Huayra: To Love Or Not To Love
Do I know you?

There seem to be two distinct camps of opinion when you mention the Pagani Huayra: those who adore and revel in its capability, design and commitment and those who accuse it of jewel-encrusted excess, a flag to wave for all that’s wrong about hypercars. Strangely I’ve genuinely found very little common ground, when you’ve established that people actually know which car you’re talking about that is, but I’m going to confidently say that the latter group are very simply people who haven’t spent any time with a Huayra. I should know, because I was one of them.

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Okay, so that’s a case of journalistic exaggeration. It’s not that I wasn’t a fan of the Pagani per se, it’s that I wasn’t a fan. Make sense? I’d say that I was simply aware of it and knew a few figures; oh and that it had a funky gearshift. Plus a lot of respected people seemed to have fallen in love with it…

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So this story is as much about the Huayra as it is about my discovery of it and the subsequent reactions I felt, the shifts, changes and revelations. Because as hard as it might seem, I learnt a long time ago that you really have to come at a creation like the Huayra with a clean head, forget your preconceptions and notions and just observe the information.

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Okay so it has to stir your soul and entice you in. I accept that it’s not all about hard and fast facts because let’s not forget the price tag: 1.3 million Euros is a lot of money. That’s the kind of money very few of us will ever get to play with. Or at the very least allocate to a purchase that doesn’t involve bathrooms, or bricks. So the Huayra has to be good, very good. It’s hard to forgive something any little foibles at this level; the kind of doubts you’d have viewing a secondhand grocery-getter don’t come into play here.

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Pagani know that too. They haven’t got multiple decades of history to rely on, so from the get-go the experience is special.  The surroundings I find myself in are slightly surreal too: we’ve spent the morning at the Autodromo Di Modena with this Huarya, so just an hour or so ago it was all fire and violence, snorting and tearing at tarmac whilst factory test driver Davide did this. It proved itself to be incredibly capable, as expected.

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Now parked in front of the impressive Byblos Art Hotel, just outside the historic city of Verona, I get to take some time and absorb details. The serene surroundings seem to marry perfectly with the Huayra’s exquisite looks, but hang on, an hour ago my internal organs were being rearranged by the same vehicle? That’s the first lesson right there, and one we’ll expand on later. The Huayra fits. The simple act of opening a gullwing door adds instant drama, heightened by the proximity of carbon fibre to your face (Pagani famously developing their own particular brand using titanium strands in the body tub for added strength).

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It’s worth taking a moment to consider the materials used here: in this one picture I can see carbon, alloy, leather and probably others that I can’t pin right now. Like the Zonda before it, the interior has been a sticking point for a lot of people, but what you’re looking at here is a very clever celebration of the ability to identify and marry materials in such a way that they complement each other perfectly.

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This is meant to be an experience like no other, so forget an ignition key raided from the parts bin (although at Pagani the parts bin is admittedly pretty cool). What you get here is a miniature Huayra that separates like a USB stick would – think that’s a cheap trick?  Maybe you’re approaching it with the eyes of an adult, reserved and slightly embittered by years of being told ‘that’s not really possible’. Forget putting this down on a bar somewhere like a key shaped trophy, declaring you’ve arrived in something special, we’re way past such vulgar acts. This is exactly what you’d give the younger you if you’d just bought a Huayra as an adult. You’d then stand back as the child pushed the model around a kitchen table, innocent to money and other such hindrances to your imagination. This is special, this is playtime. This is also very real.

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Here you can see the key inserted in the lower dash, with the rear end of the shell neatly placed in a slot moulded in carbon. Just like the key, the gear shift is a flight of fancy: part steam punk, part delicate, part race car. How easy would it have been to shroud this in carbon or leather? But then you wouldn’t see the mechanism! Just imagine how much time went into this one aspect of the interior and how easily that could have been avoided.

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But the Huayra is a bit like the internet itself: if you didn’t know it existed, you wouldn’t realise you need it. But you do, don’t you?

