One of the most anticipated cars of the year has finally been seen by the public eye – the Pagani Huayra. Designed to be the replacement of the legendary Zonda, it comes complete with a new chassis, powerplant, and a design aimed at giving aerodynamics a hard time. The monocoque is made from Pagani’s famous mix of carbon fibre and titanium, while the rest of the body, including the new gullwing doors, are carbon fibre only. This means that the Huayra remains a lightweight like its predecessor at 1350kg (around 2970lbs). Like before, Pagani continues to use a Mercedes-AMG engine, but this time power comes from a twin-turbo 6.0-litre V12 producing 700hp and 1000 Nm of torque (around 737 lb ft). The dry-sump unit is connected to a seven-speed paddle-shift transmission (a dual-disc single-clutch manual unit built by Xtrac) sending drive to the rear wheels, which allows an acceleration time of 3.3sec from 0-60mph, and a claimed top speed of 231mph (370km/h).
Pagani also claims that the engine is Euro 5 compliant, and that despite being more powerful than its naturally-aspirated 7.3-litre predecessor, it is more efficient as well. The exhaust system is made of titanium, manufactured by MHG-Fahrzeugtechnik, and is said to weigh less than 10kg. The exhaust has been made with aim of reducing back-pressure and enhancing the noise made by the V12, while also accompanying the lightweight system with the sort of reliability found with Iconel systems when exposed to high temperatures. Handling promises to be impressive as well, with the Huayra being able to generate 1.5g of cornering force, and a weight distribution of 44:56 front to rear. But, a major standout feature will be its active body flaps aimed at aerodynamic perfection. The four flaps, one for each corner of the car, can be independently triggered for improved downforce and grip during acceleration, braking, and cornering. As for the Huayra's interior, it will be a major change from the Zonda’s cabin. Not only is the manual gearstick lever gone in favour of a futuristic-looking semi-racing one, but there is a touchscreen navigation system as well. There is no firm confirmation on pricing, yet, but various online sources claim the Huayra will be well over the $1 million mark. Alex Kisiri |
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