Koenigsegg removes 3-cylinder from Gemera, at least for now

Koenigsegg's four-passenger hybrid hypercar, the Gemera, will no longer offer the promised three-cylinder engine as an internal combustion engine, leaving buyers with a choice of a V-8 engine.

As discovered by CarBuzz, Koenigsegg CEO and founder Christian von Koenigsegg told Top Gear in a podcast interview published on July 5 that a hybrid system with a total of 1,400 hp If the V8 is chosen, the output will be boosted to 2,300 hp with E85 fuel.

According to von Koenigsegg, demand was so low that he was able to convince buyers who wanted a three-cylinder, called the TFG (Tiny Friendly Giant) engine, to choose the V-8. Von Koenigsegg said that there are plans for future applications of the three-cylinder engine, including possibly in the Gemera.

The three-cylinder engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline three-cylinder with a peak output of 600 hp, thanks in part to Koenigsegg's proprietary camless technology called FreeValve. This allows for finer control of valve actuation and more opportunities to generate power.

The V-8 is a 5.0-liter twin-turbo that shares some of its design with the V-8 in Koenigsegg's Jesco hypercar, and Koenigsegg told Top Gear that many changes were made to the V-8 engine for the Jemera.

The mid-engine Jemera is also unique in the hypercar world in that it is a four-seater, which is an impressive feat in itself. It has only two doors, and in this case they are a long pair that feature Koenigsegg's signature dihedral synchro-helix design, in which the doors rotate while extending outward.

Production of the Gemera will be limited to 300 units worldwide, with the first models to be delivered later this year.