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We decided to try something different with this shoot – we’ll be returning to the hotel later but we wanted to see what the public reaction to the Pagani was like. Would it be liked? Loathed?

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Verona, we’re coming for you.

Taking it to the streets…
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For the third time in almost as many hours I get to see the Huayra in a different environment, which is ironically the one it will probably be seen in most, yet will be the most alien for it. Is the city somewhere you should take a hypercar? Surely it’s just plain and simple showing off? But then again this is Italy, a wonderfully stylish country that embraces all that is chic.

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As we get closer into the city centre, I begin to notice just how much attention the Pagani gets. Maybe it’s because we’ve been somewhere fairly exclusive all day, but now in such a public place I realise just what a stand out car it is. Does that sound naïve? Like I momentarily forgot what we’ve been taking pictures of all day? Well yes, I think I have. I’ve become comfortable with its form and persona. Which is good.

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Within minutes of us stopping, the crowds have swollen and snapped me back to hypercar reality. It’s amusing listening to comments – even with the windscreen banner this car wears, I still hear people saying the words Ferrari and Lamborghini. Such is the exclusive scale that Pagani operates on, their global impact is still rippling out. What I find interesting about this particular image are the two ladies taking pictures of the interior. The younger men you’d expect, but the diversity of people who just had to know more really blew me away. An everyman hypercar? Yes, it is.

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Pretty soon it became apparent we should move. It’s great watching people enjoying something that they might not get a chance to interact with normally, but as the crowds grew I became more and more worried about those exquisite rear view mirrors. As the Pagani rolled slowly away, it gave me a chance to observe from afar .

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At first I wasn’t convinced by them as a feature, but again, the more I get to know the Huayra, the more I understand it. Remember what I said about every element being designed and considered?

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Take a look at other hypercar treatments of the same issue and you’ll find them mundane in comparison. They work too: Luca Venturi who took care of driving duties for us needed them on a minute-by-minute basis…

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… because Luca knows Verona well, so as he descended into sparsely populated back streets, my urge to breathe in grew stronger and stronger. Oh and I’m following in a mid-sized hire car. Nothing in comparison to the Huayra, which one minute can appear wide and squat, and the next svelte and lithe.

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It really seems to have the perception-shifting skills of a chameleon. The sound for example has been criticised by some as being too loud, brutish and gregarious, but what most people don’t give thought to is that each Huayra is built to a very long list of personal specifications based on consultations with Mr Pagani himself. So you can tune the car to sound as you like, and as this is the demo car, it’s been made to be loud and show the very best of every aspect.

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That said, here on the city streets at low speeds and revs, the noise is discreet and you could imagine discreetly rumbling out of the finer parts of the city in the early morning and going hunting for an open piece of road. Here you can also see those elegant flowing lines; as automotive design becomes more and more aggressive with roof lines lowering and windows being tinted so dark they resemble solid panels, it’s part of the Huayra’s appeal that it is curved and sensual; Inviting even. It strikes me that when he designed it, maybe Mr Pagani considered the people who can’t afford it, as much as those who can; Making the world a more beautiful place, one hypercar at a time.

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There’s so much more to see though: the engine resembles a two lunged animal with its chest swollen and ready to exhale with force. It’s a dream list on its own, 5980cc so nearly six litres in capacity and a V12 too, so a proper hypercar engine configuration. Add in that the engine comes from  Mercedes-AMG  and has two turbos. It’s exactly the sort of thing you would want to see nestled under the rear cover. Again, highlighted and accented as only Pagani could…

One last, longing look
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Using only a small part of the potential 730bhp, we head back to the calm surroundings of the hotel courtyard and I get to sum up a magnificent day. The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive – maybe that’s because we’re in Italy but again I think this is all part of my shifting attitude to the Huayra. If you’d have asked me 24 hours ago how I would specify one, it would have been black anodised everything, black interior, the lot. But that’s akin to putting a tint over all these wonderful details.

