Koenigsegg makes some of the world's fastest, most expensive, most exclusive hypercars. So much so, the brand insists they be classified as megacars. Though now, it's a little easier, at least in two metrics, to call Koenigsegg the maker of the world's fastest megacars. Its V8, rear-drive model, the Jesko, just set two world records for speed in the quarter- and half-mile drag.Koenigsegg did it with the Jesko Absolut, the car's speed-focused version. Koenigsegg also sells the Jesko Attack, which is a more handling-focused version of the hypercar.Driven by Koenigsegg's test driver Markus Lundh, the Jesko Absolut clocked a record-beating quarter-mile time of 8.54 seconds, crossing the line at an absurd 305 km/h (189 mph). Over the half-mile, the car is running just 12.76 seconds, finishing at an even more astonishing 373 km/h (231 mph). For reference, that's about the time it took to read this paragraph.KoenigseggPlenty of cars can run numbers close to these, but what makes the Koenigsegg's record more impressive is the nature of the Jesko. As CEO Christian von Koenigsegg himself points out in the above video, most cars use all-wheel drive and electric motors to achieve high speeds and quick drag times close to these. The Jesko Absolut is entirely rear-drive, with a twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8 that cranks out up to 1,600 horsepower on E85 gas. In short, its effectively the least-optimal car to be chasing a record like this in, yet the Absolut now holds the very same record.AdvertisementAdvertisementAt the end of the video showcasing the record-breaking runs, von Koenigsegg says he isn't done chasing records. The CEO hints that the Gemera, the brand's hybridized all-wheel drive grand tourer, could run next. Knowing Koenigsegg, that will mean another record falls soon.This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
