There’s more to the Pagani Utopia Roadster than its name suggests. Although it’s indeed a convertible variant of the Utopia, which made its debut in 2022 with a twin-turbo V12 and a seven-speed stick, it benefits from advanced weight-saving techniques and rides on talking tires.
While the roof-less versions of the Huayra and the Zonda were developed after the coupe models, the Utopia was designed with coupe and Roadster body styles from the get-go. The two models look pretty much alike from the rocker panels to the beltline, and both use butterfly-style doors. Above the beltline, the Roadster gets a look of its own characterized by a composite panel that integrates a window and roll hoops. It comes standard with a removable hardtop that can be placed on a stand and a removable soft top that can be folded and stored in a suitcase-shaped storage bag located behind the seats. Pagani notes it integrated a window into the hardtop to let light into the cabin.
Broadly speaking, a convertible weighs more than its coupe counterpart due to the reinforcements required to maintain structural rigidity. Pagani broke this rule: The Roadster tips the scale at 2,822 pounds, so it weighs exactly as much as the coupe. The company explains that it pulled this off by using no less than 40 formulas of weight-saving composite materials. Carbon fiber played a significant role, of course, but the brand also used Carbo-Titanium HP62-G2 and Carbo-Triax HP62. The monocoque was notably entirely redesigned for added rigidity.
Like the coupe, the Roadster is powered by a twin-turbocharged, 6.0-liter V12 built by Mercedes-AMG and rated at 864 horsepower and 811 pound-feet of torque. “No heavy batteries, no hybrid system, just the wonderful roar of a V12 engine,” the Italian company proudly points out. The 12-cylinder spins the rear wheels via a seven-speed manual transmission that’s linked to one of the coolest shifters we’ve seen in recent memory. Alternatively, an automatic transmission that can be controlled using a pair of steering wheel-mounted shift paddles is available.
Speaking of the steering wheel, look closely and you’ll notice it’s a work of art. Pagani starts by feeding a 94.8-pound block of metal to a five-axis milling machine that works continuously for 28 hours to make the part. That’s why the rim, the spokes, and the hub form one piece. The final part weighs just 3.5 pounds, and Pagani says the discarded 90 or so pounds are recycled in other industries rather than thrown away.
Pagani stresses that it will put a big focus on its customization program, which allows buyers to choose from a nearly endless selection of interior colors and materials. While coupe buyers can configure a one-of-a-kind as well, the company expects this service will be particularly popular among Roadster buyers because the interior will be easier to see. Additionally, every Utopia Roadster will come with two matching suitcases made with leather-upholstered carbon fiber. They’re designed to neatly slot into compartments on either side of the engine.
Cyber Tyre technology developed by Pirelli creates a link between the car and the road. These tires feature sensors on the inner part of the tread that communicates details about road conditions to the car’s driving aids, such as the ABS, the ESP, and the traction control system.
The Pagani Utopia Roadster will make its debut during Monterey Car Week in August 2024. Production is limited to 130 units (versus 99 examples for the coupe), and each one is priced at €3.1 million, which represents approximately $3.3 million at the current conversion rate.
More Information
July 31, 2024 / Comments Off on Pagani Utopia Roadster keeps the stick and the V12, loses its top
Like many of its peers and rivals, Pagani has spent the past couple of years experimenting with electric technology. While the project is ongoing, the Italian company explained that it likely won’t launch an EV in the near future because battery technology remains far too heavy.
“Our goal is to create something that has to be lightweight. Looking at Pagani, what you see that is common with all the vehicles that we produce, they have to be lightweight,” said Christopher Pagani, the son of company founder Horacio Pagani, in an interview with Top Gear.
He added that the brand’s EV project started in 2018, and “there is no need for us to stop that,” but weight remains the biggest hurdle. “So, probably, nowadays with the existing technology we cannot create the Pagani the way that we would like to do,” he clarified. His comments echo those made by his father in 2022. At the time, Horacio Pagani also noted that his team has “never found interest in the supercar market for an EV” and added that forcing small carmakers to go electric doesn’t make sense when “90% of energy is produced in a bad way.”
Electric technology has improved in the past decade, but Pagani explained that delivering the level of performance its customers want would require building a car with a 1,300-plus-pound battery pack. For context, the V12-powered Utopia (pictured) has a dry weight of about 2,822 pounds while the electric Lotus Evija weighs around 3,700 pounds. The EV is quicker, but there’s more to a supercar than flat-out speed.
Pagani plans to continue using a Mercedes-Benz-sourced V12 engine modified in-house for the foreseeable future. Interestingly, the brand revealed that Mercedes-AMG floated the idea of using a V8-electric hybrid drivetrain during the Utopia’s development process. Pagani held its ground and launched the car with a big V12. “We, let’s say, ‘challenged them’ to keep the V12 and they accepted,” the company said.
What’s next depends largely on regulations in various markets. “We know that for small manufacturers can have [the V12] at least until 2035. But, we’re not afraid of approaching another powertrain in the future. We just have to know what the rules are,” Pagani told Top Gear.
Related video:
May 30, 2023 / Comments Off on Pagani is developing an EV but says batteries remain too heavy
Pagani’slatest supercar and successor to the Huayra is here, and its name is Utopia. And everything about it is about getting back to basics and focusing on the driving experience. But don’t take our word for it, that’s what Pagani said its clients wanted: “simplicity, lightness and the pleasure of driving.” So it’s delivering a light car with a big V12 and a manual transmission.
In the middle of the Utopia is a twin-turbo 6.0-liter V12 from Mercedes-AMG, and it makes 852 horsepower and 811 pound-feet of torque. Power goes into an Xtrac-designed seven-speed manual transmission (or automated manual as an option) to a limited-slip differential and the rear wheels. Pagani also seemed to take a dig at Koenigsegg and its manually-shiftable automatic in the CC850: “Moreover, in order to best match the wishes expressed by Pagani enthusiasts, its aficionados, a virtual manual would not be acceptable so a real seven-speed manual transmission has been developed.”
The chassis is a blend of carbon-titanium fiber for the body and passenger compartment with chromoly tube subframes front and rear. Suspension is double-wishbone at all four corners with forged aluminum components. The wheels are also forged aluminum and feature carbon fiber turbine covers that extract hot air. Six-piston front calipers and four-piston rear calipers stop the supercar.
Design-wise, the Utopia looks like a blend of the Huayra and Zonda. It’s very curvy like the Huayra, but the low center section and raised front fenders are reminiscent of that original Zonda. It does of course have many unique cues, particularly the side mirrors that hang off their mounts and the floating taillights. Inside, Pagani has focused on a more traditional look with just a single small screen in the instrument cluster, and analog dials for nearly every other instrument. The manual shifter is fully exposed and sits prominently between the seats. It also features a steering wheel and pedals that have all been milled as single pieces from aluminum.
Pagani will build just 99 Utopias in the initial run, and they’ve all been sold. No price was given, but it was surely astonishingly high.
Related video:
September 12, 2022 / Comments Off on Pagani Utopia takes things back to basics: V12, manual
The third movement in Pagani’s symphony of supercars is headed our way in an online debut from Milan come September 12. It’s called the C10 for now, which could be a provisional name, its full final name, or a portion of the final name; the Zonda that put the Modena manufacturer on the map launched as the Zonda C10, the codename for the Huayra during development was C9. Pagani posted another teaser of the coupe to Facebook, finally giving us hints of the thing in the, er, carbon fiber. The only surprise we can make out so far is the headlight treatment. Previous products have placed each light element in its own pod, the Zonda boasting three, the Huayra two. The C10 tucks its two headlight beams together under a clear cover.
The good news beyond that is the return of the manual transmission, which wasn’t available on the Huayra. Eponymous founder Horacio Pagani is said to have discovered that some customers passed on buying a Huayra because of the omission. The C10 tease shows the six-speed row-your-own perched between the front seats, its linkage exposed like we used to see on Spykers. Note, the Huayra shifter featured an exposed linkage, but its rods and springs connected to an Xtrac seven-speed sequential gearbox. The C10 will offer a sequential transmission for those who want it.
Another AMG-sourced 6.0-liter V12 sits behind the cockpit, said to have been upgraded from the unit in the Huayra. The former car made 730 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. The special edition Pagani Codalunga made 840 hp and 811 lb-ft. The C10 is expected to produce in the area of 880 horsepower and about as much torque.
The rest we’ll find out about next week. Spy shots of prototypes show what looks like a tasty blend of Zonda-specific cues within the overall flowing shape that recalls the Huayra. The front intake looks more like a Zonda, as do the scoop-less rear fenders and the triple taillights set at an angle in the rear fascia. The almost uninterrupted flow from front to rear, and the tailless rear end are all Huayra. The return of side view mirrors looking like lazy leaves and quad exhaust tips inset in a round opening establish more continuity. It’s possible the car goes back to the traditional door openings of the Zonda, forsaking the gullwing apertures of the Huayra. Pagani said the focus of this car has been weight reduction and handling, so we shouldn’t be surprised to see a curb weight below the 2,976 pounds of the Huayra.
