-279-0 mph run is especially noteworthy, but let’s not discount Koenigsegg’s staggering achievements with the Jesko Absolut, the king of gas-powered hypercars.
Running on E85 gas, the Jesko’s 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 (with the world’s lightest V8 crankshaft) produces 1,600 hp. It has an ultra-low drag coefficient of 0.278 Cd and the Light Speed Transmission can execute incredibly fast shifts. That the Jesko gets so close to the electric Nevera R should not be underestimated.
It remains to be seen if Koenigsegg can possibly engineer its car to a point that it can steal back the 0-279-0 record from Rimac, but that’s a tall order the Jesko Absolut, a car that already pushes the limits of what’s possible with internal combustion.
