This isn’t the first time I’ve driven a Huayra. A few years ago the guys from Pagani entrusted me with one of their development cars on the Autodromo di Modena, and told me to not come back until I was tired. The chance to get behind the wheel of one of the most acclaimed hypercars ever created, and to do what most dream about by driving it on a track, was surreal.
But that aside, away from the intimidation that such a valuable automotive work of art can instil in you, I discovered a true driver’s car; a beast able to unleash an impressive amount of performance. But at its core is a forgiving and beautifully set up vehicle that communicates accurately with you, and isn’t attempting to kill you at any given chance.
That’s a hard thing to do. If you think about each and every one of the thousands of handcrafted components that are required to piece one of these machines together, it’s amazing that in all its complexity and beauty, a proper driver’s car has been created. And that’s what Horacio Pagani likes to communicate when he talks to you about the Huarya. Safety is at its core; the underlying goal is not to make a ridiculously powerful car that is untameable and downright dangerous. “Anyone can make that,” he likes to say. Engineering a race car for the street tells your clients nothing about your capabilities as a maker of high-end cars.
But when you can make it all accessible, predictable, communicative and fun, you are able to deliver a car that is far more of an achievement than a stripped-out shell with a monster engine strapped to its back could ever be.
That’s the best way I can explain the Huayra and Pagani, and to further play on this sentiment, a few days ago I got the chance to jump on board one of its development cars. ‘PT1′ as it’s named, is the exact car used in Transformers: Age Of Extinction.
What makes this car so special is that it embodies what Pagani is all about. Yes, Horacio could rest on his laurels by churning out as many Huayras as he could possibly sell, and then call it a day. But Pagani is more than that. I spent a few days with the company; meeting the people behind the operation and seeing the new factory that’s nearing completion. With so much drive and true passion behind it, it’s obvious that Pagani has a lot of ambition. More than 60 per cent of the company’s 2015 profits have been reinvested back into R&D in an effort to push technology further, perfect solutions, and ultimately create better cars.
The PT1 is laden with improvements over the stock Huayra; improvements that due to secrecy weren’t disclosed to me. It was more a case of, ‘Here is our development car; drive the crap out of it and tell us what you think.’
What a proposition, right? And a humbling one at that. Here is the maker of some of the world’s best hypercars, asking my opinion on its future plans! Did I miss a memo or something? But this is what differentiates a good company from a mediocre one. When a car maker like this takes time to let you drive its car and takes your opinions seriously, that’s a mark of something special.
Okay, so a little info on the Huayra… All 100 cars are sold and production will soon be coming to an end. A small run of 20 limited edition, super special versions come next, and those are all spoken for as well. Then, in a few months time, the production of another 100 new Huayra versions will begin, and Pagani has a ton of orders for those too. There’s even interest in the next car, never mind the fact that Pagani doesn’t even know what it will exactly be yet… The PT1 is a ‘normal’ production Huayra as far as the body, interior and design is concerned; the changes having been implemented in the mechanicals.
The interior has that same special ambience I sampled two years ago. Every nut and bolt and composite material is a thing of beauty; an organic integration of form and function with the driver put at the center of it all. For a tall and soft-around-the-edges bloke like myself, the car is surprisingly accommodating. The seats have enough adjustability and support even for larger frames, and the adjustable steering wheel, which forms one piece with the main instrumentation, allows you to easily find a comfortable driving position.
The colour of the PT1 is absolutely amazing in person too; deep triple-layer candy red with its wonderful depth, contrasting against the pearl white profile lines and glossy exposed carbon.
Time To TransformOpen every panel up and that beauty intensifies. It’s not like a mass-produced car where you’re usually treated to plastic engine covers, trim and cost-saving measures. Horacio is satisfied unless each individual component is finished to the same level as the exterior. That’s why every single titanium bolt that holds the car together is etched with the Pagani logo. Incidentally, for each Huayra there is €80,000 (approximately US$85,000) worth of bolts. Cost-cutting is not a term that Horacio even has in his vocabulary.
The twin turbocharged 6.0-liter V12 that AMG built specifically for Pagani remains at the heart of the PT1, but as I’ll get into later, it feels even more explosive than the car I drove in 2013.
As I eluded to earlier, Pagani’s engineers wouldn’t tell me what they’ve done, but it’s an obvious improvement; one that hints at the company’s commitment to R&D.
I found it almost comical that the car was wearing 325-section Pirelli Scorpion stud-less tyres at the back. But it is cold in the countryside surrounding Modena at this time of year, and Pagani needs to ensure the PT1 is able to cope with every road condition, even if its customers would probably never use their cars in this way.