There are only going to be about 300 C10s among all variants — coupe, convertible, and special editions — and every one has been sold. As if that weren’t the case with just about every seven-figure car nowadays, those of means will be especially keen to get in here since it’s thought to be the last pure combustion Pagani before the firm moves into electrification.
Related video:
September 8, 2022 / Comments Off on Pagani C10 teased before September 12 debut
Have you ever taken a look at the Pagani Huayra in your driveway and wished that it was even more unique and exclusive? No? You say you don’t have one? Ah, well it’s surely because you’ve been waiting for that unique and exclusive version (and felt the other unique ones of late weren’t good enough). And that car is here. The Italian supercar builder has announced a stunning variant called the Huayra Codalunga that will cost $7.34 million and have a production run of just five units.
Codalunga means “longtail” in Italian, and describes perfectly what makes this Huayra unlike the others. Pagani says that it’s a tribute to the speed machines of the 1960s. Starting with the Huayra Coupé, Pagani stretched out the body and gave it some extra-sleek lines inspired by 1960s race cars and aircraft.
“We drew inspiration from the long tails of the 1960s that raced at Le Mans,” explained Horacio Pagani in a statement. “We have taken away rather than added. Simplifying is not at all straightforward, and this vehicle is, above all, the result of a complex pursuit of simple ideas.”
The Codalunga was developed by Pagani Grandi Complicazioni, their in-house division for special projects. The genesis dates back to 2018, when two unnamed customers asked Pagani to create a long tail version of the Huayra. Since then, the two have worked closely with the company to usher the car into fruition.
Beneath the elegant bodywork, which includes an engine cover that is 14 inches longer than on the Huayra, sits a variant of the 6.0-liter AMG V12. In Codalunga guise, it makes up to 840 horsepower and 811 lb-ft of torque. Despite its increased length, the Codalunga actually weighs less than the Coupé, tipping the scales at just 2,820 pounds. An exposed exhaust system is fabricated from titanium and weighs only 9.7 pounds.
Since only five will be made, and there were two customers who commissioned the car, our rudimentary math skills indicate that there will be three left. Pagani didn’t say how one could go about asking for a quote, but when you’re dealing with this kind of money and exclusivity, it’s probably more of a “we’ll let you know” situation. And really, we wouldn’t be surprised if those other three examples have already been sold.
Related Video:
June 17, 2022 / Comments Off on Pagani Huayra Codalunga is Italian for ‘longtail’
It’s been about a decade since the Pagani Huayra entered the supercar market. And since then, we’ve seen myriad variants with and without removable roofs. So it’s high time that a new Pagani supercar show up. That’s exactly what we have here, at least as far as we can tell. And it certainly appears to stick to Pagani styling tradition.
The proportions of this supercar, reportedly codenamed C10, are exactly what we’ve come to expect of the brand’s machines. It has a short nose and long rear. It has a low grille with a support in the middle that blends into a triangular hood section. And the rear is wide with signature quad tailpipes in between the taillights.
Looking closer, we can see some subtle differences from the Huayra. The lower grille opening is, well, lower, looking more like that of the Zonda. The cabin area looks shorter in length. There aren’t any apparent air intakes along the car’s flanks, possibly supplanted by intakes just behind the cabin. The tail looks more Zonda-like, too. Instead of the high-set, more flowing arrangement of lights, this C10 has just two simple lights on each side in square-shaped panels.
This prototype clearly isn’t quite production-ready, based on the large amount of camouflage and prototype components such as the headlights. But we’ll be seeing the production model soon. A previous report said that the car will make its debut this year. It will apparently use a version of the twin-turbo AMG V12 also used in the Huayra, though this time it will be available with a manual transmission.
Related Video:
May 6, 2022 / Comments Off on Pagani C10 spy photos give us a peek at the Huayra successor
Yes, you are reading that title right, it seems someone was able to get the track-only Pagani Huayra R and drive it on public roads, in the middle of a city no less, the sound this race version of the Pagani Huayra makes is just tremendous, make sure to use headphones when you view the video below:
[embedded content]
[embedded content]
The above video was made during the 2021 edition of the Supercarownerscircle event in Zagreb, Croatia, where we see the Huayra R driving on the city streets, but also doing some acceleration runs on the Velika Gorica Airport, where it looks like there is no reverse gear as they need to push the car back as it can’t make the turn on the narrow runway.
Power in the Pagani Huayra R comes from a V12, 6-litre NAracing engine, designed from the ground up in partnership with HWA AG specifically to meet the Atelier’s need to equip its new creation with the lightest, most powerful, and efficient track-ready V12 ever created with peak performance on the track up to the red line of 9000 rpm while the dry weight of the Huayra R is just 1,050 kg with a maximum power output of 850 hp at 8250 rpm, only 30 units of the Pagani Huayra R will be built, at €2,600,000 each, before taxes.
Back in August 2021, at the Monterey Car Week, Pagani celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Huayra, but they only showcased some key elements of the Huayra R, it seemed the car wasn’t ready yet for a public unveil, and let’s not forget the video where Tim shows us around a 1:1 scale mockup of this race-track only version … it seems they managed to get the first production prototype ready for Zagreb now …
September 29, 2021 / Comments Off on The Pagani Huayra R … on the street?
We all know Horacio Pagani, the man behind some of the world’s most impressive hypercars today, but a man that also gave us the Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary back in 1988, when he was asked to redesign the Countach Quattrolvalvole into a limited edition model to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Automobili Lamborghini SpA founded in 1963, the Countach 25th Anniversary was intended to be made in very limited numbers until a successor took over … things turned out a little different, and by the time the Diablo was unveiled in 1990, there were 657 units made, making it the most successful Countach in the series.
Horacio started working at Automobili Lamborghini SpA when he was in his late twenties, and while we all know of him as being responsible for the Countach Anniversary, a year earlier, in 1987 he also created the Countach Evoluzione, by the newly-formed ‘Composites Department’, they decided to change the steel space-frame of the original Countach to a chassis/body construction in composite materials, making this the first ‘composite’ Lamborghini in history, sadly the car no longer exists as the Evoluzione performed a final test: a crash barrier test, which revealed valuable information on the impact resistance of this kind of chassis structure.
Horacio Pagani was born in November 1955, aged 65 at the time of writing, he is still very young at heart and continues to develop hypercars for his high-net-worth customers, back in 1987 he even invested in his own autoclave to make carbon fiber components, but as Lamborghini wasn’t interested in this new lightweight material at that time, he left in 1991 to create his own company, Modena Design, that fabricated carbon fiber components … but the best was yet to come, a year later, in 1992 Horacio started Pagani Automobili Modena … and as they say ‘the rest is history’.
It would take Pagani Automobili seven long years to come up with their first production model … but the wait was worth it for sure, at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show, Horacio Pagani proudly unveiled the Zonda C12 … a hypercar, unlike the world, had ever seen, with a totally innovative design, powered by a Mercedes-sources 6.0-liter V12 with a power output of 394 hp (293 kW) and 420 pound-feet of torque (570 Nm), figures that might be dwarfed today, but in 1999 these were impressive nonetheless contributing to a top speed of nearly 300 km/h.
In 1999 a Pagani Zonda C12 would set you back US$299,999, today many new Pagani have that figure in options alone I guess, prices have gone up considerably for cars from this Modena based company, officially production of the Zonda was halted in 2012 when Horacio unveiled the new Huayra, but wealthy clients have a habit of convincing car manufacturers of making an exception when a lot of money is involved, so Horacio kept building bespoke Zonda’s six years later.
In mid-2018 Horacio Pagani unveiled his most expensive car to date, the Zonda HP Barchetta, he confirmed these three units would be the last Pagani Zonda ever to be built, and only two of these were available to customers as Horacio intended to keep one for himself, still, it seemed no problem at all to find two customers to come up with €15,000,000 (about US$17,500,000 at that time) for one of the two remaining Zonda HP Barchetta, by then power had increased to 800 PS already.
In 2011 the Pagani Zonda was officially replaced with the Pagani Huayra, a new design, with dynamic aero parts … two wings at the front, and two more wings at the rear would remain flush with the body for high speed runs, but in corners, they could all be raised individually to increase downforce on the corner that needed it the most, a very innovative idea that gave the Huayra hypercar an edge over the competition.
Only 100 units of the Pagani Huayra would be built, and we’ve heard they all sold by early 2015, but that didn’t mean you could order this hypercar from Pagani Automobili anymore, Horacio just started building a Roadster version, after that the Huayra BC and BC Roadster … and the list goes on today, in 2021 there are still versions of the Pagani Huayra available like the Pagani Huayra BC Pacchetto Tempesta unveiled during Monterey Car Week.
But the Pagani Huayra chassis is a decade old now, so it’s time to talk about a successor, the third model from Pagani Automobili that has an internal codename ‘C10’ that should be unveiled and receive her final name by 2023, and while just about everyone is talking about electrification or at least hybridization, Pagani will stick to a turbocharged Mercedes-AMG V12 that will be specifically built for this car alone.
