The Huayra - Pagani's New Supercar
If you managed to get this far into the press pack for Pagani’s new supercar - the Huayra, if you hadn’t guessed - without falling asleep, then we here at the iN office doff our caps to you. It will probably come as no surprise to learn that Mr Pagani is not a story teller by trade - he builds supercars. And bloody good ones at that.
The Huayra takes up the mantle left by the Zonda - a bespoke supercar, which was beautifully made from exotic materials and shoved (extremely rapidly) down the road by Mercedes AMG powerplants. Like the Zonda, the Huarya’s looks are quite different from any other super car, there are no Ferrari-like sharp lines or Lamboghini-esque pure aggression, and it doesn’t draw influences from a blank canvas - like the McLaren MP4-12C.
Menacing is the best way to describe the looks, which carry features like the heavily contoured rear-end and ‘canopy’ style cabin over from the Zonda, but are original in most other respects. It’s been styled - says Pagani - to ensure a clean airflow across the body, which can be varied by four control flaps, and by adjusting the ride height of the front of the car allowing for dynamic neutrality at all times. Extensive use of carbontitanium (carbon fibre reinforced with titanium) in the Huarya’s construction means it weighs only 1350kg - impressive when you consider the 6-litre twin-turbo V12 that lives in the car’s midriff.
Pagani would probably prefer you didn’t know it’s the same block as seen in the SL65 Black but it’s certainly nothing to be ashamed of. AMG have given the unit new heads, pistons, manifolds and turbos, in an effort to improve responses and reduce turbo lag. The by-product is an engine that produces 700bhp and 664lb ft of torque. Unsurprisingly, the Huarya is blessed with impressive figures – a plus 230mph top speed and a 0-60mph of around 3.5secs. Which is plenty, even for the fast moving lives of our readers.
Choosing to ignore the recent trend for twin-clutch gearboxes, Pagani has opted instead for a seven-speed shifter, which is lighter than a dual-clutch equivalent and has a mechanical feel compared to the linear shifts of twin-clutch systems. It points to Pagani favouring a raw driving experience over more technologically focused rivals. That said, its power, weight and pedigree mean it won’t disgrace itself round a track and will be more than capable of scaring the bejesus out of any ‘lucky’ occupants.
It carries over suspension that was pioneered in the Zonda R – which holds the ‘productionbased’ lap record around the Nurburgring Nordschleife. The Huayra will lack the primal nature of the R but thanks to a longer a wheelbase and tyres developed specifically for the car by Pirelli, it should be a lot more forgiving. Interiors have traditionally been a Pagani strong point. While other supercars dip in to the parts bins of more mainstream manufacturers, a Pagani’s insides are bespoke with leather latches and metal toggle switches in place of the more familiar plastic.
The Huayra’s main console is machined from a block of solid aluminium and houses the high-definition touch screen, which controls the secondary vehicle functions, audio functions and the sat-nav. All of which leaves you with only one question – how much? Bearing in mind all that performance, the fancy material and the bespoke interior, you’ve probably already guessed that it is not going to be cheap and you’d be right. The Huayra is likely to cost around £800,000 – build a fence round it and you could have iN delivered straight to your driver’s seat. Surely reason enough to dip deep in the piggy bank?
