Update: Koenigsegg briefs the public on recent Jesko fire incident & next steps
Following the unfortunate incident on a rally in Greece last week during which the Koenigsegg Jesko #7386 caught fire, Koenigsegg Automotive has launched an investigation to determine the cause. Importantly, we are profoundly grateful that no one was hurt in this incident.
As we previously reported, Koenigsegg has requested that all Jesko owners refrain from driving their cars until the root cause is identified and fixed.
The affected Koenigsegg Jesko NÜR Edition prior to the fire. Photo by Dario Fontana.
Initial Findings and Immediate Actions
A preliminary investigation revealed that the vehicle's fuel tank, engine oil, and gearbox oil systems remained intact and were not the source of the fire. However, a streak of hydraulic fluid was found behind the car on the road, indicating a potential issue with the pressurized hydraulic system. A closer inspection of the remains uncovered a compromised pressurized hydraulic hose at the rear of the car.
According to Koenigsegg, this, combined with the hydraulic fluid trail, strongly suggests that the hose failure was the cause of the fire.
To address this issue, the team at Koenigsegg is meticulously checking the installation of all hydraulic hoses in on all Jesko production models and those already delivered to customers. This precautionary measure is taken to ensure that a comparable accident will not occur again.
In addition to the physical inspections, Ängelholm‘s finest engineers are developing a software update designed to detect pressure drops in the hydraulic system in the blink of an eye. A detected leak will trigger the shutdown of the hydraulic system immediately, preventing potential fires.
Koenigsegg aims to release the first version of this safety software by the end of next week.
A Koenigsegg Jesko Attack that has entered testing stage recently. Picture by Christoffer Frennefalk
Production of the Jesko continues despite this issue, with the company set to deliver its 30th unit shortly, and another 10+ units currently undergoing pre-delivery testing. Safe to say, though, that all of these cars will be checked and updated as needed to prevent any future issues.
We commend Koenigsegg Automotive on their swift response to this matter, prioritizing safety and transparency. The decision to address the matter publicly and explain the precautions they are taking to prevent this from ever happening again have undoubtedly earned them considerable kudos from around the car community.