If we think about the fact that the current Pagani Huayra Roadster BC comes with nearly 800 hp and 774 lb-ft of torque, I can only speculate the Pagani C10 will make a jump closer to 900 hp in two years time, why isn’t Pagani asking Mercedes to develop a hybrid transmission for his new car is easy … Horacio asked around in his current clientele and none of them were interested in an electric or hybrid Pagani, they want to buy a real hypercar with an internal combustion engine while it’s still legal to drive on the open road.
The newly developed V12 Mercedes-AMG engine will be complying with worldwide regulations until at least 2026, if not 2027, and let’s not forget Pagani Automobili is located in Modena, Italy, a country that is working towards an exemption of the 2030 all-electric legislation because production numbers from Ferrari and Lamborghini, for instance, are extremely low compared to mass-produced cars, in the end, Pagani is building less than 50 cars a year.
So we might be seeing a turbocharged V12 engine in the new Pagani C10 for several years into the future, but Horacio isn’t a fool either, so he has been thinking about a contingency plan since 2019, I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a Pagani Huayra test mule out there with electric motors, Pagani is working on an EV model, Horacio himself confirmed he liked the Rimac, but it’s too heavy in his opinion, the Huayra is a lot lighter and can pull more lateral G, which is what the customers for his bespoke hypercars are looking for, a lightweight, sensual hypercar.
At the time of writing there is no indication of power output, nor any styling cues on how the 2023 Pagani will look, we still only have the internal development codename C10, so most likely the upcoming hypercar hasn’t been named yet … but with it keeping a V12 engine without any hybrid help (as far as we know today), this sounds like a really interesting car to look out for, and as we already mentioned, there have been countless versions of the Pagani Zonda and the Pagani Huayra already, if you are interested in a complete overview, feel free to take a look at our Pagani Model List.
September 12, 2021 / Comments Off on Codename C10 – the new Pagani for 2023
You’re just a quick Google search away from discovering that there are A LOT of mind-blowingly-expensive cars out there. Take your pick from any variation of search terms like “most expensive cars in the world”, “highest price paid for an automobile” or “most valuable cars ever made”, and be prepared for results that will probably surprise you; a list of cars that is more diverse and extensive than you’re probably thinking right now.
It’s no longer uncommon to see automobiles being sold for well into the tens-of-millions, with auction sales – particularly for classic cars – skewing prices upwards into the stratosphere. Our list is focused on cars that can still be bought from the manufacturer brand new, either as a new build or right off the showroom floor (no auctions or older cars). We’ve gone ahead and done the work of filtering candidates from this interestingly vast pool of cars, using further criteria (outlined below) which allows us to whittle the shortlist down to ‘just’ 20 multi-million-dollar cars.
Still for sale or not explicitly declared by the producer as being discontinued
Well beyond the concept phase (i.e. it’s actually going into production, if not yet already)
While it’s totally expected that all of these cars will be built in extremely limited quantities, one-off models are not included
Even with all of these filters in place, compiling this list still presented some challenges. Given these cars’ limitless and bespoke customization options – in addition to limited-edition trims and special packages – actual prices can have little to no bounds. So, we go on the best information that’s out there with regards to “starting prices”, which manufacturers aren’t shy to asterisk as being “estimates” or “uh…we’ll tell you sometime after we get your down payment”. Everyone’s usually fine with this arrangement – that’s just how things work at this level of the game.
Prices can even change drastically throughout the production process (and from as early as the concept phase) as automakers and customers encounter their own boons and obstacles – it’s amazing for example, how much currency exchange rates are at play when it comes to determining the final MSRP. Things like this may notably increase or even decrease previously marketed prices. Ultimately, $2.0 Million (USD) ended up being the baseline for entry onto this list. We tried to include a wider range of “supercars”, but at this stage our hand was forced to declare this as a hypercar-only space. That’s how crazy things have become, but I digress…
Hypercars are the new zenith in today’s automotive landscape, transcending the boundaries of the supercar to create a space occupied only by the most outlandish things that can still be called cars. While some of the relatively larger luxury and exotic car companies have created their own interpretations of the hypercar, many of these vehicles have been crafted by specialty automotive boutiques or singular-focused companies who are looking to showcase new technologies or smash land speed records. It is these very outfits that we will be focusing on, in this list of hypercars that are available to purchase in 2021. In terms of the everyday automobile, none of these will be household names; but they will be more than familiar to those who worship the automotive deities.
Bentley Bacalar – $2.0 Million
So what’s the most expensive, modern-day Bentley money can buy? That would have to be the $2,000,000 Bentley Bacalar, a two-seater, convertible luxury sports car that comes with the famous W12 engine and uses 5,000-year-old wood for its interior trim. While its engine is the evergreen W12 6.0L TSI unit that has been around since 2003, it has been further enhanced for the Bacalar to offer the smoothest ride possible, and still provide a massive 650 hp and 900 Nm of torque. Despite being closely related to the Continental GT, Bentley still had to produce over 750 custom parts for this car even though they only plan on releasing just twelve units to the public. While not normally considered a ‘hypercar’ marque, this particular Bentley however, certainly checks all the right boxes.
Ferrari Monza SP1 & SP2 – $2.0 Million
Both the Monza SP1 and SP2 are based on the Ferrari 812 Superfast and come with a 6.5LV12 engine with 810 hp sent to the rear wheels. An aluminum chassis and carbon fiber body make for a lightweight car with an absurd power-to-weight ratio. Expect a sub-3-second sprint from standstill to 60 mph, and scintillating 7.9 seconds to get up to 125 mph. Top speed will be around 186 mph. The primary difference between the two models is that the SP1 is a single seater, while the SP2 is a two-seater, with each configuration also impacting other elements of the car. The Monza SP1 has a tonneau cover, while the SP2 gets rid of the cover to make room for the second passenger. There is small windscreen and a second roll bar hoop in the SP2, which further differentiates the two designs from one another. We don’t think these cars will be approved for road use, so expect them to be track-day-only machines. Furthermore, only a maximum of 500 examples will be produced.
Lotus Evija – $2.1 Million
Lotus has been hyping their new fully-electric automobile, going as far as saying that the Evija will be a “mind-blowing supercar”. The car features two electric motors which output its outrageous 2,000 hp. The battery is placed in the middle of the car where a typical internal combustion mid-engine car would have its beating heart, helping it to achieve an ideal weight distribution. Lotus sought to strike the perfect balance between a track car and a road car, and that extends to the cabin – a minimalist, driver-focused interior design but with plenty of the comfort and convenience features you’d expect in a civil grand tourer. The Lotus Evija has been named as ‘The One to Watch‘ in Top Gear’s 2021 Electric Awards .
McLaren Speedtail – $2.3 Million
Meet the new Speedtail – an aptly-named addition to McLaren’s UltimateSeries of automobiles. This limited-edition car – of which only 106 examples will be built – represents McLaren’s unyielding pursuit of maximum top-speed. Whereas other McLaren’s blend handling, acceleration, and driving dynamics in a harmonious package, the Speedtail has a more singular focus. That focus is speed; ludicrous amounts of it. McLaren has labeled the Speedtail a Hyper GT, which seems fitting given the excess of the car and its abilities. This 1,055 hp car will take you to 250 mph, and then to the Opera, on the same set of tires (to paraphrase McLaren spokesperson, Wayne Bruce). More than that, the Speedtail is a car that reminds us that the automotive world serves to inspire and excite us, as much as it does in moving us from one place to the next. Though, in the case of the Speedtail, it moves us unlike anything else out there.
Rimac Nevera – $2.4 Million
Although it is not the first EV to be powered by 4 permanent magnet electric motors, the Rimac Nevera does come with its own unique electric drivetrain design. By strategically placing a pair of 200 kW electric motors in front and another two 500 kW electric motors in the rear, the engineers were able to give the rear-biased Nevera an ideal 48:52 (front:rear) weight distribution. It’s probably a good thing that this Rimac was built with a predisposition to exhibit ballet-like agility, because it’s going to need all the grace in the world to tame all that’s brewing within. In combination, all of the 4 electric motors can generate up to 1,914 hp (1.4 mW) and 1,740 lb-ft of torque (2,360 Nm). This allows the Nevera to absolutely annihilate the popular 0-60 mph benchmark in just 1.85 seconds, with an equally impressive 1/4 mile time of just 8.6 seconds – good enough to make it the fastest production vehicle ever made, by some margin. Top speed is stated as 258 mph (412 km/h).
Pininfarina Battista – $2.5 Million
I doubt that anyone would be offended – least of all, Pininfarina – if the Battista was mistaken as ‘just another’ one of Ferrari’s super cars. Afterall, the design elements are deliberately signature from the company; and that’s really the best part of it all. Beneath the silhouette lies something less familiar – the absence a typically mid-mounted combustion engine, for one. The Ferrari…. I mean…. Pininfarina Battista is fully-electric, and beyond that very notion, things only start to get even more crazy. The Battista utilizes 4 motors – one for each wheel – which produce a combined 1,900 hp and 1696 ft-lb of torque. That level of performance and technological sophistication won’t come cheap either, with each car priced at around $2.5 million USD. The decision by Automobili Pininfarina to start producing electric cars right off the bat came relatively easy for the company, which was not tied down by a past involving the combustion engine – they could begin their journey with a clean (no pun intended) slate.