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The steering column and gauges seem to emerge like a robot; you can imagine them spinning out of a solid tube and clicking in to place as you turn the key. The whole car has that organic feel to its wonderfully emotive technical side.

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How cool do they look? They’re not even moving and there’s a sense of drama, of high art to it all. It’s interesting to note that just out of shot is the odometer reading showing this Huayra has covered over 89k kilometres. High days and holidays? It goes to show just how well put together it is.

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Because it is isn’t it? I put this down to the material choice, which is in turn a reflection of Mr Pagani’s wide range of interests and inspiration.

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As a complete package I’m struggling to think of  a more well-rounded car; everywhere you look there are lines which flow into lines elsewhere.

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Curves and glimpses that tease and tantalise you. It seriously fries my brain to think of how many times subtle changes must have been made that directly affected another area. See that simple semi-elliptical shape? The recess too?

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Glance up at the overhead console and there it is again.

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It’s been said before but the details are crucial and I can’t fault them anywhere. The staggered fitment 19in front and 20in rear wheels are forged and feature this beautiful piece of script. There is no spare wheel, because you’d have to carry two and I really don’t know where you’d slot a 255/35×19 and even bigger 335/30x20in pair of tyres. Maybe if you get a flat in a Huarya you just buy wherever it comes to rest and set up camp until a replacement can be found? It might sound strange, but I love the fact this car has no spare. Sure you can get a can of squirt to perform a temporary repair, but it’s like being so important you don’t need a mobile phone… Think about it.

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That’s not to say there aren’t some incredibly clever packaging solutions. You know I got all excited about the gullwing doors? Well along with tailored luggage you also get this umbrella, which you can raise whilst stood under that protective carbon fibre door.

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It is time to end our day though; the sun is leaving the sky behind and as I take one last walk around this incredible machine, I realise I haven’t even really paid attention to the mechanical parts. I’m still being caught by the rear mesh matching the mesh in the rear lights. Good thing that Dino paid more attention when we toured the factory!

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So that’s it – one more time I lower my eye to look through the 400mm lens at a shape that I have genuinely fallen for. This isn’t a case of man meets hypercar and becomes blinded by lust. I’ve been around long enough to know how that feels. No, this is genuine admiration for the way the Huarya has been put together.

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I say it boils down to this for me: most hypercars appear to be restrained in some areas. As though their designers reigned in the inner kid and said no to the flashing lights and extra colours. A blanket of black alcantara was used because you don’t want to appear too ostentatious, now do you? Well you know what, you’re driving around in a 1.3 million Euro hypercar and its designer wants you to know that every single component has been considered and more importantly, identified as being important. Then each one has been linked together with that attention to detail, the scales of attraction balanced perfectly between each facet. The leather buckles and carbon-titanium tub, the lot.

The DNA of the Huayra is that of Horacio Pagani, a man who has created something magnificent from nothing in a relatively short time. For me this means that the world needs to look through Mr Pagani’s eyes more often – it could learn a lot from the way Pagani do things.

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1

This is just plain beautiful.

2

very good article and stunning photos in italy.

3

very nice car and beautiful shots

4

There is not a single angle that could make that car appear anything other than beautiful. Every shape, every piece, is so beautiful that even the spaces between two parts have the most exquisite appearance. It is such a wonderful art work that even if it was just a sculpture it would win the hearts of even those that caught a just glimpse, but that fact this has the function to match such levels of form means that this is one very prized piece of Automotive lust.
It is no wonder that Mr Pangani has gained such a following a in such a short amount of time compared to the history that his competitors have.
Thanks again Speedhunters, now when are you going to sell me a large print to hang on my wall so I can drool over this all day?

5

Vulgar. Pointlessly excessive. Tasteless. Captain Nemo's toybox. Bett Lynch's underwear. Liberace's piano, toilet, wallet, dentistry... the epitome of pikey eurotrash. Burn!

