Petrol Purists Aren’t OK With the New Age of Electric Supercars

The Koenigsegg Gemera, which made its worldwide public debut last March, has a carbon fiber body every bit as visually stunning as its predecessor, the Koenigsegg Agera—a vehicle that until January held the title of fastest production car ever. It also has an advanced version of the Agera’s dihedral doors that, when opened, give the impression of wings taking flight. Massive air vents and aerodynamic flourishes, meanwhile, make it look just as menacing.

But there’s a radical difference between the two supercars that isn’t apparent until you pop the hood: Instead of the midmounted twin-turbocharged V-8 engine that is the roaring 960-horsepower heart of the Agera, the €1.5 million ($1.8 million) Gemera has a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-three engine—plus three electric motors. The combination of combustion and electric technology is good enough for a combined 1,700 hp. The Gemera is expected to shoot from zero to 60 mph in less than 2 seconds.