Mercedes-AMG Project One – $2.7 Million
After months of teasing and speculation, Mercedes-AMG has officially unveiled the world’s first road legal car equipped with a Formula 1 powertrain – the 1,000 hp Project One. Its 4-digit power output comes from an improved version of the hybrid system found inside the W08 F1 car, which also includes a turbocharged 1.6L V6 engine and four electric motors. The two front electric motors on the Project One are of the latest and greatest technologies available, with each unit being capable of revving up to 50,000 rpm and producing 160 hp on their own. The third electric motor is integrated into the turbocharger, while the fourth is mounted directly on the car’s combustion engine, producing another 120 hp of the Project One’s total power output of “beyond 1,000 hp”. Mercedes-AMG has also claimed that the turbo lag on the Project One is not only eliminated in this setup, but the response times should now be shorter than those cars powered by a naturally-aspirated V8.
Koenigsegg Jesko – $2.8 Million
The Koenigsegg Jesko was unveiled at the most recent Geneva Motor Show to date – the 2019 edition – drawing a lot of attention in Switzerland when the covers came off. This was a brutal looking car in true Koenigsegg tradition; with a claimed top speed of 300 mph, from what they claim is their lightest and most powerful 5.0L twin-turbocharged V8 engine yet. Numbers like 1,600 hp on E85 biofuel and 1,280 on regular gasoline were mentioned, along with a maximum torque of 1,106 lb-ft requiring a special 9-speed multi-clutch gearbox built in-house by Koenigsegg. At 170 mph, the aerodynamic design of the Jesko with its massive rear wing at play, creates 2,200 lbs of downforce … at its top speed, this number increases to more than 3,000 lbs of downforce!
Bugatti Chiron $2.9 Million
With a name honoring Louis Chiron – Bugatti’s Grand Prix driver in the 20s and 30s, who swept up virtually all the major races he participated in – the stakes were always going to be raised even higher. Operating beyond the known best-standard in any field is incredibly tough; new battle lines had to be drawn. Alongside the pre-marketing activity, which led to those hundreds of names on the pre-order list, Bugatti tested the Chiron extensively across several continents. This was to ensure that whatever the conditions, it was head and shoulders above the competition. The 8.0L W16 from the Veyron is no bad place to start from any perspective; that engine had no shortage of power, producing 1183 hp in ‘SuperSports’ configuration – at launch, the fastest production car in the world. With the Chiron, Bugatti has built upon that blueprint and founded an entirely new platform – one which has seen extensive improvements in all areas over its predecessor. It is stunning, it is capable, and it has the price tag to match. The “base” Chiron is still a monster.
GMA T.50 $3.0 Million
As impressive as a 12,100 rpm redline sounds, its 654 hp and 345 lb-ft of torque doesn’t sound extraordinary by today’s standards. But rest assured this engine, and this car, are on the cusp of a truly “redefining” moment in automotive history. Crucially weighing at just 178 kg, the engine plays a huge factor towards the T.50’s overall curb weight of just 980 kg – about one-third that of a contemporary supercar or hypercar. The GMA T.50 is the culmination of decades of Gordon Murray’s aerodynamic and mechanical engineering experience. Part of what makes the T.50 so exciting, is that it incorporates the design and function of the infamous Brabham BT46 “Fan Car.” A gigantic fan – powered by the camshaft of the engine and coupled with the curved underbody of the BT46 – created an active venturi effect that quite literally vacuumed the car onto the road, and allowed it to corner at barely believable speeds and levels of grip. The T.50 will feature something similar, and likely more advanced. On a road car. We can’t wait to see this in the flesh.
Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro – $3.1 Million
The new Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro isn’t just another version of the original Aston Martin Valkyrie with some added aerodynamic parts. They’ve also increased the wheelbase of the original chassis by 380 mm, and added 96 mm and 115 mm to the front and rear track width respectively. These changes effectively lengthen the entire car by 266 mm, essentially making it a ‘longtail’ version, as their rivals McLaren would call it. The Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro still uses the same Cosworth-built naturally-aspirated V12 engine with a 6.5L displacement – but now with 1,000 hp available at a screaming 11,000 rpm. Significant weight has been shed on the Valkyrie AMR Pro by removing the entire hybrid system, using an extremely light carbon fiber body, and incorporating carbon fiber suspension components. Thanks to its aerodynamic efficiency, the Valkyrie AMR Pro offers track performance previously only seen on Formula One cars.
W Motors Lykan Hypersport – $3.4 Million
This list just wouldn’t be complete without a car that had a starring role in the Fast and Furious Movie franchise, or would it? Well, here is one such car – the W Motors Lykan Hypersport. After its World Premiere launch at the International Qatar Motor Show on July 28th 2013, W Motors revealed to the world its first model, the Lykan HyperSport limited to only 7 units worldwide. Over 150,000 visitors attended this event with the presence of regional and international media covering this historical event for a global exposure and coverage. Other than having some legit Hollywood cred, the car is also famous for being the first to feature a holographic display system with interactive motion, giving the driver and passenger full interaction with the multimedia interface of the Lykan as well as other vehicle control systems. So the car is hardly new; but according to the W Motors website, they’re still open for business and are keen to take on new orders.
Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut – $3.4 Million
About a year later Koenigsegg unveiled the Jesko, they had something even more impressive on tap – the Jesko Absolut. While the ‘regular’ Jesko is more of a track-focused machine with balanced attributes and extensive aerodynamics, the Absolut was built to smash all top speed records. It has been designed to be as smooth as possible, with the least possible amount of drag – a coefficient value of only 0.278 Cd has been achieved, allowing for a top speed in excess of 330 mph (532 km/h), figures which would certainly fulfill its purpose. The first of these $3,000,000-ish hypercars are ‘Made in Sweden’ and will be delivered to their fortunate customers by the spring of 2022. I’m really curious as to what special color combinations we’ll be seeing for the builds, and just how split the numbers will be between the Jesko and Jesko Absolut; will more customers opt for the brutal, race-inspired-LeMans-style of the Jesko, or will the Absolut woo over more customers with her sleeker lines and higher top speed?
McLaren Sabre -$3.5 Million
McLaren’s Special Operations bespoke division has produced 15 cars exclusively for the US market. The first McLaren Sabre has already been delivered by McLaren Beverly Hills, with the company stating that the Sabre has “ideas and innovations that global homologation would not permit.” – this probably explains why it’s only available to customers west of the Atlantic. The McLaren Sabre is powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 engine which produces 824 hp and 590 ft-lb torque (with a top speed of 218 mph), which happens to make it the most powerful non-hybrid engine to date. Every example of the Sabre has been built specially for each customer, all of whom were intimately involved during the development and assembly process. In terms of looks, the Sabre could best be described as if the McLaren Speedtail and Senna had a child – with such good genes to draw from, that ultimately serves as a compliment. McLaren is not sharing any other specifications at this time, but we’ll probably get to know more as the other 14 cars get delivered in the coming months.
Pagani Huayra Roadster BC – $3.5 Million
If you like your hypercars over-the-top and amazing, then the Huayra Roadster BC is for you. We’ve reported on this car before – now it’s officially here. The car is a $3.5 Million machine with a crazy powerful engine and looks that will catch the eye of anyone. Pagani recently revealed the car, and it’s a stunning example of what makes them so special as an automaker. The Huayra Roadster BC features a 6.0L AMG V12 which is good for a whopping 800 hp and 774 lb-ft of torque, making the Roadster BC is more powerful than the coupe version. It weighs only 2,685 pounds and should be good for a 0-60 mph run in under 2.5 seconds. However, what the Roadster BC was truly designed for, was to conquer the twisty roads and race tracks. Pagani says the car can pull 1.9 Gs of max lateral force in corners. The company will make only 40 of the Roadster BC, and the car made its first official appearance during Monterey Car Week.
Lamborghini Sián – $3.6 Million
The original Sián introduced the concept of a naturally-aspirated V12 engine with a mild hybrid electric motor built into the transmission to boost performance. Unlike other hybrids that came before it, the electric motor provides only 34 HP and instead of a battery pack, uses a regenerative supercapacitor instead. With the newfangled hybrid system and the revamped 6.5L V12 engine, the car is able to do a 0-62 mph sprint in just 2.8 seconds along with a top speed of over 217 mph. The regenerative braking has the ability to fully recharge the supercapacitor in full, adding to the electric motor’s capability to assist the engine at speeds under 80 mph. Compared to an EV battery which takes much, much, longer to fully recharge, and weighs substantially more, you might be wondering why supercapacitors aren’t the dominating technology in electric or hybrid vehicles today. Well, there are a few very important reasons for this. By nature, supercapacitors aren’t able to store energy for long periods of time like a battery, making them unviable to be the primary food source for an electric vehicle – at least for now.
Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport – $3.6 Million
Usually, Europe is the most important market for Bugatti, but for the first time in history, during the first six months of 2021, the leading region has been taken over by the United States of America, with an immense interest in the impressive Bugatti Chiron, and more specifically the very special Pur Sport, a model that focusses on agility and acceleration instead of all-out top speed. Even 24 Hour of Le Mans class winner and longtime Bugatti test driver Butch Leitzinger was impressed with the Chiron Pur Sport during extended testing in Southern California, he stated: “The seamless marriage of agility and brute force give the Pur Sport abilities that are unmatched, not only by any other car, but also by any other Bugatti.”, so despite the price tag in the $4,000,000 region, there are more customers than ever willing to park the Chiron in their garage. There will be only 60 units built for the entire world.