6

A superb article with stunning photos. I never thought any car could look good in this colour, but it suits it down to the ground. Out of interest, is that a wrap? It's the same car I was lucky enough to go for a few hotlaps in round Imola last year, but it was a different colour back then. It's funny how some of the details which can look a little OTT in pictures really just 'fit' and make perfect sense when you see it in the flesh, but I think you've actually managed to capture that beautifully in these pictures. Top job Bryn!

7

Cronkite So you're in the second camp then?

8

SuzyWallace Cronkite Yep. Agreed... very camp!

9

Flaunt the wealth hasn't been more obvious.
Material selection often times clash. Leather and carbon? No!
Titanium and carbon? Yes!

10

Cronkite If I'm spending 1.3 mill on a hypercar it better channel some liberace and campyness. 


And no, carbo-tanium, magnesium and 730HP of naturally aspirated AMG V12 goodness is not Eurotrash and never will be.

11

of the best written and most imaginative articles I've come across on Speedhunters in the last 3 years.  Fantastic writing mate!

12

Easily your best shoot (that I've seen) and amazing work overall.

13

The boy in the red shirt chasing the pagani. Favorite picture

14
Speedhunters_Bryn

Grand213 Bloke in the white shirt on the other side... Me! :)

15
Speedhunters_Bryn

P1 Race Photography I'm sure that's the Dino in these shots raising my game... (thank you))

16
Speedhunters_Bryn

@curryandtulips Glad you like it, the Pagani was inspirational, so it kind of came out like that.

17
Speedhunters_Bryn

SuzyWallace I think it might be a wrap, seeing as it's done a frankly incredible 89K and it's not a test mule I think it must be actually!

18
Speedhunters_Bryn

BrockHarvison Well said sir! Maybe one day we'll be able to fulfill your print desires!

19

well I must say the photography on this is amazing

20

FunctionFirst Cronkite and it will need all of that wasted 730hp to pull the only fitting tribute: a slightly more restrained 24' Vickers cut glass and polished stainless pikey caravan to it's next lay-by complete with bone china figurines and under-nourished grazing pony... no amount of big digit materials or MB block will make this a credible 1.3 million euro purchase with my Nan's jewels strewn across the dash. Function first I say, not diamante.

21

Speedhunters_Bryn  I never liked this car, but after seeing your shots, wooooooowowowowoww

22

Speedhunters_Bryn BrockHarvison That would be wonderful

23
Speedhunters_Bryn

Cronkite Crikey, you really don't like it do you! So would you spec one all in black? How would you spend 1.3 million if you had that as disposable cash. I'm genuinely interested as you're here, which means you must have an interest in cars :)

25
Speedhunters_Bryn

Larry Chen Oh that was my reaction when I saw it in the flesh by the way, that looked really arrogant there for a couple of minutes. Phew.

26

Speedhunters_Bryn SuzyWallace That's a wrap folks!

27

Pagani doesn't build cars; he builds art.

29
speedhunters_dino

EPIC-ness. One trip I will never forget. #VIVAITALIA

30
speedhunters_dino

Speedhunters_Bryn P1 Race Photography It's just the glasses....

31
speedhunters_dino

SuzyWallace Speedhunters_Bryn Yep it was a wrap done especially for us! That's another example of how Pagani went out of their way for SH. They even sent away a set of wheel to have resprayed overnight so that they would match with the dark silver vinyl used for the roof/center section of the car!

32

I felt the same about the interior 'anodise it all black!', but yeah, I get it now.

33

Wow, I wish I could shoot photos like you...

34

Sean why do you not write any more???

