The devil might be in the details, but it's the same details that make the difference. With ownership of a collectible, whether it's a classic car, a hard-to-get limited edition, or a super-expensive hypercar, comes a certain prestige that demands living up to.
This is what Koenigsegg helps Koenigsegg owners do, this time by means of the fanciest, most futuristic, and perhaps evil-looking key holder. Of course, the relatively young carmaker is also adding to the annual profit through merchandising, but more than another Koenigsegg product, it's selling a status symbol with this one.
Earlier this week, Koenigsegg introduced the Koenigsegg key holder, an object so good-looking and beautifully crafted that its functionality wasn't immediately apparent, so it required a description to know what it was for.
That's not an exaggeration, either: the automaker revealed a proper look at the key holder on its social media, and most followers assumed it was a Koenigsegg-branded perfume, perhaps a men's cologne. They didn't stop to read the description, you guessed this much.
Photo: F1rst Motors
Most big companies capitalize on their brand through merchandising, and carmakers are no different. You can always get Porsche keychains or Ferrari tees to match your favorite daily driver, just like you can get a Koenigsegg leather travel bag or a gold chain with a ghost pendant.
This kind of side-hustle is neither uncommon nor, as it was once believed, an act of selling out. Especially in economic downturns, every dollar matters. More importantly, though, merchandising helps with creating a stronger bond within a community of users and allows those users – well-heeled ones, in Koenigsegg's case – to fully indulge in their hobby.
Since this is common practice today, sometimes, a simple trucker cap won't do in terms of standing out. So Christian von Koenigsegg, the brains and founder of Koenigsegg, designed this super fancy-looking key holder. Pricing isn't revealed, but if a leather bag will set you back some $1,500 and a ghost chain pendant $1,200 (converted from Swedish Krona at today's exchange rate), expect this one to be more expensive.
Photo: Koenigsegg
According to the official description, each one of these key holders is meant to sit on "the mantle" and remind Koenigsegg owners "to take [the car] for a spin again." Whereas the other gear available in the Koenigsegg shop is for the average person who might more or less stan the automaker, this one goes to the Koenigsegg driver. With love, not from Russia but Koenigsegg himself.
Each key holder is custom-made to match "the specifications and details of the corresponding Koenigsegg it belongs to," so it's over-engineered to perfection.
A bottom of the drawer, a hook, or an old, thrift-store-bought container won't do in terms of storing your Koenigsegg key, so you get a carbon fiber container that holds the aluminum key holder, which is a 3D representation of the Koenigsegg shield emblem. You place one on top of the other, so the container becomes a stand, and then the key within the aluminum cage, and you get the closest thing to a work of art. Then again, it's what a car that starts at $3 million and seemingly defies the laws of physics deserves.
Photo: Koenigsegg
The piece, thus assembled, bears a close resemblance to its direct muse, the Faberge bejeweled egg. The difference is that this one isn't adorned with precious stones and gold but, like the car whose key it holds, is crafted out of carbon fiber, aluminum, and Alcantara. It's just the thing you'd expect to find in a villain's lair, hiding the button to a secret bunker or, even better, the device that would bring about the end of the world.
The key holder, which opens up to allow you to remove the key, features Koenigsegg symbology and the VIN of the car whose key it holds. Phew!, because that means owners of two or more Koenigseggs will never again wonder which key is for what car.
"The entire package is precisely designed to ensure a micrometer-perfect fit of the key in the holder, and the holder in its case," the automaker says. This is a custom touch for the most discerning Koenigsegg owner, the kind that would never inquire about the price of an item before asking for it.
Photo: Koenigsegg
If the key holder brings a certain deja vu, it's because it's been shown before, though not exactly in its final form. Christian von Koenigsegg previewed the prototype for the key holder almost two years ago, saying it was a customizable product for Jesko and Gemera owners.
So, what we're now looking at right now is the finished version of the product, which will probably sell for the kind of money you could buy a decent used car with. But looking doesn't cost any money, so here you go.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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