Bugatti Divo – $5.8 Million
For starters, the Bugatti Divo is based on the Bugatti Chiron, and is certainly no less over-the-top. The Divo shares most of the important mechanical features with the Chiron; most notably the same quad-turbocharged 8.0L W16 engine which produces an extravagant 1,500 horsepower. According to Bugatti President, Stephan Winkelmann, the goal of the Divo is to be “the most agile and dynamic car Bugatti has ever created – a perfect homage for the 110th anniversary, which will be held in 2019”. In order to achieve this, many changes to the Chiron were made to its bodywork and chassis to amp up its aerodynamic efficiency and handling. Such drastic changes ensured that the Divo and Chiron are easily distinguishable, visually. Overall the Divo also has sharper angles and more aggressive looking body lines, with the horseshoe shaped grill, centre line running over the top of the car, and scoop-shaped doors being the only truly pronounced Bugatti features. “Happiness Isn’t Just Around The Corner. It Is The Corner.” – The Bugatti Divo.
Bugatti Centodieci – $9.0 Million
The Bugatti Centodieci is the brand’s homage to one of its most iconic supercars of all time – the Bugatti EB110. Images of the Centodieci were leaked ahead of its launch and many rumors had spread before the reveal. Despite this, the car is undeniably impressive and a force to be reckoned with when compared to any car ever produced. With sleek EB110-inspired looks, Bugatti did a good job of making the car look like an homage to the old supercar, while still giving it modern appeal. It might be built upon the Chiron platform, but there’s no question that this vehicle is much more than the car it’s loosely based on. After all, it shares the same engine with the Chiron, but in the Centodieci, it makes quite a bit more power with 1,578 hp on tap. The car is also 44 pounds lighter than the Chiron and will complete the 0-60 mph sprint in just 2.4 seconds, on its way up to 124 mph in as little as 6.1 seconds and a top speed of 236 mph. In short, the Centodieci appears to be a near-perfect blend of the Chiron and EB110, with a few of its own unique design elements to set it apart from both of those cars.
August 10, 2021 / Comments Off on 20 Most Expensive Hypercars On Sale Today
I am sure there are people out there that never have seen a Pagani Huayra in real life yet, but this amazing model from Horatio Pagani was introduced back in 2011 already, the Huayra is celebrating her 10th anniversary this year, and with Monterey Car Week in little over a week, Automobili Pagani found the perfect venue to commemorate this event, by bringing something new to California for us to enjoy … the Huayra BC Pacchetto Tempesta.
But let’s take a trip back to 2011, when Pagani officially unveiled the Zonda successor, called Huayra, in a simple online press release in January 2011, due to the close collaboration with Pirelli the world premiere featuring a real car was done at the Milan headquarters of Pirelli a month later, because Pagani used a Mercedes-AMG sourced engine for the new Huayra, production was limited at only 100 units … four years later, by February 11, 2015, this very special Pagani was sold out.
The Pagani Huayra at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show
A more public unveil for the new Pagani hypercar occurred at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show where the two cars on the stand drew a lot of attention, keep in mind at that same Geneva show Lamborghini unveiled the long-awaited Aventador LP700-4 and Koenigsegg showed the bright white Agera R, yes, the one with the ski box on the removable roof panel!
The engine for the Pagani Huayra might have been sourced from Mercedes-AMG, but it was a bespoke built for this car only, a 6-Liter twin-turbo V12 unit (internal code M158) that would deliver 720 hp at 5,800 rpm, but more importantly a massive 1,000 Nm of torque between 2,250 and 4,500 rpm … weighing in at only 1,250 kg, the Huayra was extremely fast on the track, in part due to the active aero ‘flaps’ at the front and rear of the car.
It took Pagani a few years to come up with an improved Huarya because the 100 units of the ‘base’ Huayra were sold out (not all delivered yet, however), we got the BC shown to the public at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, a more track-focused model named after the late Benny Caiola, a close friend of Horacio Pagani, and the first Pagani customer.
The Pagani Huayra BC at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show
The Pagani Huayra BC came with more power from the 6-Liter twin-turbo V12 engine, now rated at 745 hp with 1,100 Nm while overall weight got reduced to 1,218 kg, one of the options available on the limited edition Huarya BC was an impressive air intake on the engine cover and roof to make the car look even more like a race car … only 20 units of the Pagani Huayra BC were built.
A year later Pagani released the version of the Huayra I would be interested in the most, the Huayra Roadster, I prefer convertibles for my personal use, and the Huayra Roadster showed a rather radical, bespoke design, and I love it, she looks stunning. Naturally, the entire section over the engine had to be redesigned to offer open-top motoring, Pagani style, and on a car like this a canvas folding roof would be blasphemy, so the Huayra Roadster came with a removable hardtop section that could be left in the owner’s garage on a custom frame.
The new Pagani Huayra Roadster at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show
Unlike the Huayra that has those jaw-dropping gullwing style doors that open up, the Huayra Roadster comes with traditional doors, there is no roof to fix the hinges needed for gullwing doors, and while Horatio Pagani did some testing with a different way of opening for the doors on the Roadster, in the end, he deemed all the more ‘special’ solutions to be too heavy for this topless Huayra, so he settled for regular, horizontally swinging doors but still increased power from the V12 engine to 754 hp, the Roadster was again limited to 100 units only.
Just as with the closed coupe, the Pagani Huayra Roadster received an even more powerful BC variant, introduced in 2019, this time 40 units would be available of this $3,210,000 hypercar, now with almost 800 hp still from that Mercedes-AMG sourced twin-turbo V12 engine with a 6-Liter displacement. New to the roadster was a set of exhaust diverting flaps that would move some of the exhaust down, under, and more importantly over the sides of the rear diffuser, in effect making the Huayra BC Roadster a derivation of Formula 1 blown-diffuser technology developed in 2011 by Red Bull Racing.
The Pagani Huayra BC Roadster was intended to be unveiled at the 2020 edition of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance during Monterey Car Week, but sadly that event was canceled due to the worldwide pandemic, fortunately, the 2021 edition will take place, during which Pagani intends to offer some serious experience for their owners by gathering a large number of Pagani cars on the track, more on that later.
The most powerful, street-legal Pagani Huayra is the 2020 Imola version, with 827 hp, this very special model took its name from the fact Pagani did about 16,000 km of testing on the famous Italian Imola track, with an overall weight of only 1,246 kg thanks to a new way of producing the carbon fiber body, the more obvious points to recognize this version must be the new side sills, big roof scoop, and a vertical ‘shark fin’ that runs into a fixed rear wing … this looked like a race version of the Huayra, but that one was still on the drawing boards at Pagani, only 5 units of the Huayra Imola were made.
If you think a production run of 5 units on the Pagani Huayra Imola was limited, think again … the Huayra Tricolore came in only 3 units, even an MSRP of € 5,500,000 before VAT didn’t keep people from buying this ultimate Pagani. In 2010, Pagani paid tribute to 50 years of the Frecce Tricolori by creating the Zonda Tricolore, with only three built too, making it the most exclusive and sought-after Zonda model in the world.
In 2020, the Frecce Tricolori reached their 60th anniversary and Pagani wanted once again to celebrate this milestone with another piece to a mosaic created from passion, tradition, and the spirit of collaboration, inspired by the Aermacchi MB-339A P.A.N., the Huayra Tricolore is powered by a new Pagani V12, a twin-turbo engine specially developed by Mercedes-AMG, now capable of delivering 840 hp at 5900 rpm and 1100 Nm of torque from 2000 to 5600 rpm in this latest iteration.
2021 marked the year when Pagani came up with the long-awaited R version of the Huayra, much like the Zonda R presented at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, the Huayra R is a track-only car, this beast is not street-legal, but she still looks amazing, although we haven’t seen a rolling prototype yet, only a static mockup in a YouTuber video, the intention is to build a total of 30 units of the Huayra R, against 15 units of the radical Zonda R.
The Pagani Zonda R at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show
And it seems Pagani isn’t ready to unveil a working Huayra R yet either, their latest press release states ‘key components of the Huayra R project are on display’ at the 2021 Monterey Car Week, so we won’t be seeing an actual car in California this year, at least not a Huayra R, but we will be able to enjoy some serious Pagani hypercars over that weekend as Pagani will showcase the most iconic Huayra models at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, together with the world premiere of the Huayra BC Pacchetto Tempesta.
Pagani will bring along the first Huayra BC to be fitted with the new Pacchetto Tempesta together with one of the 40 units in the Huayra BC Roadster production, as they couldn’t unveil that car back in 2020 at the same event, the Pacchetto Tempesta is specifically developed to improve the already potent Huayra BC even further towards its racing attitude.
