Christian von Koenigsegg is best known for building some of the world’s fastest hypercars that push the boundaries of engineering innovation. When the man is regularly talking about hypercars with thousands of horsepower and top speeds nearing 300 mph, it can be easy to forget that he’s just an ordinary car guy like the rest of us. But at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, CarBuzz caught up with the Swedish King of Speed, and what he said reminded us of the enthusiasm that still persists beneath the legendary hypercar builder’s reputation for high-end exotica.
CvK: Cars Are Freedom In Its Purest Form
Christian von Koenigsegg next to the new Sadair’s SpearMáté Petrány/CarBuzz/Valnet
While discussing the difficulties of bringing hypercars to life like the Gemera — the first customer car has officially been delivered six years after it was first shown in 2020 — we jokingly suggested Koenigsegg should build an affordable sports car like a Mazda MX-5 Miata. While Christian had to dismiss the possibility, purely based on the fact that Koenigsegg operates as a niche, low-volume manufacturing operation, he shared some details on his love for the automobile, not just fancy new hypercars, but old rust buckets, too.
“You know, generally speaking, I’m fascinated by cars in general,” says Christian. “I mean, cars, even the cheapest car you can buy, an old rusty, beaten-up thing, is a freedom tool. It can take you places no other machine can take you at a whim. You can just choose direction and go several hours in a completely different part of the world. There is no other technology that allows that that simply and that cheaply. If you have a cheap car, the hyper mega car is just the most extreme expression of that.”
Christian’s History With Affordable, Fun Cars
Christian von Koenigsegg with a Mazda MiataCvK
Those who know what’s in Christian’s personal garage will know he owns and drives a broad assortment of vehicles, including electric Teslas, a Toyota GR Yaris, and his original NA-generation Mazda Miata, which was previously sold but which he hunted down and bought back several years ago. Speaking to CarBuzz a few years ago, he admitted that despite its simple nature, the pure joy of driving it represents is something he aims to emulate in even the fastest Koenigsegg hypercars.
Christian Loves Seeing Other Automakers Using And Copying His Technology
Kimera K-39 Pikes Peak at Fuori Concorso 2026Michal Okonski/CarBuzz/Valnet
Because he loves cars in general, Christian also loves seeing his technology in other manufacturers’ vehicles. He’s incredibly proud of the Koenigsegg engine in the new Kimera K-39, and openly admits he’d happily develop technology for automakers of all scales, telling us he’d be “happy to share our knowledge and solutions [with other automakers].
Christian’s Thoughts On Ferrari’s Copying His Simulated Manual Transmission
Inadvertently, technology Koenigsegg pioneered has started becoming prevalent, with Ferrari’s new 12Cilindri Manuale bringing a more mainstream take on the Koenigsegg Engage Shift System simulated manual to life. Christian’s take on this? “I guess it does [feel good]. We did it because we thought it was a good idea, and now others are joining the bandwagon.”
But despite others imitating the concept, he still believes the system in the Koenigsegg CC850 stands out as something special. “There are some fundamental differences that I think are good for us. We have a completely different gearbox technology, which should be faster shifting than anything else. And we don’t have a flywheel or clutch on the engine, so it becomes faster-revving than anything else. So I think the combination of that still makes our solution stand out.”
Whether talking about the fun of driving a Mazda Miata, the freedom of an old rust bucket, or the innovation of a Koenigsegg hypercar, the passion and enthusiasm in Christian’s voice never changes. It’s a reminder that no matter how high up the ladder of automotive excellence you get, it’s important to always remember the love of the automobile we all share.
