Koenigsegg's Free-Valve Tech Will Change The Game

To understand why this is such a big deal, consider the lengths that automakers have gone to in order to introduce variable valve timing to their modern engines - and in the case of BMW's Valvetronic system, variable valve lift. While such systems have been a boon to internal combustion efficiency, they still rely on camshafts with fixed profiles; their flexibility is thus limited.

Freevalve doesn't have that problem, so each valve can optimize itself for any given engine speed, load level, etc. The engine has free reign to minimize lift at low RPM to keep the intake air velocity high, and maximize lift at high RPM to cram more air into each cylinder. It has the flexibility to open and close each valve at the optimal time, every time, to maximize its use of pressure waves for greater volumetric efficiency.

And on the Koenigsegg Gemera, Freevalve has the added benefit of allowing the hypercar's 2.0L I3 engine, named the "Tiny Friendly Giant," to run well on renewable, CO2-neutral fuels like Ethanol. Fuels blended with anywhere between 0 and 100 percent are compatible, and the engine pumps out up to a mind-blowing 300 horsepower per liter, for 600 horsepower in total, and a more-than-adequate 442 lb-ft of torque.

"Freevalve is an enabler to move to CO2 neutral transportation - faster," says CEO of Koenigsegg and Freevalve Christian von Koenigsegg. "I am proud to be part of the development team and lead this exciting company. To be able to say that we have Freevalve in the Koenigsegg Gemera, is truly a milestone for both Freevalve and Koenigsegg."

Also this week, Freevalve announced that it has partnered with Texas-based AI company SparkCognition to "transform the already advanced combustion engine into a truly smart machine." We don't know what that will look like, but we can't wait to find out.