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Koenigsegg’s Jesko Absolut Just Rewrote The Rules Of Straight-Line Speed
At a moment when the hypercar world is increasingly obsessed with hybrid power, electric torque and ever more complex performance formulas, Koenigsegg has just delivered a reminder that pure combustion is still capable of doing something outrageous. The Swedish brand’s Jesko Absolut has now smashed a fresh batch of acceleration and speed records, turning what was already one of the most extreme internal-combustion hypercars on the planet into something even more absurd.
But this is not just another “fast car goes fast” story. What makes the Jesko Absolut’s latest run so compelling is the way it did it. No hybrid assistance. No all-wheel-drive trickery. No giant battery filling in torque gaps. Just a twin-turbocharged V8, rear-wheel drive, obsessive aerodynamic efficiency and a level of acceleration that once again pushes the boundaries of what a gasoline-powered road car can still achieve in 2026.
Koenigsegg’s Jesko Absolut has once again underlined just how extreme a pure combustion hypercar can still be in the modern era.
The Numbers Are So Extreme They Almost Read Like EV Territory
The headline figures are the kind that instantly reset the scale of the conversation.
Koenigsegg says the Jesko Absolut ripped through the quarter-mile in just 8.54 seconds, crossing the line at 190 mph, while also covering the half-mile at 232.4 mph. Those are not just impressive numbers for a road-legal hypercar — they are the kind of figures normally associated with specialized drag machines or the most savage electrified performance weapons on the market.
That is what gives this story real weight. We are no longer talking about a combustion car merely “keeping up” with the EV era. We are talking about a machine that is still capable of producing acceleration results so violent that it remains fully relevant in a performance landscape increasingly shaped by instant electric torque and hybrid-assisted launch systems.
And the most remarkable part is that Koenigsegg has done it while staying faithful to a very different philosophy from the one most rivals now follow.
This Is A Hypercar Built Around Efficiency, Not Electrified Complexity
The Jesko Absolut was never designed as just another version of the Jesko. From the beginning, Koenigsegg positioned it as the more speed-focused, lower-drag interpretation of the car — the version optimized not for maximum circuit downforce, but for crushing straight-line velocity with the cleanest possible aerodynamic profile.
That matters because the Absolut’s latest record run is not just a power story. It is also an aero story. Koenigsegg has spent years obsessing over how to reduce drag, stabilize the car at extreme speeds and let the powertrain exploit every last bit of the chassis’ capability without the sort of giant wing-driven setup used by more track-oriented hypercars.
In other words, the Jesko Absolut is not simply fast because it has a huge engine. It is fast because the entire car has been engineered around one question: how far can a road-going combustion hypercar still push the laws of straight-line performance if every part of the package is optimized for speed?
The Absolut’s record performance is not just about horsepower — it is the result of a low-drag aerodynamic concept built specifically for extreme speed.
Koenigsegg Is Still Making The Case For The Internal-Combustion Hypercar
That may be the most interesting part of the whole story.
At a time when the top end of the performance world is splitting in two directions — hybrid megacars on one side and ultra-fast EVs on the other — Koenigsegg is still making a very different argument. It is saying there is still room for a hypercar that relies on combustion not as a nostalgic leftover, but as the central engineering idea. Not a compromise. Not a heritage play. A weapon.
The Jesko Absolut’s power comes from Koenigsegg’s 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8, an engine that in itself already feels like a defiant statement in a market increasingly defined by electrification. But the bigger point is not just that it still exists. It is that it is still capable of humiliating assumptions about what a pure combustion powertrain can do in modern high-performance road cars.
That gives the Jesko Absolut a different kind of importance. It is not merely a fast machine for collectors. It is also a rolling counterargument to the idea that combustion hypercars have already played all their best cards.
Rear-Wheel Drive Makes The Whole Thing Even Wilder
If the record times were produced by an all-wheel-drive hybrid with electric torque filling every traction gap, they would still be impressive. But they would feel more expected. The Jesko Absolut does not have that safety net.
This is a rear-wheel-drive hypercar producing extraordinary power, which makes its drag-strip numbers even more ridiculous. The engineering challenge is not just generating speed, but finding a way to deploy it cleanly without turning the car into a smoke machine every time the throttle is opened aggressively from a standstill.
That is part of what makes Koenigsegg such a fascinating company at this level of the market. It does not simply chase big numbers. It chases ways of making outrageous numbers work through clever engineering, transmission strategy, aero efficiency and an almost stubborn refusal to follow the easiest performance path.
The fact that the Jesko Absolut delivers these numbers through a rear-wheel-drive, twin-turbo V8 layout only makes the achievement more extraordinary.
Why The Jesko Absolut Matters Beyond One Set Of Records
The easiest way to read this story is as another hypercar headline designed to shock with giant numbers. But the Jesko Absolut matters because it reflects something bigger than one record run.
It shows that the internal-combustion hypercar is not done producing genuinely jaw-dropping moments. It shows that a brand with the right engineering obsession can still build a machine capable of challenging the entire logic of modern acceleration without leaning on a hybrid battery pack or an EV platform. And it shows that Koenigsegg remains one of the very few manufacturers willing to treat top-speed and acceleration performance not as marketing garnish, but as a full-blown technical mission.
That is why the Jesko Absolut’s latest records feel important. They are not just proof that Koenigsegg still knows how to build something fast. They are proof that, even in 2026, a pure V8 hypercar can still show the rest of the industry just how violent speed can be.
