4 cars mentioned in this article have been replaced or discontinued since publication
- The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 was replaced by the Bugatti Chiron.
- The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport was replaced by the Bugatti Chiron.
- The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport was replaced by the Bugatti Chiron.
- The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse was replaced by the Bugatti Chiron.
The Koenigsegg Agera RS set a two-way average speed of 277.9 mph (447.2 km/h) on a closed public highway in Nevada in November 2017. The run made it the fastest production car ever recorded at the time, breaking the previous record held by the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. For Koenigsegg, it was the moment that confirmed the small Swedish company had built a car that the entire automotive industry had to take seriously.
The Context of the Record
Nevada State Route 160 was closed to traffic for the record attempt. Two timed runs were required in opposite directions to account for wind assistance – the average of both runs is the official speed. The 277.9 mph average was achieved with Koenigsegg’s factory driver Robert Serwanski behind the wheel.
The conditions were ideal: dry, cold, and at altitude. The RS used its Koenigsegg Revolutionary Hydraulic Heave Spring (KRSHS) suspension system, which the company had developed to prevent the car from bottoming out at high speeds.
The Agera RS Specification
The Agera RS is based on the Agera R platform with more aggressive aerodynamics and calibration. The 5.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 produces 745 kW (1,011 hp) on petrol, or 895 kW (1,218 hp) on E85 ethanol. Torque is 1,200 Nm on E85.
The RS adds an aerodynamic package with a large rear wing, front splitter, and active rear diffuser. These generate significant downforce at high speeds while a NACA duct roof scoop improves engine airflow.
Only 25 Agera RS units were produced between 2015 and 2018. Each was bespoked to the individual customer’s specification.
The Car That Made the Run
The record-setting car, chassis 1 of 25, was owned by an American collector. It was prepared specifically for the record attempt with fuel mapping optimised for the Nevada altitude and temperature conditions. After the record run, the car was returned to standard configuration and used normally by its owner.
This detail matters: the Agera RS was not a stripped-out prototype. It was a road car driven to a closed highway, used for the record, and driven home.
What Followed
The Agera RS’s record was later broken by the SSC Tuatara in 2020 (though that record was disputed) and then superseded by subsequent Bugatti record attempts and the Hennessey Venom F5 programme. The record-setting era of the 2015-2022 period was one of the most competitive in automotive history.
The Koenigsegg record remains significant because it was achieved cleanly – two-way average, on a genuine public road, with a production car owned by a private customer.
Australian Market
No Agera RS was officially delivered to Australia. Grey import of an Agera RS from the international collector market would be an extraordinary undertaking – current values for Agera RS examples start above $7 million USD, and compliance for Australian registration would be complex and expensive.
Verdict
The Koenigsegg Agera RS set 277.9 mph and made the Swedish hypercar impossible to dismiss. It is the car that proved a 25-unit manufacturer from a small Scandinavian town could build something faster and more extreme than the largest luxury automotive groups in the world. That is not a small thing, and it is why the Agera RS is remembered.
Where this came from
Every changeable figure above, what it was checked against, and when.
Figures are correct as at the dates shown. We re-check cars on sale every three months and tax thresholds every July. How we check our facts.
Side-by-side specs, Australian pricing and performance figures for every exotic and luxury car we cover.