The Koenigsegg CCX, in the foyer at Star City casino in Sydney. Photo Gallery
Sydney’s Star City Casino has seen some prestige personalities pass through its doors...
...but while many are high-rollers, few would roll as fast as the guest currently posing in its main foyer.
The facelifted version of the insane Koenigsegg CCX – worth around $2 million – is spending a few days at the casino as its introduction to Sydney, and as a warm-up to its appearance at the Australian International Motor Show in October.
Its predecessor was the fastest street legal car in the world with a 388.87km/h notch until the title was snatched by the Bugatti Veyron in 2005 with 407.5km/h – although some critics say that differences in the tracks used by Bugatti and Koenigsegg raise questions about the gap.
Koenigsegg says the CCX reaches a top speed of more than 395km/h – although this has not been officially clocked – and hits 100km/h in 3.2 seconds.
Bristling with carbon fibre and with "no gadgets or unnecessary features on the car, only what is absolutely vital in the name of efficiency and purity’’ according to the Swedish maker, it has an enviable weight-to-power ratio of 1.59kg/hp.
Australian distributor Carl Trad, who brought the previous model to Sydney’s motor fest in 2004, says the CCX breathes better than the CCR.
"The engine now has a twin supercharger rather than a single, and is better vented,’’ he says.
He says there are also subtle cosmetic changes, most noticeably around the light clusters, wheels and some trim.
And Trad he couldn’t resist getting the new model here.
"After I’d driven a Koenigsegg at the factory in Sweden, I just had to get them,’’ Trad says.
"It’s taken me four years, but here it is: road registered and ready to go.’’
Trad says his earlier attempt to import the Koenigseggs met with regulation hurdles.
"The first one that came in, we had a bit of drama with homologation and compliance issues with emissions,’’ he says.
"This new one has been built to the American emission standards and complies with the Australian regulations.
"We did the inspection on it a couple of weeks ago and it was perfect.
"Basically, every one that comes into the country now will be built specifically for Australia.
"There are not many supercars that are right-hand drive with this kind of power.
"Words can’t describe what it’s like to drive. The lateral G-forces are unbelievable.’’
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