35
StantonTylerWarner

I love it. It epitomizes the entire concept of 'supercar'. It's looks wild, it's super aggressive, and it's all around crazy. The entire thing is 100% passion to the last detail. My hat's off to Pagani

36

speedhunters_dino SuzyWallace Speedhunters_Bryn Nice! Oh, I thought the wheels were silver but you'd just been hammering the brakes so they'd gone darker... j/k! :)

37
Speedhunters_Bryn

speedhunters_dino

38
Speedhunters_Bryn

speedhunters_dino Speedhunters_Bryn P1 Race Photography I need to get me some of those white framed badboys!

39
Speedhunters_Bryn

Harry H Allstar FunctionFirst Cronkite Harry that just made me laugh out loud, I may not agree with your opinion, but the way you illustrated your point is so visual! I applaud the fact you know what a 24' Vickers is, Chanel cut glass decanter too. If you know what I'm talking about, it happens to be Stow Fair today, which is six miles away from where I'm sat now ;)

40

Really,A wonderfull album of Coffee Brown Pagani Huayra.I want to see more such photographs.

41

It sounds like you really connected with the Huayra, and had an amazing time in a beautiful location to boot. 
You're going to have a tougher time convincing me that car is anything but monstrous though. Woof. It'd be boring if we all had the same opinion though wouldn't it? Anyway beautiful photography as usual.

42

wonderful! great article and pictures, it's not easy to do it justice...you guys nailed it!

43
Speedhunters_Bryn

Delta_s4 Thank you, I completely appreciate what you're saying. I really wish I could take a Huarya to every reader and have them spend some time with it. Or maybe that's just me wanting to drive one round the world... It was a very special day, I will never tire or become complacent when presented with a situation like this. Very lucky!

44
Speedhunters_Bryn

sean klingelhoefer I might have to drive one next time in a top hat, with some sort of copper barreled side arm strapped to my leg, under a tweed overcoat and silk flowing scarf. That's steampunk right? Or maybe that's just a personal fantasy...

45

Beyond tacky...such a waste of skill and engineering...but taste is a personnel  and this  over designed carbon bling fest is not mine.

46
Harry bs allstar

Stow! 44" waist wobbly-gutted 16 yr old girls, 8 benefitted kids each, 6" stilettos, 4 grandmas, 2 minute spray tan, 1 Huayra... Heaven!
Don't get me wrong here Bryn, appreciate your fine prose and finer pixels, but I'm all clean lines, unadorned, swiss white space minimalism here in my grey Prada slacks and hipster goatee. Faux Versace 80s maximalism and matching tats ain't my thang!

47

Speedhunters_Bryn sean klingelhoefer lol sounds like top story of the month to me!

48

nikhiggz I do write still, just not nearly as much as I used to. Mostly comes down to me being really busy with my photography career - I just don't have much free time these days.

49

RED27 Waste of skill and engineering? Dude, seriously, say "I don't like it" and that's all, cause everything else you said is plain wrong in so many ways.

50

the only other cars i think come close to this are the veyron and the koenigsegg. and those are ugly and boring in comparison..

51

Am I the only one that noticed the Jeep right away in the last photo? American cars standout so much in Europe.

52

Questo articolo e' magnifico! La Huarya e' un pezzo d'arte.

53

@ioncelfals  I agree about the Veyron, come to think of it. However, the Agera (and by extension, all its stable mates) is only a little boring in comparison and not ugly at all.

54

RED27 Good thing you don't dictate my tastes! Some time ago, I might have agreed with "bling" but not "waste of skill and engineering." The more I view the Huayra through beautiful pictures such as Dino's, the more I think I could grow to like this beast in my dream garage.

55

Cronkite I used to think that way, but eventually changed my opinion around with the help of great photography including this article.
People can change. Besides, if I had the money to burn comfortably on a car like Huayra, wouldn't I also have a few extravagant RUF's in the garage beside it?

56

One thing about love: it's the one thing money can't buy.
Scratch that, there's one other thing money can't buy: taste.

57

(Article & photos were great tho.)

58

Just only one to say that. I can't buy car and only hundred produced

59

Beautiful,beautiful,beautifuuuuuuuuul uorgh!

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