Kimera K-39 Hypercar Unveiled with 1,000-HP Koenigsegg V8 Engine

The Lancia 037 remains one of the most legendary rally cars in history. It famously outperformed the Audi Quattro to become the last two-wheel-drive vehicle to win a World Rally Championship.

Now, Kimera Automobili, an Italian automaker, is building on that legacy. In 2021, the company introduced the EVO37, a modern tribute to the 037, followed by the EVO38 in 2024, inspired by a never-produced successor. But Kimera isn’t stopping there.

The Kimera K-39 is a ground-up hypercar that shares a striking resemblance to the 037. Unveiled on Friday at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, it is powered by a twin-turbo V8 engine from Koenigsegg.

Koenigsegg’s 1,000-HP V8 Engine

The engine, while based on Koenigsegg’s own designs, includes custom modifications to the turbos. Despite these changes, it still delivers:

• 1,000 horsepower at 7,350 rpm
• 885 pound-feet of torque at 5,500 rpm
• A redline of 8,250 rpm

Kimera isn’t merely purchasing engines and installing them into its own chassis. The company is pursuing global market certification for the Koenigsegg-powered K-39. Additionally, Koenigsegg will provide cloud-based diagnostics and software updates, ensuring owners receive ongoing support.

Design and Aerodynamics

The K-39 retains the iconic short wheelbase and boxy fenders of the 037. However, modern aerodynamic enhancements include deeper scoops and ducts, reflecting 21st-century advancements. Kimera plans to test this aerodynamically optimized shape at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

The company has not specified a timeline for the attempt but has framed it as a

“defense of a vision of the automobile that believes in the refined and sustainable evolution of combustion technology.”

Pikes Peak Ambitions and Challenges

While Kimera’s effort to showcase internal-combustion technology at Pikes Peak is ambitious, the high-altitude course poses challenges. Thin air reduces engine power, often favoring electric vehicles. Still, the attempt addresses unfinished business: the Lancia factory team never competed at Pikes Peak, though rival Audi set a record in 1987 that remains the fastest time on the pre-pavement course.

Kimera will produce 10 Pikes Peak-spec K-39s for its most dedicated customers, featuring larger rear wings and additional aerodynamic upgrades. Pricing for both the Pikes Peak and standard versions has not been disclosed, but the inclusion of a Koenigsegg V8 suggests a premium price point.