Question of the Week
One of these three pioneers emerged as an overwhelming victor
Published: 23 Feb 2024
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This Monday, we asked our readers which of Bugatti, Koenigsegg and Pagani sits clear as your favourite purveyor of high-end exotica. You responded in legions, and showed a clear bias for one in particular. Let’s do this in ascending order, shall we?
It’s a non-negotiable fact thatBugatti - the champ of automotive Top Trumps -excels in measurable metrics, but our key takeaway from your lot’s comments suggest they tend to fall short on passion. Obviously that won’t be your initial thoughts if you had a runway and a Chiron Super Sport for company.
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Here’s Antoine Dufresne-Fortin’s explanation: “Bugatti has lost its soul in terms of design - it makes me feel like they’re old people’s hypercars now. Super smooth and luxurious, go fast effortlessly and they’re easy to drive at low speed, but where’s the compromise? Where’s the rawness? Where’s the soul in that? I really feel like it just relies too much on its ‘fastest production car’ titles.”
In the middle of the pack comes the brand which Don Lee correctly describes as “art on wheels”, otherwise known as Pagani. While it can’t quite claim to match Bugatti for specs - with most of its cars limited to a mild 230 to 240mph range - it’s absolutely fair to say Pagani’s design philosophy is unique.
Mr Price commented: “Pagani purely for the drama and aesthetics, because hypercars exist as a collection of numbers and hypotheticals rather than something you can actually utilize in the real world.”
One of our very favourite comments of the week then came from Sideways 720s in support of Horacio’s artisans: “Every time I see the interior of one of its cars, it’s like some mad view into the 1950s idea of 2050. Exquisite craftsmanship and pure unadulterated bedroom poster factor.”
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Pretty tough to argue with that, but somehow most of you found a way to. Yes, Bugatti has the numbers on its side, and Pagani has the X factor, but why limit yourself to one or the other when you can have both? This seems to be the reason Koenigsegg is the winner for this week’s debate. By some distance, too.
Juxtaposed is one of the many who cast their vote for Christian’s shed-turned-factory business, and is just as amazed as we are at the strides his company has made in automotive engineering.
They said: “Every single model has some absolutely insane, never-before-seen innovation that other brands believed was impossible for at least 10 years to come. And that’s despite having nowhere near the resources that the Volkswagen group provides to Bugatti. The DirectDrive transmission, and more recently the Quark and Tiny Friendly Giant powertrain, are absolutely mind-boggling advances.
“And, of course, they then decided to put these innovations into a four-seat hypercar, because why on earth not? Sure, Bugattis are the pinnacle of automotive luxury, and Paganis the pinnacle of craftsmanship, but as a masterpiece of engineering? Koenigsegg all the way.”
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Dean Jackson provided further support by claiming Koenigsegg “takes something we already know and engineers it differently”, while Hari Gopalkrishnan said Koenigsegg “creates innovations that take them a league above the established hypercar elite”.
FAQs
Sure, Bugattis are the pinnacle of automotive luxury, and Paganis the pinnacle of craftsmanship, but as a masterpiece of engineering? Koenigsegg all the way.”
Which is better, Pagani or Bugatti? ›
Both these vehicles are powerful, fast, and stylish. The Bugatti Veyron is more power-packed in terms of engine power and engine torque ratings. It is available at a higher price point. Both vehicles come with an automatic seven gear gearbox setup.
Which is better, Bugatti or Koenigsegg? ›
Koenigsegg vehicles are designed for speed and performance, and they often have more powerful engines than Bugatti vehicles. As a result, Koenigsegg vehicles are typically faster than Bugatti vehicles.
Did Koenigsegg beat the Bugatti record? ›
During a test in the Nevada desert, the Koenigsegg Agera RS hypercar produced an average speed of 277.9mph - beating the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport's record of 268mph, set in 2010.
What car can beat a Koenigsegg? ›
In 2019, amid fervent competition between Koenigsegg, Hennessey, and Bugatti, the Chiron Super Sport bested the others by a horseshoed nose, achieving a staggering 304.7 mph. In early 2020, a bevy of new hypercars was announced—several promising at least 300 mph.
Did Lamborghini reject Pagani? ›
Pagani: Turning Dreams into Reality
After gaining experience at Lamborghini, Pagani approached the company with his designs, hoping to collaborate on a project. However, his proposals were rejected, prompting him to pursue his dreams independently.
Which car defeats Bugatti? ›
Koenigsegg is known to be a bugatti killer. They are actively producing high speed cars that would defeat the record of the Bugatti cars.
What car can go faster than a Bugatti? ›
KOENIGSEGG JESKO ABSOLUTE: 300 MPH
The Swedish supercar was born to defy gravity and beat the Bugatti Chiron, and it's the fastest Koenigsegg. With a 5-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, it has 1,600 hp (100 more than the “classic” Jesko).
Is Koenigsegg the best hypercar? ›
In many cases, they outperform their counterparts by a significant margin. Their unique design and engineering make them some of the most high-performance cars in the world. In terms of sheer velocity, Koenigseggs are the best on earth.
Which car can beat Lamborghini? ›
With a record-breaking top speed, the Bugatti Chiron is faster than the Bugatti Veyron, Lamborghini Murciélago, Koenigsegg Agera, and anything from the Mercedes-Benz AMG high-performance line. In fact, the Bugatti Chiron has the honor of being the fastest supercar in the world.
The fastest car in the world is: Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut (330 MPH) That title goes to the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut, which recorded a staggering 330 mph top speed earlier in 2023.
Which is the no. 1 fastest car in the world? ›
Top Fastest Cars in the World
- SSC Tuatara. The SSC Tuatara with a speed of 316 MPH is definitely the fastest car in the world. ...
- Bugatti Chiron Super Sport. The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport is capable of delivering a maximum speed of 304 MPH. ...
- Hennessey Venom F5. ...
- Koenigsegg Agera RS. ...
- Hennessey Venom GT. ...
- Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.
The Agera RS set a new production car top speed record in 2017, hitting 277.87 mph (447.19 km/h) on a closed road in Nevada. The car was driven by factory driver Niklas Lilja, and the Agera RS claimed the title from the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport from before.
What is the fastest hypercar in the world? ›
1. Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut – over 310mph (in theory) Koenigsegg is very good at making bonkers hypercars, and the Jesko Absolut is set to be the most insane offering yet. It uses a twin-turbocharged V8 engine which pushes 1,600hp when running on race fuel, and it'll do 0-60mph in 2.5 seconds.
Is Koenigsegg the best car brand? ›
When it comes to performance specs, Koenigseggs are the clear winners. They have more horsepower, faster acceleration, and higher top speeds than Ferraris or Lamborghinis.
Is Pagani the most expensive car? ›
Pagani Huayra Evo R - $3.5 Million (est.) Rolls-Royce Boat Tail - $28.0 Million (est.) Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail - $30.0 Million (est.)
Is Pagani the fastest car? ›
Pagani Huayra – 238mph
It has an AMG derived twin-turbocharged V12 engine putting out 730hp and 1,000Nm of torque, enough for a top speed of 238mph.
Which is better, Pagani or Lamborghini? ›
Depends on your driving style. Go with the car you like and get the platinum parts for it. I have both but i like the pagani for cornering. The aventador is like a speeding bullet in a straight line.