The Pacchetto Tempesta distinguishes itself from a regular Huayra BC with a different front splitter and dedicated air intake to maximize aerodynamic efficiency, a new rear wing featuring an integrated central fin comes into play, a different six-pipe exhaust system together with a new suspension. To enhance both comfort and looks, the interior of the Huayra BC gets some striking interior details and an all-new Soft Driving mode makes its appearance, power is increased by 8% to a total of 827 hp and 1,100 Nm torque.
While there won’t be a completely functional Huayra R on display this year, Pagani will showcase some key components of the project, like the all-new Pagani V12-R naturally aspirated engine, the six-speed sequential gearbox (created in collaboration with HWA), and the ultra-light Carbo-Titanium HP62-G2 and Carbo-Triax HP62 monocoque, specifically designed to provide the driving thrill of a true racing car, in line with the most stringent FIA requirements.
The monocoque interior to be featured inside the Huayra R shows a true racing setup, but will still be a testament to how even the most extreme, cutting-edge, models are fitted with unparalleled craftsmanship and unmistakably refined Pagani details, as even the R version, while not being street-legal, remains a Pagani masterpiece.
In the words of Pietro Berardi, CEO of the North American Market: “Passion and the continuous desire to go beyond our limits are some of the values that Pagani and Pirelli have shared for over 10 years in one of the most fruitful partnerships in the automotive world. Over the last years with Pagani we have implemented several research and development projects, always focused not on only maximum performance but also the new quality and safety standards: from the first record beaten in 2010 with a Pagani Zonda R on Pirelli P Zero at the Nürburgring, the iconic German racing track, to the use of Formula 1 modeling to develop the P Zero Trofeo R tires for the new Pacchetto Tempesta for the Huayra BC. Last but not least, just a few months ago, on the legendary Spa-Francorchamps racing track, the record set by the Roadster BC equipped with specially developed P Zero Trofeo R tires set a milestone in the history of “Motor Valley” supercars. With the new slick tires, specially developed for the Huayra R, the outlook looks much brighter for the years to come!”
August 5, 2021 / Comments Off on The Huayra is a decade old this year
It’s been about a week since the doors at the 2021 edition of the famous Goodwood Festival of Speed closed for the public, and all those supercars, hypercars, race cars, and classics have been taken back to their owners or company headquarters, and while we haven’t seen too much publicity about it, Pagani Automobili SpA was also present this year, with two impressive cars.
And Pagani has some celebrations to do this year, it has been ten years since the Huayra was introduced in 2011, a concept inspired by the philosophy of Leonardo Da Vinci and still a key part of Pagani Automobili’s DNA. The hill climb circuit was actually taken on by an amazing-looking Huayra BC, the famous competition uphill where F1 drivers, celebrities, and guests hurtle up the track at break-neck speed, I’m sure we’ve all seen Shmee150’s multiple videos on him being a passenger in several cars for the hill climb.
From the press release: The Huayra Roadster BC, a car designed for the track but developed for the road is a record-breaking vehicle: with a time of 2:23,081 minutes, it actually set a new world record for road-legal cars during the validation tests on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium. Plenty of painstaking work went into the aesthetics of the vehicle, involving almost obsessive attention to detail, in order to create a Pagani road car with unique styling, able to transmit the superlative driving experience of a roadster in a powerhouse of technology weighing just 1,250 kg.
But an even more interesting Pagani was displayed on the “Cartier Style et Luxe” Concours Lawn during the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Huayra 760 VR, a bespoke build for a very special client, who was actively involved in the design and development of this one-off, in co-operation with Pagani’s design team, the customer will receive an exclusive Huayra with bespoke details and using materials from aviation, the Huayra 760 VR is a testament to Pagani’s commitment to creating the best of the best while satisfying even the most demanding owner.
July 17, 2021 / Comments Off on Pagani Automobili at Goodwood Festival Of Speed 2021
Horacio Pagani and his team are hard at work to put together the first customer car for their limited series Huayra R, the track-only version for the stunning Pagani Huayra, but for now, they only put together a 1 on 1 scale mockup vehicle so they can evaluate the modifications done from the 3D computer designed model, over at least two 1/5 scale models, into real-life proportions … no interior yet, and no engine fitted either, but this satin silver metallic Huayra R with the famous orange stripe just looks so impressive, even standing still inside a studio.
There will be 30 units of this stunning Pagani Huayra R available for clients, but these can only be used on a closed track, heavily inspired by one of Horatio’s favorite classic race cars, the Porsche 917, the design for the Huayra R has been radically modified from the regular street-legal version, in the end only very few parts are the same … rumor has it only the exterior rearview mirrors and some screws on the chassis are the same as those found on the streetcar, that’s impressive for a limited production run of only 30 units.
The new Pagani Huayra R will come with a new V12 engine too, codename ‘R’, this engine will be naturally aspirated instead of the turbocharged V12 found in the streetcar, but this beast will come with 850 hp and 750 Nm of torque, inside a car that comes with a dry weight of only 1,050 kg … imagine the acceleration this Huayra R will be capable of.
Because the Pagani Huayra R does not have to comply with legislation for road use, Horatio could go all-out when designing this car, but he did still restrict himself to FIA regulations for GT cars, might a career in racing be on the horizon for these cars? The Huayra R does come with its own, bespoke carbon-fiber monocoque, instead of adding a roll cage to the existing Huayra monocoque, Pagani just created a new one with an integrated roll-over cage.
Take a look at the video Shmee150 was allowed to make featuring this satin silver metallic 1/1 mockup for the Huayra R:
[embedded content]
[embedded content]
May 24, 2021 / Comments Off on Up close with the Huayra R
We all know those multi-million dollar hypercars that are built for the track only, names like the Pagani Zonda R, the Pagani Zonda Revolucion of which only 5 were ever made, or a McLaren Senna GTR, not to forget the brand new Pagani Huayra R that will be built soon, all of these are amazing hypercars that have been developed to their limits, but to be used on the track only, none of these cars are street-legal, so you can’t enjoy them on the open road … or can you?
There seems to be a loophole for this, take your track-only hypercar to UK based automotive company Lanzante Limited, which offers a road-legal conversion for these cars, so you can register it in the UK and get a UK license plate, and they have done this before, on a McLaren F1 GTR, McLaren P1 GTR, and even a McLaren Senna GTR … and now TopCar Design apparently asked them to convert one of only five Pagani Zonda Revolucion, a list of necessary modifications will be published later.
The 2013 Pagina Zonda Revolucion in question is apparently car #4 of 5, upon completion of this conversion TopCar Design intends to showcase the car around Europe, with the value of a track-only Zonda Revolucion around the €6,000,000 mark, once this one becomes the only street-legal version, her value will be considerably higher.
The Pagani Zonda Revolucion weighs only 1,070 kg, with a 6.0-Liter, AMG V12 engine taken from the Zonda R, with 800 hp and 730 Nm of torque to the rear wheels only, the top speed is said to be around 375 km/h (233 mph) while acceleration from 0 to 60 mph is completed in a mere 2.7 seconds, back in 2013 the MSRP on these 5 cars was €2,200,000 before taxes.
TopCar Design has an impressive Pagani collection that boasts of 6 cars including a Huayra Imola – one of the most expensive new Paganis with a start price of $5.4 million. They have recently acquired a 1 of 5 Pagani Zonda Revolucion, car #4 of 5. This is strictly a track car that Pagani introduced back in 2012 as an updated version of the R, another track only model.
After taking ownership, they approached UK based automotive company Lanzante Limited to perform a road legal conversion on the Zonda Revolucion. Lanzante is famed for converting many track only hypercars to road legal status such as the McLaren F1 GTR, McLaren P1 GTR and more. According to TopCar Design, Lanzante is in the process of studying the car ahead of the actual conversion, a list of changes will be made available in the near future.
Pagani Zonda Revolucion
After conversion, the Zonda Revolucion will effectively get a road license and run on UK plates. They will showcase it around Europe via events organized by the Supercar Owners Circle. Being an extremely rare car, prices start from around 6 million euros – the value is expected to go up once it receives road legal status.
The Zonda Revolucion is powered by the same 6.0L naturally aspirated V12 found on the R variant, now developing 800hp and 730nm of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a 6-speed sequential gearbox. Thanks to the use of carbon-titanium monocoque, the Zonda Revolucion only weighs 1,070 kg.
The Marbella based tuning company also has a Zonda HP Barchetta on order, car #3 of 3. This is the most expensive Pagani model to date, it has a start price of $17.6 million and was created to celebrate Horacio’s 60th birthday.
For now, we can’t wait to see the first road legal Zonda Revolucion on our streets!
Here is the full Pagani collection owned by TopCar Design: 1. Pagani Zonda Unica – 1 of 1 Roadster (Chassis 135) 2. Pagani Zonda Cinque #3 of 5 (Orange) 3. Pagani Huayra BC Roadster 1 of 40 4. Pagani Zonda Revolucion #4 of 5 5. Pagani Huayra Imola #1 of 5 6. Pagani Zonda HP Barchetta #3 of 3 (chassis 137)
A total of 140 Zondas have been made to date.
April 5, 2021 / Comments Off on First Road Legal Pagani Zonda Revolucion: It’s Happening!