Slate has confirmed pricing, improved driving range and new details for its affordable electric pickup ahead of deliveries.
Slate has officially confirmed pricing and new specifications for its highly anticipated electric pickup. Starting at just $26,400 including destination, the Slate electric truck will become one of the most affordable new EVs in the United States when deliveries begin later this year.
The startup also revealed improvements in driving range, payload capacity and charging performance ahead of production.
The Slate electric truck starts at $26,400, making it one of the most affordable EV pickups in the U.S.
Affordable price with extensive customization
The entry-level Blank Slate pickup starts at $26,400, including a $1,450 destination fee.
Customers can also choose two SUV variants:
- Blank Slate Pickup: $26,400
- Squareback SUV: $31,400
- Fastback SUV: $33,400
Slate will sell vehicles directly to customers, with every truck leaving the factory in the same gray finish before receiving one of 100 available vinyl wraps. Around 40 wrap colors cost just $499, while nearly all accessories can be installed later by owners.
Buyers can personalize the Slate with dozens of wraps and accessories after purchase.
More range and better utility
One of the biggest improvements is the adoption of a new 63-kWh LFP battery, increasing estimated driving range from 150 miles to 205 miles.
The rear-wheel-drive electric motor produces 181 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, allowing the truck to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8.0 seconds before reaching a top speed of 90 mph.
Charging is handled through a Tesla-compatible NACS connector, supporting DC fast charging up to 120 kW and an 11-kW onboard AC charger capable of fully recharging the battery in about four hours with Level 2 equipment.
Payload capacity has also increased to 1,550 pounds, while towing capacity now reaches 2,000 pounds. Thanks to its electric architecture, the truck also offers a 7-cubic-foot front trunk in addition to its five-foot cargo bed.
The Slate electric truck now offers up to 205 miles of range with its new LFP battery.
Slate says it has already received approximately 180,000 reservations and expects to begin customer deliveries during the fourth quarter of 2026. The company aims to ramp production to 150,000 vehicles annually by late next year, positioning the Slate as one of the most affordable and customizable electric pickups available in the U.S. market.
The affordable Slate electric truck starts at $26,400, but adding accessories can nearly double its final price.
The Slate electric truck has attracted attention with its low starting price, but buyers who customize it heavily could end up paying almost twice as much. After revealing its $1,450 destination fee, the startup’s online configurator shows how quickly the cost can climb with optional accessories.
While the base pickup remains one of the most affordable EVs on the market, personalization comes at a premium.
The Slate electric truck starts at $26,400 before adding optional accessories.
Three body styles and hundreds of customization options
Slate offers the truck in three different configurations:
- Blank Slate Pickup: $26,400
- Squareback SUV: $31,400
- Fastback SUV: $33,400
Customers can personalize nearly every aspect of the vehicle, including custom vinyl wraps, decals, auxiliary lighting, roof racks, grille designs, wider fender flares and 20-inch wheels.
A custom exterior wrap alone adds $1,599.99, while premium wheels increase the price by another $1,399.99.
Buyers can choose from dozens of exterior accessories and custom appearance packages.
Interior upgrades quickly increase the price
The cabin follows the same philosophy, allowing buyers to add features that are absent from the standard truck.
Optional equipment includes a center console, upgraded speakers, storage systems, floor mats, colored interior trim and a dashboard-mounted tablet that serves as the infotainment display.
After selecting nearly every available option on the Fastback SUV, the total reached $47,744.39, and that figure could climb even higher since some accessories still don’t have official pricing.
A fully equipped Slate Fastback SUV can approach $48,000 with optional upgrades.
The Slate electric truck remains one of the most affordable new EVs in the United States, but its highly customizable approach means buyers can easily transform a budget-friendly pickup into a much more expensive vehicle. For customers looking to maximize value, choosing accessories carefully will be key to keeping the final price under control.
A Ford Mustang Mach-E owner claims the automaker should return tariff-related price increases after receiving a federal refund.
Ford is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit after a California customer argued that the automaker should return tariff-related price increases to buyers. The lawsuit comes after the federal government agreed to refund import duties previously collected under tariffs that were later ruled unlawful.
The case centers on the Ford Mustang Mach-E, which is manufactured in Mexico and was affected by higher import costs.
A Ford Mustang Mach-E owner is seeking a refund through a proposed class-action lawsuit.
Customer says Ford should share tariff refund
The lawsuit was filed on July 9 by California resident Jason Bullock, who claims Ford increased prices and destination charges to offset import tariffs on Mexican-built vehicles.
After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the tariffs exceeded presidential authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the federal government agreed to refund affected import duties.
Ford has previously estimated it could recover approximately $1.3 billion through those refunds.
The lawsuit argues Ford should return tariff-related costs to affected customers.
The legal battle could affect other major companies
According to the complaint, Ford would receive an unfair financial benefit if it keeps both the government refund and the higher prices previously paid by customers.
The lawsuit argues that buyers who absorbed those additional costs deserve compensation now that the tariffs are being refunded.
Ford is not the only company facing this type of legal challenge. Similar lawsuits have also been filed against Nike, Amazon and Costco, meaning the first case to reach a final ruling could establish an important legal precedent for future consumer claims.
The outcome of the Ford lawsuit could influence similar cases against other major U.S. companies.
Although the case is still in its early stages, it raises important questions about how companies should handle government tariff refunds when previous import costs were passed directly to consumers. The outcome could have broader implications for both automakers and retailers operating in the U.S. market.
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