Koenigsegg’s Quark e-motor and its unique performance approach
Koenigsegg turned the heads of engineering and automotive enthusiast circles by unveiling its Quark e-motor in 2022, but this innovative technology has faded into the background after it was cut from one of the manufacturer’s hypercars. Quark was initially scheduled to appear in Koenigsegg’s Gemera, a hybrid which the automaker began delivering early this year. Koenigsegg designed the Quark to be used in multiples, specifically a trio in the Gemera, with a single motor delivering an impressive 335 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. Despite its robust power, a Quark motor weighs just 63 lbs when most hybrid motors in mainstream models weigh between 40 and 70 lbs, but deliver far less power.
Traditional e-motors also had adopted either axial flux solutions with more torque and less power, or radial flux solutions emphasizing power over torque. Koenigsegg broke new ground by engineering Quark with a raxial flux solution, resulting in the industry’s best torque-to-power-to-weight ratio, a lead it still maintains. The Quark is made of 300M steel, a high-strength material common in motorsports and the aerospace industry. Its incredible light and compact design stemmed from design choices like direct cooling and a rotor using Koenigsegg Aircore hollow carbon fiber technology, which you’ll find in the manufacturer’s rims, seats, and more.
Another innovative facet of the Quark motor is its ability to operate in direct-drive instead of needing a step-down transmission to get the desired output RPM and torque, which most small, high-revving motors require. This direct-drive configuration allows Quark to extend beyond the automotive industry into the marine and aircraft industries. Koenigsegg’s electric-motor design led Dragos-Mihai Postariu to say: “The Quark is designed to bolster the low-speed range of the Gemera, where you need it, for brutal acceleration. The ICE [internal combustion engine] then focuses on the high-speed range,” Road & Track reports. Koenigsegg expressed openness toward licensing Quark’s technology to other automakers, but these deals never materialized, and the company instead opted to use its new Dark Matter motor in the four-seater Gemera.
What is the Dark Matter motor?
Are you curious to know what makes Dark Matter special enough to take the place of Quark motors in Koenigsegg’s Gemera? Space constraints were a primary factor, as this hypercar only had enough room for one motor. A single Dark Matter motor produces 800 horsepower and 922 lb-ft alongside the Gemera’s twin-turbocharged 5.0-liter V8 engine to deliver a combined 2,300 horsepower and 2,028 lb-ft of torque. Koenigsegg’s Dark Matter motor also maintains a low weight of 86 lbs and retains the Quark’s raxial flux design. The Gemera’s production was limited to 300 units, with each example spoken for.
Final thoughts
While Quark was ultimately sidelined at Koenigsegg for the automaker’s more compact and powerful Dark Matter motor, it set a new benchmark for torque-to-power ratio, which influenced Dark Matter’s design. Additionally, its direct-drive capability extends its usage to many applications for simpler packaging and more efficiency. Koenigsegg was so confident in the Quark that it remained open to licensing the technology, and the motor’s engineering lessons helped its four-seat Gemera hypercar come to fruition.