There’s a new Pagani on the block. It’s called the Huayra R, and it’s a track-only version of the regular Huayra. However, leaving it at that wouldn’t do the Huayra R justice, because it’s so much more than just a hotted up Huayra.
The big news is the new and bespoke, naturally aspirated 6.0-liter V12 engine sitting behind the cockpit, a significant departure from the twin-turbo variant used in road-legal Huayras. The new engine was put together by Mercedes-AMG’s racing subsidiary, HWA. The Huayra R makes a furious 850 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. Redline is a scorching 9,000 rpm. Since it didn’t need to follow any road emissions regulations, the engine could be pushed to much higher limits. The Inconel exhaust has removable mufflers for when you want to be extra loud, but can be put in place for use at race tracks with noise restrictions. Unfortunately, Pagani doesn’t quote any specific acceleration figures for the Huayra R.
All shifting is handled by a new six-speed sequential gearbox made with HWA. It’s designed to be extremely light, and in combination with the engine, acts as a structural part of the car.
The Huayra R’s chassis is modified from the standard Huayra with new and lighter materials. These efforts, along with additional elements such as a roll bar and chassis-mounted seats, make it both stiffer and significantly lighter than a regular Huayra. Its dry weight is only 2,314 pounds, which is hundreds of pounds lighter than the road car.
Pagani says the suspension is made of forged aluminum alloy and uses helical springs and electronically controlled active dampers — the dampers are designed to constantly adjust to the road conditions on a racetrack. That means that instead of adapting for potholes and frost heaves, it sets the car up for perfect balance under uneven braking zones and predictable behavior through and out of corners. The brakes are the best Brembo has to offer. Pagani uses the Italian company’s latest carbon ceramic self-ventilated discs and racing compound pads. Slick racing tires (wet tires are available) wrap around custom-made 19-inch forged aluminum alloy wheels.
Aerodynamics and design were two huge focuses for Pagani with this car, as the team wanted it to be both beautiful and hugely capable on the track. The final design leaves no question as to its race car status with the gigantic aero elements found throughout. Everything combined results in 2,204 pounds of downforce at 199 mph.
[embedded content]
There isn’t much to talk about on the inside, but you get the full array of racing features you’d expect in such a car. Most of your essential controls are found on the quick-release steering wheel, and other controls are on the center console. A high-resolution display as an instrument cluster will feed you all necessary vehicle data while on the track, and it has a telemetry system so a pit crew can monitor and analyze driver performance. Pagani is already promising “Arte In Pista” days for Huayra R owners to have dedicated track days with the assistance of the Pagani team and professional drivers. These will happen all over the globe in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
You’ll need to be part of a very exclusive club of millionaires and billionaires to enjoy the Huayra R, though. Only 30 will be built, and each has a base price of €2.6 million before taxes. At today’s exchange rates, that’s about $3.1 million. Happy shopping.
Related video:
[embedded content]
March 18, 2021 / Comments Off on Pagani Huayra R adopts a naturally aspirated V12 engine and track-only status
The new track-focused Hypercar from Pagani combines the highest level of automotive engineering and aerodynamic know-how with unprecedented aesthetic sensitivity in an exercise of style that represents the full expression of Pagani Automobili’s technological development. The Huayra R is a celebration of passion – an extreme, untamed car, developed free from rules except for safety, with the sole aim of offering uncompromising performance. But first and foremost, it was designed to excite.
“Le Mans cars had extremely attractive lines, which are still a huge source of inspiration for our cars today. The Porsche 917 is my favourite, with its romantic yet bold shape, which gives the impression of a very fast car. It is beautiful, elegant, and timeless. From this desire for freedom, and from the experience of the Zonda R and the cars of the past, came the idea of the Huayra R, like a breath of fresh air.” Horacio Pagani
Towards the end of the 2000s, an exciting new project landed on the Atelier’s doorstep and triggered an unprecedented journey of research to create the first Pagani track car, a car that Horacio Pagani thought should incorporate the best racing technology of the time, combined with the beauty and attention to detail typical of all of the brand’s creations. The Zonda R, created with cutting-edge materials derived from the aerospace industry and from F1, was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 2009 where, under its refined, but bare natural carbon fiber surface, it embodied the pinnacle of Pagani Automobili technological development, combined with unprecedented attention to aesthetics for a track car.
“In 2008 we were working on the Huayra, a very challenging and demanding project from an engineering and stylistic point of view. After so many years, I felt an overwhelming desire for freedom and that’s how the Zonda R came about, a track car, free from constraints and regulations. Beautiful, high-performing, and safe. The Huayra R, just like the Zonda R, is the freest, most extreme, and performance-oriented Pagani car of all time.” Horacio Pagani
The Pagani V12-R – the beating heart of the Huayra R – is a 12-cylinder, 6-litre, naturally aspirated racing engine, designed from the ground up in partnership with HWA AG specifically to meet the Atelier’s need to equip its new creation with the lightest, most powerful and efficient track-ready V12 ever created. This need emerged to address the strong desire of Pagani’s customers, who dreamed of an incredibly powerful high-performance, naturally aspirated V12 engine for their new projects.
The Huayra R was created to offer the ultimate experience for anyone who wants to enjoy peak performance on the track up to the red line of 9000 rpm. For the engineers at HWA AG and Pagani, this objective meant not only focusing on increased power as a key element of research but also prioritizing lightness. This challenge was embraced by Affalterbach engineers without hesitation and after more than two years of design and development, the powerful Pagani V12-R tipped the scales at a total weight of 198 kg (436 lbs), placing it at the top of its category.
The cutting-edge components specifically created for the Huayra R include the brand new six-speed sequential gearbox which has been designed, along with the Huayra R’s engine, in collaboration with HWA AG to complete a tailor-made powertrain, this unit offers extremely reduced shift times and a total weight of just 80 kg (176 lb).
The new exhaust is made from Inconel 625/718 alloy, with tubes one-third the thickness of those normally used in road car equipment, and coated in ceramic to protect the engine bay and ensure better heat dissipation directly to the outside, the entire system boasts an extremely lightweight construction, developed not only to guarantee maximum aerodynamic performance but also to give the Huayra R’s occupants an unprecedented acoustic experience. The Huayra R still comes with mufflers that can be fitted as required, ensuring that noise emissions are reduced to within the FIA limit of 110 decibels for noise restricted tracks.
HWA’s vast experience in fine-tuning and production of racing cars and components, together with Pagani Automobili’s 30 years of know-how in the development of advanced composite materials, made it possible to apply structural principles and innovative engineering solutions from the world of motorsport to the Huayra R chassis to produce a safe structure suitable for track use.
Completely made from Carbo-Titanium HP62-G2 and Carbo-Triax HP62, the new monocoque incorporates the seats fully, guaranteeing maximum protection together with specific shock-absorption side structures and the roll-bar while maintaining easy access to the cockpit. The combination of new structural principles and materials specially developed for the Huayra R design, together with the resulting enhancement of the mechanical properties of the structure, means that the new car tips the scales at a dry weight of 1,050 kg.
Careful design and meticulous research conducted on the materials, bodywork, and roll bar structure were central to the development of the Huayra R in order to give customers not only the most thrilling track driving experience but above all, to provide a safe car that meets the most stringent FIA requirements for GT vehicles. Inside the passenger compartment, the extinguishing system is activated automatically in the event of a fire, while the seats, which are fully integrated into the carbon monocoque, are equipped with six-point safety belts and covered in Nomex flame-retardant material.
Every line and surface of the Huayra R is, in fact, designed to generate maximum aerodynamic load, with an initial development target of 1000 kg of downforce at 320 km/h (2204 lb at 199 mph) and the ground clearance that allows maximum aerodynamic performance to be achieved, guaranteeing safe and predictable behavior under all conditions. An ambitious goal, but one that was quickly achieved with excellent results right from the first aerodynamic tests, during which the car showed great stability and balance in line with the set target of 46%-54% downforce distribution throughout the entire speed envelope while maintaining reduced sensitivity to ground clearance.
Contributing to the reliable performance of the car, there are two new side air intakes at the front to ensure maximum cooling efficiency for the front wheel braking system, as well as channeling the outgoing airflow towards the side of the car, minimizing turbulence and helping to generate maximum downforce. The new roof scoop, with its integrated center fin, guarantees maximum intake efficiency for the Pagani V12-R. The flat bottom, in combination with the rear diffuser and the distinctive wing, help to generate maximum downforce.
With suspension made of forged aluminum alloy, independent double-wishbone with helical springs, and electronically controlled active shock absorbers, the entire configuration of the new system with rigid mounting points, not only allows all the power and the extraordinary torque of the Pagani V12-R to be transferred to the ground but also offers unprecedented driving precision. In fact, the Huayra R’s advanced and refined elasto-kinematics allow for greater camber recovery and optimized dynamic bump steer correction to guarantee ideal grip for the slick tires in every situation and allow the driver to attack the ups and downs of Eau Rouge without losing a single millisecond.
The Huayra R boasts world-class braking power thanks to the brand new Brembo CCM-R self-ventilated carbon-ceramic discs coupled with racing pads. Specially developed to allow the new car to exploit the best available technology, the new CCM-Rs have significant advantages in terms of thermal conductivity and maximum braking power, typical of carbon used in competitions.