The car is fitted with a more sonorous titanium exhaust system than what you’d normally find in a Huayra, and it’s so light it makes air seem heavy.
It spits flames out the back through these four trumpets, which as you can see from their coloring have been heat-cycled countless times.
So there it was – a Huayra pointing towards some of the best driving roads the region has to offer; roads that Ferrari and Lamborghini have been using for decades to test their own vehicles on.
As you can imagine, I pinched myself a few times to make sure this was in fact actual reality…
Because it all looked far too dreamy; romantic even. But it was real.
The best way I can describe driving a Huayra is having the performance of a Nissan GT-R in a Nissan Cube chassis; you have well over 700hp but there’s only 1300kg or so to haul. Well, a little more with yours truly on board, but I’m sure you get the gist of it.
Improving On PerfectionMy chaperone for the afternoon was Andrea Palma, Pagani’s new test driver and the man entrusted to further perfect the cars that roll out of the factory. He’s a guy that lives and breathes cars; he tunes them and also drives them professionally in the Huracan Trofeo and the Italian GT series. And when he’s not doing that, Andrea is figuring out ways to give his 900hp R35 more traction off the line.
I tried to see if Andrea would disclose some of the changes that were made under the skin of this Huayra to bring it up to PT1 spec, but like all the other Pagani guys, he’s sworn to secrecy. No problem though, because I was feeling the changes through my back end, starting with the handling which is more composed and reassuring. New dampers maybe? Refined geometry? Improved links and bushings? Who knows… The V12 itself felt more alive at lower RPM, but I’m not talking about turbo lag here, of which there is very little, but rather throttle response.
It all felt more direct and more reactive from the get go, which in turn brings you in closer with the car, making you feel more connected to it all. The gearbox was quicker and smoother and it added a more modern character to the car; now that dual-clutch systems have become the norm, the Huayra needs to fight hard to defend its choice to stay single clutch.
But that’s because the transversally-mounted Xtrac 7-speed transmission is much lighter and smaller than a twin-clutch setup could ever be. It helps keep the weight more contained and more central in the car, giving a natural understeering character over a potentially hard-to-handle oversteering one.
That then allows the engineers to dial out that understeer and create a neutral handling character, which even on cold, tight country roads on snow tyres inspires confidence.
The ability to tighten that line mid-corner is always a millimetric step of the accelerator away, and once you get used to the monumental wall of torque that you always have at your disposal, you being to calibrate yourself. Then, believe it or not, the car almost becomes a doddle to play with, especially when you really lean on the Bosch traction and stability control systems which are pretty impressive given what they can let you get away with.
The only thing I don’t particularly like is the steering. It’s very communicative, but a little slow for my taste. If the gearing was a tad faster it would make it all less work from behind the wheel, which you turn way too much even in normal driving situations. Not Ferrari-fast which is an exaggeration, but just a tad.
But I’m really nitpicking here. This is as close to automotive perfection as you can get. There’s nothing anyone can say – it’s art meeting function and the result is simply stunning.
But it’s not enough for Pagani.
The carmaker is on a continuous road of development, refinement and reinvention, and that will ensure it stays at the very top of what it’s doing for a long time to come.
There is always so much to improve on a car, and right down to every small detail; be it a material, a mechanical component, aerodynamics or even the basic concept of the car itself.
The best thing is, we’ll all get a glimpse of what that path will lead to once Pagani shows the Huayra BC in Geneva in a few weeks. Think more extreme, more focused more evolved. For the lucky few that can get their hands on these sort of cars, automotive perfection is almost a reality.
Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: speedhunters_dino
dino@speedhunters.com
Variable geometry turbo like koenigsegg? Hopefully one day vgt's will be more economical and easier to control. They currently have borgwarner efr, hard to improve on that. Will you be doing a factory feature? Would love to see one.
Why don't you tell me that you come in Italy? U0001f602U0001f602U0001f602
Good photos and nice words!
About Huayra: is a spaceship!
Ciao Dino!
Love the new horizons SH has opened up to and reviewing supercars is really eye opening!
goofy mirrors and grotesque color scheme aside,
these are still cool cars
Any chance we'll get to see some Koenigsegg or the P1 in the future? Great article Dino! as always
waiting for a liberty walk's take on this one
85k in nuts and bolts.... GODDAAMN
"Anyone can do that"
Mr. Koennisegg, he's talking to you.
bluestreaksti The problem with VGT turbines is that they (currently) have problems coping with any type of exhaust temperature except diesel (which burns cooler)
"Safety is at its core; the underlying goal is not to make a ridiculously powerful car that is untameable and downright dangerous. “Anyone can make that,” he likes to say. Engineering a race car for the street tells your clients nothing about your capabilities as a maker of high-end cars."
