Chiristian von Koenigsegg, founder and CEO of the hypercar company, shared a video on social media of himself driving a Toyota Yaris Gazoo Racing (GR). "Nothing beats a bit of three-cylinder power for the morning commute. I love small cars", Koenigsegg shared.
In the video, the millionaire, with an estimated net worth of 100 million USD, appeared in a short-sleeved t-shirt, filming his early morning commute. He was behind the wheel, shifting gears as he drove through the scenery of Angelholm, Sweden, home to Koenigsegg's headquarters.
Koenigsegg's daily driver, a sporty three-door hatchback, is a 2024 model, an updated version of the Yaris GR. Previously, Koenigsegg owned a 2021 Yaris GR Circuit Pack, which sold for 39.520 USD in 2022.
The Toyota Yaris GR features a 1,6-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 280 horsepower and 390 Nm of torque, paired with a six-speed manual transmission and GR-Four all-wheel drive. The car can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 5,1 seconds and reach a top speed of 230 km/h.
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Chiristian von Koenigsegg and a Koenigsegg hypercar. *Photo: Koenigsegg.* |
In fact, the Toyota Yaris GR is not considered a typical Yaris. Its main purpose is to compete in the World Rally Championship (WRC). According to FIA regulations, a racing car model must be based on a commercial vehicle produced in quantities of 25.000 units over 12 consecutive months to be eligible for competition.
The owner of the world's fastest hypercar company has a strong affection for three-cylinder engines. This led him to design and build a camless 2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 600 horsepower. The engine is nicknamed "Tiny Friendly Giant". It was initially intended for the company's first four-seater hypercar, the Gemera. However, this was put on hold as most customers preferred the Gemera to use a V8 engine. Koenigsegg continues to research this three-cylinder engine.
Chiristian von Koenigsegg drives a CC850 hypercar with a six-speed ESS manual transmission on the track.
Koenigsegg is also a fan of the Mazda MX-5 Miata. He bought a 1992 model at the age of 19 and used it throughout his university years. In a conversation with Top Gear, he once stated that if he only had one tank of fuel left, he would fill up his MX-5 Miata.
Koenigsegg is not the only owner of a high-speed hypercar company who uses a normal car for daily commuting. Mate Rimac, CEO of Bugatti and Rimac, drives a BMW M5 E39 to work, while Ian Gordon Murray uses a Lotus Elan instead of an F1 car.
Minh Quan
