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Koenigsegg is keeping the crashed Agera RS as a test mule

Binned Agera RS will live on a test bed while owner gets upgraded car, says Koenigsegg

Published: 17 May 2017

Earlier this week, a Koenigsegg Agera RS crashed in unusual circumstances – as if a Koenigsegg could have anything other than an unusual accident. Anyhow, an unfortunate occurrence has brought about a happy ending, according to Angelholm’s premier producer of 1000bhp+ hypercars.

First up, the bad news. Koenigsegg confirmed yesterday that a brand-new Agera RS had been involved in a one-car accident while testing at a private runway. The test driver had apparently lost control of the gold-encrusted ‘Gryphon’ Agera RS in wet conditions, during a shakedown run of the 1,360bhp hypercar before export to the USA. 

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Thankfully, neither the test driver nor his passenger were injured in the accident, which caused damage to the car’s front and rear bodywork, but left the tub undamaged. Carbon fibre worth its weight in gold – and some more besides – once again…

Now, Koenigsegg has confirmed the remains of the Gryphon will live a new life at Koenigsegg itself, acting as a test bed for future models. Meanwhile, the car’s expectant owner, US real estate mogul and Instagram enthusiast Manny Khoshbin, has agreed to wait a little longer and instead take delivery of an even more extreme, more bespoke Agera RS, having received a personal apology and catch-up from Christian von Koenigsegg himself. Yet another reason he's a TG hero goes into the book.

The company’s thanked their understanding client for his sense of humour, and he in turn has reflected that first and foremost, no-one’s been hurt, and he’s never had more professional customer service from any supercar maker. Coming from the owner of a Bugatti, Pagani, McLaren and more, that’s high praise. 

So, a few morals to take away from this tale. First off, even a professional test driver will struggle to handle a 1,360bhp bi-turbo V8 hypercar in the wet, so be careful in your Koenigseggs. Secondly, if you can take bad news about a new toy on the chin, it might end up working out better in everyone’s favour. Anyone else looking forward to seeing the future life of the resurrected Gryphon?

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