I've long thought that a car at this level SHOULD be scary and dangerous to drive, especially in the upper half of its range - not terrifying for terror's sake, but because it should take more than money to own one. Essentially, it should be a four-wheeled literbike.
When a car is easy and convenient to operate, what accomplishment is there in piloting it? Wiring seven figures into somebody's bank account to buy a car is certainly no mean feat, but Donald Trump can do that, and is he respected for his ability to drive?
There are more millionaires and billionaires in the world these days than ever before, and given the realities of modern auto finance, merely being able to BUY an exotic car is no longer that status symbol it was in previous decades.
There should be some other criteria used to measure status and success - something a gifted accountant, computer specialist or real estate shark shouldn't be able to acquire simply by writing a check.
Besides, in one way, a dangerous car is actually safer to drive than a "safe," easy-to-operate one, because even the "safe" car is fast enough to get you into trouble. But if you can actually handle a scary, powerful car at high speeds, there's that much more margin for error by virtue of your skill.
"Speed doesn't kill - inattentiveness and lack of skill do. The first gets you into trouble, and the second keeps you there."
I've been lucky enough to meet Horacio in person, one day passing in front of the old factory with some friends of mine we found him there, he was sweeping the yard, we was pretty shocked by the fact that the owner of one of the most important supercar maker in the world was sweeping the yard of it's own factory by himself! He also had a chat with us for like 20 minutes. The most surreal 20 minutes of my life, and not because I'm an hardcore hypercar fan, but because I met in person a real car enthusiast who reached the top, speaking with him made me understand who are the real heroes in the automotive world today. I can't put in to word the respect and the admiration I have for someone so great and at the same time so humble, especially now, an era where arrogance is mistaken with character too often.
bluestreaksti Yes a factory tour will be coming showing their new factory
Acc bluestreaksti You don't need VGTs, EFRs are good enough, especially when you have 6 litres developing boost lol
superpern Grazie superpern!
ROYFZ We can't afford to now share cars like these. They are the expression of perfection, we can all learn so much from them
@jeffrey bingenschlampft What's grotesque about a red?
Paolo Siega P1 I'm working on it. The "egg" hopefully Christian will send us an invite lol
@zsitanca Don't go there please lol
earmenau It's crazy!
Alceu F Hahaha
importfan I get you. I have so much respect for him, I could listen to him for days when he tells his stories. Modern day renaissance man
Beutifull. Thanks for sharing this, nice work!
RodrigoLeon1998 Thx!
I heart Pagani. So special. Brought back some good memories man, looks amazing.
Speedhunters_Bryn Good times hey Bryn!
So you spent the day in a Huayra dressed with a Toyota zipped hoodie. Italian menswear at its best.
Sounds like bad design to me. I understand these cars can't always be welded, but I feel like fewer bolts would be cheaper and provide fewer points of failure.
By contrast, Veyrons have 8 bolts holding the chassis together.
Amazing statistic, just not necessarily a good one.
I've only seen this car once. It was at the Miami International Car Show 2014. It was the Carbon Fiber one. Really dissapointed I couldn't get a proper clear picture, but...
I had the opportunity to see one in person around this time last year. Definitely a vehicle that needs to be seen in person to get the full effect, I found myself finding small details the longer I looked at it.
Those tires tho
speedhunters_dino ROYFZ I would really like to see a comparison between a tuned car (eg. time attack) vs one of these supercars. They exist in completely dimensions and I think we could understand the level of perfection when we compare something that is closer to home.
Great article Dino! That color combination is epic! How does the Huayra tell you to put your seat belt on? Some sweet Italian voice maybe?
This is the kind of article that makes you believe in supercar again. I've always been, but I know of some people that can use a shot of something like this.
@r54dbnn Exposed carbon never gets old!
Sicned They were so soft they lit up instantly at the faintest hint of wheelspin lol
koko san no, an annoying beep haha
I've seen this Huayra a couple of times, the last time has been in Monza. It always blows my mind.
You have loads of free time
Great still shots, not sure about the in motion be the ones that I would delete. What was thinking behind these, oh and I do love very long shutter just not sure here.
Thank you Dino!!! I've seen several of these at shows, last one being at SEMA 2015. I LOVE the interiors....they are a jeweler's fantasy. One and only one aspect of these Pagani's has always rubbed me the wrong the way...the wheels!
