MOST POWERFUL PLUG-IN HYBRID IN AMERICA IN 2025

The era of hybrid performance is happening now, as we're witnessing an onslaught of vehicles that offer the best of both electric and combustion technology. While this is great for average consumers, it's been incredible for the affluent buyers in our society, with the 1% enjoying vehicles with performance and design that belong in the finest museums and on the longest runways.

Companies realized long ago that if they put enough time, effort, and engineering into a vehicle, they could charge anything they wanted for their vehicles. They also realized plug-in hybrid (PHEV) technology was perfect for such vehicles, because most owners will barely drive their cars anyway, and PHEV powertrains mean more power and glorious combustion noises. In 2025, we're set to receive some rather incredible PHEV hypercars, but one reigns supreme above them all as the most powerful of them all: the Koenigsegg Gemera.

Meet the Koenigsegg Gemera: A Four-Seat Hypercar Unlike Any Other

It's crazy to think the Gemera hasn't arrived yet after first being unveiled at the now-defunct Geneva International Motor Show in 2020, but that pandemic ruined just about everything, didn't it? After plenty of delays, the car finally entered production at the end of 2024 and is set to be delivered to owners this year, and we're itching for the first images of cars in owners' hands. What these owners will receive is a mega-GT with so much performance and exquisite luxury, that they'll never want to take anything else on a road trip ever again.

This is the brand's first vehicle with more than two seats, making room for a full four passengers yet still retaining the classic Koenigsegg design. Instead of going with a four-door design to accommodate the extra passengers, the company instead opted to modify its iconic Koenigsegg dihedral synchro-helix doors to fit the longer layout, and we love the idea of the appearance of a single door on both sides that opens to both passengers.

There was a big focus on comfort and usability too, so the car features bespoke cupholders for each passenger that can heat and cool your beverage, an optional roof rack that can be utilized at speeds up to 186 mph, and a trunk in the rear that can fit 4 unique luggage which match your car in color and even have the same wheels (how could they not?).

Of course, there are plenty of other options available to ensure your Gemera is bespoke to you, like the addition of a rear wing, modified front splitter, custom aero kit, different badging, and plenty of color and wheel options. A configurator exists out there for buyers who have put down a deposit, but given the car starts at $1.7 million and only 300 Gemeras will ever be made, the odds of you playing around on it are next to zero.

Under the Hood: A Powertrain Unlike Any Other

This is a Koenigsegg, however, and the real appeal is in the car's exceptional performance, which has somehow only gotten better over time. Let us explain. When the car was first unveiled, it was revealed with an innovative PHEV powertrain that utilized a powerful turbocharged three-cylinder powertrain with Freevalve technology called the Tiny Friendly Giant (TFG) and a single Dark Matter electric motor. The two combined to produce a blistering 1,381 hp and 1,364 lb-ft of torque. Headline-grabbing numbers, but little did we know Koenigsegg had something else brewing.

In 2023, the company surprised the world when it announced it was now offering a 5.0-liter twin-turbo V8 option in a hot-V configuration that would combine with the Dark Matter motor to produce a genuinely absurd 2,269 hp and 2,028 lb-ft of torque. Combined with the revolutionary Light Speed Tourbillon Transmission (LSTT), performance is set to be monstrous, with expectations that it will hit 60 mph in under 2 seconds and top out somewhere above 250 mph. Oh, and the system can send the power to all four wheels, just the front wheels, or just the rear, depending on how you're feeling at the moment.

When announced, the three-cylinder powertrain was standard and the V8 option was a $400,000 option. With a price like this, Koenigsegg believed about half of buyers would opt for the V8, but it turns out nearly all of them ponied up the extra cash for the option. So few picked the three-cylinder that the brand was able to convince them to switch over to a V8 instead, eventually announcing the TFG was no longer being offered as an option and was going to be killed entirely. A shame for sure, because we can think of plenty of vehicles that would be awesome with such an engine, and we'd love to see Koenigsegg make a deal.

How It Stacks Up: Gemera vs. Other PHEV Supercars

2,269 hp, seating for four, and heated cupholders; the Gemera is obviously in a league of its own. This doesn't mean it has no competition, however, as there are plenty of other places for you to sink your millions if the Swedish megacar maker isn't doing it for you, but there are going to be compromises. The three closest options are going to be the Bugatti Tourbillon, Ferrari F80, and McLaren W1, all of which have been announced with impressive PHEV powertrains and gorgeous designs.

However, all three are only two-seaters, and the only one that comes close to its performance is the Tourbillon, which "only" boasts 1,775 hp from its V16-based powertrain. All three of these cars have starting prices much higher than the Koenigsegg too, and while that's somewhat rationalized given the artistry being employed, you're mainly just paying for the privilege. Cheaper PHEV options like the SF90 and Revuelto are also available if you want to ball on a budget, but we have a much better alternative that will scratch that PHEV sportscar itch, and leave you enough room for plenty of options.

The Budget-Friendly Alternative

Yes, if 2,269 horsepower and a seven-figure price tag feel excessive, there’s always the Corvette E-Ray. Chevrolet's first hybrid Corvette is an incredible piece of machinery, and it also boasts a mid-mounted V8 engine and a single electric motor. Sure, this setup only produces 655 horsepower, but it does have AWD, and it can scoot to 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds. It can also hit the quarter mile in just 10.5 seconds and starts at just $106,900 for 2025, among plenty of other benefits:

• Daily drivability: The E-Ray is comfortable and practical for daily use, and you won't be nearly as worried about getting in a fender bender
• Lower maintenance costs: Something wrong? Take it to the closest Chevy dealer and pay your average costs
• Cheap To Insure: At a starting price of $106,900, insurance is going to cost pennies compared to the Gemera
• Buy One In Every Color: As it says, buy one in every color and still save money over a new Gemera

No, the Corvette E-Ray does not match the Gemera’s sheer performance or allure, but it's attainable for most of us. While it's fun to dream about the world's coolest hypercars, sometimes you need a little dose of reality, and the Corvette E-Ray is an excellent option if you're looking for a PHEV that's realistic and generally excellent.

Sources: Koenigsegg, GM

2025-02-04T10:08:36Z