The Kimera K39 prototype has reached Top Gear’s test track, where Jack Rix sampled the unfinished Italian hypercar. Reported here on 4 November 2026, the appearance features a car whose manufacturer claims 1,000 hp, not a prototype independently measured at that output. No verified acceleration, top-speed or lap-time figures accompany the supplied report.
Did Top Gear drive the Kimera K39 prototype?
Yes. Top Gear’s video presents Rix sampling a yellow, work-in-progress K39 at the Top Gear Test Track. Indexed listings date the video to 30 October 2026, although that does not establish when filming took place.
The important distinction is the car’s development status. This is an early driving impression, rather than a finished-car road test or an instrumented performance assessment.
In Top Gear’s K39 prototype video, the unfinished car provides the story’s central development: the project has moved beyond reveal coverage into a hands-on demonstration. However, the headline’s 1,000-hp figure still needs its manufacturer-claim label.
For drivers following the project, that makes this a useful progress report. It does not yet answer how quickly a customer-specification car accelerates, brakes or completes a lap.
How much horsepower does the Kimera K39 have?
Kimera states that the K39’s engine delivers 1,000 hp and 1,200 Nm. Those are the manufacturer’s model specifications, not measured results from this particular prototype drive.
Consequently, the Kimera K39 1,000 hp claim should not become shorthand for the output available during filming. The supplied research does not establish the prototype’s tested power.
The distinction matters because an unfinished car can run a development configuration. Without a confirmed setup and measurement, assigning the headline output to every filmed acceleration would go beyond the evidence.
| Item | What the sources establish | What remains unconfirmed here |
|---|---|---|
| Engine output | Kimera claims 1,000 hp | Measured output during Top Gear’s drive |
| Torque | Kimera claims 1,200 Nm | Torque available in the filmed configuration |
| Vehicle status | Work-in-progress prototype | Final customer specification |
| Acceleration | No verified figure supplied | 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) time |
| Circuit performance | Top Gear Test Track appearance | Verified lap time |
| Availability | No delivery timetable established in this report | Customer handover dates |
Similarly, a power figure alone cannot establish acceleration. Our guide to rollout in acceleration testing explains why even timed results need clear measurement conditions.
What engine does the Kimera K39 use?
The K39 uses a bespoke twin-turbo V8 developed by Koenigsegg for Kimera. The Italian manufacturer confirms that relationship on its official K39 engine page, alongside the claimed power and torque.
That makes the Kimera K39 Koenigsegg V8 connection more than a styling reference or an informal comparison. It is part of the stated engineering specification.
However, this report does not establish engine displacement, boost pressure during filming or a final production calibration. Those details should remain open rather than being borrowed from another Koenigsegg-powered car.
For now, the confirmed combination is straightforward: a twin-turbo V8, substantial claimed torque and an unfinished chassis undergoing an early public examination. The next useful evidence would connect that specification to repeatable performance measurements.
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Is the Kimera K39 based on a Lancia?
No. Top Gear’s May 2026 reveal described the K39 as a ground-up car, rather than another Kimera EVO restomod. It identified a carbon-fibre monocoque and rear-wheel drive.
However, the design carries a motorsport connection. Top Gear’s original K39 first look linked its inspiration to the Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo Group 5 era.
Therefore, inspiration and underlying construction need separate treatment. A historical racing reference does not mean the prototype uses a donor Lancia chassis.
That distinction also explains why this drive deserves attention beyond the reveal photographs. The K39 is a new vehicle development project, so its behaviour must stand on its own evidence.
Does the Kimera K39 have a manual transmission?
Yes. Top Gear’s May reveal described a manual gearbox alongside the rear-wheel-drive layout. Together, those details establish the intended mechanical character more clearly than the power claim alone.
Nevertheless, a manual transmission does not establish shift quality, gearing or clutch behaviour. Those need direct assessment, and this report does not supply a verified technical breakdown of them.
Likewise, rear-wheel drive does not tell us how effectively the finished car will deploy 1,200 Nm. Tyres, calibration and conditions matter, so footage alone cannot settle the traction question.
Safety note: acceleration and limit-handling assessment belong on closed circuits or controlled private venues, never public roads.
How can drivers record their own track-day drives?
While the prototype develops, drivers can keep a record of their own circuit outings. TripRank is an iOS driving and performance telemetry companion that records trips with GPS route capture.
Recording works offline and continues in the background. Each trip includes a Smoothness Score; Pro adds Apple Watch heart-rate analytics and aggregate Stats charts, including G-Force Radar and Braking and Cornering Events.
However, recording a drive is separate from validating a manufacturer’s performance claim. For preparation before your own circuit visit, use our first track-day checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Did Top Gear drive the Kimera K39?
Yes. Jack Rix sampled a yellow, unfinished prototype at the Top Gear Test Track. The video provides an early driving impression, not a finished-car instrumented test.
Does the Kimera K39 prototype make 1,000 hp?
Kimera claims 1,000 hp for the K39’s bespoke twin-turbo V8. However, the supplied report does not establish the prototype’s measured output during filming.
Is the Kimera K39 based on a Lancia?
No. Top Gear described it as a ground-up car with a carbon-fibre monocoque. Its design takes inspiration from the Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo Group 5 era.
Has Top Gear published a verified K39 lap time?
No verified lap time appears in the supplied report. It also provides no verified acceleration or top-speed result from this prototype drive.
Bottom line
The Kimera K39 Top Gear appearance adds an early driving chapter to the project’s 2026 story. However, the firm distinction remains: Kimera claims 1,000 hp, while this unfinished prototype has no verified performance figures in the supplied report. For recording your own drives, explore TripRank’s GPS driving companion on the App Store.
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