The Koenigsegg TFG ("Tiny Friendly Giant") is an inline-3 engine. It is a Freevalve (camless piston engine), thus it does not have a camshaft. Instead it uses electro-hydraulic-pneumatic actuators that allow it to open each valve (both intake and exhaust) independently to maximise performance and minimise fuel consumption depending on driving conditions. The actuators also have the ability to switch the engine between 2- and 4-stroke cycles by controlling the number of power strokes in relation to the number of idle strokes.[2] The patent for this system was bought by Koenigsegg's sister company Cargine Engineering in 2002.[2] The variable displacement system allows fuel economy to be 15%-20% higher than a variable camshaft engine. Cold start emissions are also drastically reduced by 60% over a variable camshaft engine. The engine is equipped with the same turbo for each set of exhaust valves developed by van der lee Turbo Systems,[3] So this is a switchable parallel system where at low exhaust mass flow the boost is created by one turbo and the second turbo being switched by at higher mass flow amounts, thus improving transient response. Without the turbos, Koenigsegg claims the engine is only capable of 300 hp. The engine can operate on the Otto cycle, Miller cycle, or the Atkinson cycle.[4] Further advantages of the camless engine is that a throttle body is no longer required because of the precision of the valve timing. According to Koenigsegg CEO Christian von Koenigsegg, when running on Gen 2.0 ethanol, the TFG becomes "at least as CO2-neutral as an EV running on renewable electric sources such as solar or wind."[5] The TFG follows previous Koenigsegg engines in its ability to run on all major fuels, from E100 to standard gas.
The TFG was originally intended to power the Koenigsegg Gemera, but in July 2024, Christian von Koenigsegg stated that due to the orders for the Gemera being predominantly for the V8 version, the TFG version has been cancelled.[6]
References
- David Tracy. A Detailed Look At The Koenigsegg Gemera's Mind-Blowing Engineering Jalopnik, 9 March 2020, retrieved 28 December 2021^
- Method of torque modulation^
- Franco Daudo. Koenigsegg Gemera: ibrida col motore Freevalve Gemera autotecnica.org, 2020-12-31, retrieved 2025-06-27^
- Robin Warner. Free valve! It's the only way to achieve a true engine democracy and a great way to make 600 hp Autoweek, 2020-03-26, retrieved 2020-11-26^
- Interview on the Gemera with Christian von Koenigsegg Koenigsegg, retrieved 28 December 2021^
- Vijay Pattni. Koenigsegg: Gemera to be V8-only, 3cyl 'Tiny Friendly Giant' shelved for now TopGear, 23 July 2024, retrieved 2025-06-27^