Carbon fiber is one of the most coveted materials in the hypercar world, but for most of the segment’s history it came in exactly one color: black. That changed when Koenigsegg engineered an entirely new process to turn those dark strands into something that shimmered like crushed diamonds in sunlight — and then used it to build just two cars. The result was the Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita, a machine that remains one of the most visually distinctive hypercars ever conceived, and one of the rarest.
Koenigsegg’s Proprietary Diamond Weave
White carbon fiber might not sound all that remarkable today, given that different colored carbon fiber is relatively easy to come by, especially in the seven-figure hypercar segment. However, when the Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita was produced, carbon fiber was only available in black. So where, exactly, did the Trevita’s white carbon fiber come from?
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With no off-the-shelf alternative available, the Swedish automaker went back to the drawing board and developed its own process for producing a differently colored carbon fiber. Known as the Koenigsegg Proprietary Diamond Weave, this treatment was developed at the manufacturer’s headquarters in Ängelholm, Sweden. The process involved taking individual carbon fiber layers and coating each strand with a diamond finish, beginning with small quantities of treated material. Those pieces of treated carbon fiber prepreg are then processed and combined to form the complete body shell.
The result was an exposed carbon fiber body that Koenigsegg described as a million tiny diamonds infused into the bodywork, sparkling brilliantly in direct sunlight. The proprietary treatment transformed conventional black carbon fiber into a shimmering silvery-white finish, and a dedicated production program was created specifically for the CCXR Trevita. The unique appearance and labor-intensive carbon fiber treatment significantly extended production time, which ultimately determined how few examples could be built.
Three Whites, Or Rather, Two Whites
Engine
4.7-liter, twin-supercharged, V8
Horsepower
1,018 bhp
Torque
740 lb-ft @ 5,600 rpm
0-62
3.1 seconds
Top speed
250 mph +
The name Trevita is an abbreviation of a Swedish phrase that translates to “three whites,” a nod to Koenigsegg’s original intention to produce three examples of the special edition model. However, because the proprietary diamond weave process proved so time-consuming, only two were ever completed. That makes the Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita one of the rarest models the Swedish automaker has ever produced.
Koenigsegg’s sparkling sports car, which also featured a detachable hardtop, was a variation of the Koenigsegg CCXR — a mid-engine sports car distinguished by its front bumper design, bespoke headlights, dihedral synchro-helix actuation doors, its unique roofline, and three circular taillights on either side. Visually, the Trevita was set apart from the standard CCXR by its diamond finish and additional design elements such as a twin-deck carbon fiber rear wing. Mechanical components unique to this variant include an Inconel exhaust system, a carbon ceramic brake system, an F1-style paddle-shift transmission, and a hydraulic lift system.
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Although the white carbon fiber weave was the headline attraction, the Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita was also an extremely lightweight, high-horsepower two-seater that sent all of its power to the rear wheels. Its 4.7-liter twin-supercharged engine was built around aluminum cylinder heads and an aluminum block. Key features included double overhead camshafts, an 8.8:1 compression ratio, twin Rotrex centrifugal superchargers, a dry-sump lubrication system, a carbon fiber intake manifold, and Koenigsegg’s patented response charge system — all in a car that carried a price tag north of $4 million.
Housing that potent powertrain was a carbon monocoque chassis featuring fully machined aircraft-grade aluminum uprights and 150 mm angle ball bearings supplied by SKF, a Swedish company that also provides components for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Other notable hardware included gun-drilled driveshafts, double wishbone suspension at both ends, two-way adjustable gas-hydraulic shock absorbers, Koenigsegg’s Z-style anti-roll bars, eight-piston monoblock calipers paired with massive carbon ceramic brakes, and a curb weight of 2,821 pounds. All in all, this was a serious piece of engineering, surpassed only by Koenigsegg’s more recent creations.
Fun fact: famed professional boxer Floyd Mayweather bought one of the two Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita models in the mid-2010s. Mayweather purchased his Trevita for $4.8 million, and it has been featured on Jay Leno’s Garage alongside an appearance with the Swedish hypercar manufacturer’s founder.
Carbon Fiber Bodies Like No Other
Since the debut of the ultra-rare Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita, carbon fiber technology and the methods used to produce it have evolved significantly. When the Trevita first appeared, the automotive world was just beginning to embrace carbon fiber construction more broadly. Today, full carbon fiber bodies — including colored ones — are relatively common in the high-end performance car segment.
There is no shortage of compelling examples. The Pagani Utopia, for instance, features a carbon fiber body that was the product of more than six years of development. It is constructed from a new class of A-grade carbon fiber designed exclusively for the Utopia, delivering 38% greater stiffness than conventional material while contributing to the car’s 2,822 lb curb weight.
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While the Pagani Utopia represents a tasteful and refined approach to carbon fiber bodywork, the Aston Martin Valkyrie Pro demonstrates how the material can be pushed to its aerodynamic limits in a track-focused application. The Czinger 21C, meanwhile, strikes a balance between the outright performance focus of the Valkyrie Pro and the artisanal approach of the Utopia. One of the most striking examples of the full carbon fiber-bodied American hypercar was a green example — the car that reclaimed the lap record at Laguna Seca from Koenigsegg.
Another American hypercar with a full carbon fiber body worth celebrating is the Hennessey Venom F5, shaped entirely around the pursuit of minimum drag and maximum aerodynamic efficiency. According to Hennessey Performance, the carbon fiber body was “shaped” by the automaker’s relentless pursuit of speed. Even amid so many stunning carbon fiber-bodied hypercars, the Trevita’s design has aged like fine wine.
Sources: Koenigsegg, Jay Leno’s Garage, Pagani, Czinger, Aston Martin