Does anyone else feel they have a certain, cheesy Asanti-esque feel to them?
rook56 im half sure all the bolts are made in house and probably from ti, 85k is cheap when you look at it like that
speedhunters_dino Sicned the reason it sits on winter tyres is that in italy (or at least in its northern regions) these are mandatory from 15th of November to 15th of April. And you wouldn't want to drive with super soft summer tyres at 0-5 degrees outside.
Great article, i'm always torn between the kitschy looking interior and the grade of perfection it's executed.
Excellent photos and really nice piece. Well done! https://twitter.com/BlackbootsWim
BlackbootsWim Thanks!
@SW1 Yeah wheels are a very personal thing, but there's no questioning the actual fabrication process and materials they use.
It's a Masterpiece. You really captured so much "soul" and essence of this car. Such an aggressive monster but yet so sophisticated and beautiful. Well done Dino, I salute you on another wonderful piece
What is this thing in the middle front of seats? I always wonder. One sick car. Thanks for article.
rook56 It's not that it uses a million bolts, it's that the ones it does use are expensive as F. Even a Veyron still has a pile of other bolts scattered throughout the car.
You are probably both right. I just cannot comprehend how it can cost that much. Even if each one is monogrammed and they are titanium or similar.
ps. According to Google, there are 14 titanium bolts holding the Veyron together and each one costs "only" 100euro. Does 850 bolts sound about right for a hand-made car?
Pagani always makes me feel like they are making the closest thing to a sci-fi vehicle that real life can offer. Every little detail has an otherworldly aspect to it. Sensory overload.
So.Much.Envy. Have you driven a Zonda? How does the Huayra compare in your opinion if so?
That moment when you find out that the nuts and bolts for this car costs 2-3 times the cost of your daily driver...
the four slightly upturned exhaust ends is by far my favorite detail of this car!
Have you driven a maclaren mp12? That would be a nice comparison.
These will be my wallpapers for the next year XD
You're not taking into account all the hundreds of other bolts that hold the suspension, brakes, bumpers, seats, headlights, wheels, etc. on. It sounds like pagani uses bespoke ti fasteners EVERYWHERE on the huayra.
@JohnWayne Haha thanks! Opening shot is on my laptop at the moment
Madgreek Yes quite extensively actually. I love it to bits, I love it as it makes you work for the power. Need to try the evolutions of the car as it has gotten a lot better
http://www.speedhunters.com/2013/08/top-down-and-backfiring-the-mclaren-experience/
FinianSmall Pagani signature! This exhaust sounded especially nice, and it's REAL sound, not generated with "fake" crackling from the exhaust as you get on most performance cars these days. If you hear a pop it's real, followed by a flame from one of those four pipes. Love it
Bima Leksono Depressing isn't it haha
jbfromsiliconvalley I've been a passenger in one, but never driven it. It's a different beast however, and I TOTALLY understand why customers keep requesting it despite it's technically our of production! I thought rich guys sounded like dicks for saying this, but you do need both. If you can afford it, great!
SilviaBill Yes, there aren't many manufacturers like this.
@Pitti It's a knob to adjust the heigh of the seat. Not my favourite part of the car as it's awkward to get to and twist. Plus it looks like some kind of sex toy lol. It's getting removed from the next version of the Huayra though
Ujean Thanks man! Appreciate the feedback
dMarcop Colore pazzesco vero?
flyingjolly speedhunters_dino Sicned Not that we've been needing them this year. What's up with the weather! Where is the snow!??
HOLD UP!!!! I COULD NOT GET PASSED THIS IMAGE WHEN I SAW IT!!!!
**sorry, I did not read further either - too excited**
This Pagani has Pirelli Sotozero tires
SOTOZERO TIRES PEOPLE!!!
Winter tires!
Look at those sipes!!!!
I started to have visions of this thing climbing up a snow covered road
O
M
G
can you imagine seeing that? - wow
ok - few photo's later you mention this.........knew it could not have been missed on you Dino
good read and even better shots!
I used to be anti Pagani, but the more I learn about these cars, the more I respect and "get" them, and Mr Pagani himself (thanks to you and your colleagues, Mr Dalle Carbonare) BUT … I still can't get over the styling of some of the details: headlight clusters, wing mirrors, the instrumentation >sigh<
http://i.imgur.com/iBpeXE8.jpg
"New" Pagani test driver. Is Davide Testi no longer there? T
the car was very good
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Quantaray No he left the company