The long process of research and development carried out in partnership between Pirelli and Pagani Automobili resulted in a slick version of the P Zero tires that offer maximum precision and a feeling of total control even to the non-professional driver, ensuring exceptional braking behavior and optimal traction.
To perfectly match the driver’s ergonomics, the adjustable pedal set has been custom-designed in partnership with AP Racing exclusively for the Huayra R and incorporates the principles of lightness and style that are at the essence of this car. Crafted with the quality of finish and aesthetic attention typical of all the Atelier’s creations, the Huayra R’s cockpit cannot fail to impress thanks to the meticulous design of every screw, lever, and surface, making its extraordinary concentration of speed-focused technology an ideal driving environment, tailor-made for each driver.
With Arte In Pista (“art on the track”), the Pagani Atelier seeks to take the experience to a new level, offering a calendar packed with personalized events that will allow Huayra R owners to enjoy the full excitement of driving a Pagani Hypercar, pushing it to its maximum performance, with the dedicated assistance of the Pagani Team and the support of professional drivers. From individual track days at internationally renowned circuits to group events, tailor-made for customers in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East: each occasion combines moments of leisure in beautiful locations with the raw excitement of driving one’s own Pagani on the track.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE: Pagani V12-R – 6.0 litres – naturally aspirated 12-cylinder V POWER: 850 HP (625 kW) at 8250 rpm TORQUE: 750 Nm from 5500 to 8300 rpm TRANSMISSION: Rear-wheel Drive GEARBOX: 6-speed sequential, non-synchronized dog ring gearbox BRAKES: Brembo CCM-R ventilated discs: Front 410×38 mm with monolithic 6-piston calipers; Rear 390×34 mm with monolithic 6-piston calipers WHEELS: APP forged monolithic aluminum alloy: Front 19 inches; Rear 19 inches TYRES: Pirelli P Zero slick version – Dry and Wet: Front 275/675 R19; Rear 325/705 R19 SUSPENSION: Forged aluminum alloy independent double wishbone with helical springs and electronically controlled shock absorbers CHASSIS: Monocoque in Pagani Carbo-Titanium HP62 G2 and Carbo-Triax HP62 with front and rear tubular subframes in CrMo alloy steel DRY WEIGHT: 1050 Kg (2314 lb)
March 18, 2021 / Comments Off on The Pagani Huayra R
It seems Horatio Pagani and his team are almost ready to finally take the covers of the track-only ‘R’ moniker, just as they did with the impressive Pagani Zonda R, the Huayra R will not be legal to drive on the road, but I’m sure the select few that will be able to acquire this ‘ultra’ version of the already amazing Pagani Huayra won’t mind too much.
The Huayra R will still be immediately recognizable as a Pagani, but it will come with the required massive rear wing and what seems like a more prominent roof-mounted air intake, together with the obligatory aero add-ons for a track car, the Huayra R will come with a naturally aspirated V12 engine from AMG and could pump out 900hp or more with the rev-counter going all the way up to 9,500 rpm … this car will scream for sure.
Horatio himself announced he was building a successor to the now 13-year-old Zonda R back in October 2020, but today we still don’t have an official date, nor a price for this track-only Huayra R … and just how many Pagani will be building this time, keeping in mind he only built 15 Zonda R and one single Zonda Revolución, I guess we won’ be seeing many Huayra R either.
Pagani’s Huayra is preparing to put on a racing suit, just like its predecessor, the Zonda, did in 2009. And a video posted on the firm’s social media channels suggests engineers may have ditched the turbos.
Listen to the short video in the Instagram post embedded below. It’s the Huayra R’s V12 engine singing its heart out. While the actual footage reveals little that we don’t know, the soundtrack seemingly comes from a naturally-aspirated engine. We don’t hear a pair of turbos spooling up. That’s unusual, because the regular Huayra is powered by a Mercedes-AMG-sourced 6.0-liter V12 that’s twin-turbocharged to over 750 horsepower.
Pagani hasn’t given any specs on the engine, though. Previous reports have suggested the engine will have more than 900 horsepower and the ability to rev beyond 9,500 rpm. Certainly the video supports the high-revving prediction. We would expect Pagani to be using a version of the 6.0-liter AMG V12, as it has on all of its supercars, though without turbochargers. And that’s not just because Pagani has always used AMG engines, but because there aren’t many companies with a V12 in its parts bin, and developing one from scratch would be extremely expensive for a small company like Pagani.
Pagani will release more details about the Huayra R in the coming weeks, and we expect the model will make its official debut online during the first half of 2021. It will likely arrive as a limited-edition car with a seven-digit price tag, and we wouldn’t be surprised if every available example is spoken for by the time it breaks cover. It might be the last variant of the Huayra, too. Production of the Roadster has already ended, and the next Pagani hypercar is currently being developed. It’s tentatively scheduled to break cover before the end of the year.
Related Video:
January 9, 2021 / Comments Off on Pagani’s track-only Huayra R sounds like it will pack a naturally-aspirated V12
The Italian Air Force’s aerobatic team, known as the Frecce Tricolori, is celebrating its 60th anniversary next year. To celebrate, Pagani has created the Huayra Tricolore, a very limited-edition variant of the open-top Huayra supercar. Only three will be built, and each features design inspiration from the Aermacchi MB-339A P.A.N. jets flown by the Frecce Tricolori, plus performance upgrades from the Huayra Imola. It all makes for one impressive machine.
The first and most obvious connection between the Huayra and the jets that inspired it is the color scheme. It has a blue translucent carbon fiber finish with bright green, white and red stripes along the sides. Other details tying the vehicles together are the rear wing with supports modeled after the plane tail fins (also, it’s a wing), turbine-style wheels, and billet aluminum parts inside and out in a blue anodized finish. Each car gets a number representing a member of the team, too, with 0 for the team commander, 1 for the lead formation pilot, and 10 for the solo flyer. The aeronautic showpiece, though, is the pitot tube on the nose that is fully functional and measures air speed. This is then displayed on a meter in the cabin with information in knots and mach speed.
[embedded content]
There are other changes to the Huayra Tricolore that aren’t quite as obsessed with the idea of being a land plane. The car gets a deeper front splitter and a revised front bumper with new air vents to increase intercooler efficiency. A new roof scoop is fitted for better airflow to the engine bay. The interior also gets blue and white seats with green, white and red inserts that are similar to the Zonda Tricolores built for the Frecce Tricolori’s 50th anniversary. The seats and the four-point harness buckles also feature the emblem of the aerobatic team.
Backing up the bold design are engine and chassis upgrades from the Huayra Imola track car. The engine is the same twin-turbocharged AMG-developed V12 making 829 horsepower and 811 pound-feet of torque. The stiffer chassis comes from the track car, as does the interlinked electronically controlled suspension. So in many ways it’s a roadster version of the Imola.
It also happens to be more expensive than the Imola. The price is 5.5 million Euros, which comes to $6.75 million at current exchange rates. That doesn’t include tax, either.
Related Video:
December 17, 2020 / Comments Off on Pagani Huayra Tricolore celebrates Italian Air Force aerobatic team with aeronautic features
Pagani has tweeted a mysterious video showing what seems to be a new supercar. Details are scant, but like many of its creations there appears to be a strong aeronautical theme.
The first thing we see is a blue device with the words “Airflow Sensor. Handle with Care” etched below it in a nice serif font. Presumably, it’s not the typical mass airflow sensor throwing a check engine code from your old Ford Escape’s intake. In fact, it looks like one of the various sensor probes you’ll find on airplanes and even Formula One race cars. It’s also mounted to a big piece of blue tinted carbon fiber, which is probably the car’s hood or roof.
Next, a gauge flashes before us. It looks like a speedometer, except velocity is measured not in miles or kilometers per hour, but in knots, indicated by an analog dial and red needle on the outside, and the speed of sound in a vertically oriented digital readout on the inside. Also known as mach speed, or 767.269 mph, seems like quite a quick pace for a road car, but you’ll notice the speed features a little decimal point. In the trailer, the car accelerates to Mach 0.12, an easily attainable 92 mph. Of course, that’s still just a fraction of the speed other Paganis have achieved, like the Huayra Imola’s 240 mph to take just one example.
Notably, the engine is a growling internal combustion unit. There have been rumors of an electric Pagani but this isn’t it. The Huayra replacement was supposed to have debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March for a 2021 arrival, but the event was canceled at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reports say the successor will have an AMG-built V12 like the Huayra, with electric power to come later.
Accompanying the short video tweet is a cryptic message: “On December 17th, we will celebrate Air Speed. Stay with us and hold on tight!” It should be pointed out that Pagani, like Volkswagen, has had a history of using wind-themed names for its cars. Zonda refers to a warm and dry wind that blows down from the Andes over the pampas of Argentina. Huayra was a god of wind worshiped by the native people of what is today South America.
While we aren’t looking forward to having to convert fractions of mach to mph while accelerating in a multi-million dollar supercar, we suspect buyers won’t worry too much and instead enjoy the novelty.
Related Video:
December 14, 2020 / Comments Off on Pagani teases a new supercar as a celebration of ‘Air Speed’
