What's all this about?
Pagani has given its Huayra coupe the chop. It's not been axed - it has taken the roof off.
So what?
This is much more than just a topless version of the coupe. After the exercise in lunacy that was the Huayra BC, Pagani has taken some of the lessons learnt from that car and used them to create one of the craziest convertibles ever to see the light of day.
What makes it special?
It's hard to know where to start. Horacio Pagani built his first supercar a mere two decades ago, but since then the company has gone from strength to strength. This car is dripping with cool features, most of which are intended to make it go as fast as possible. Indeed, cornering force of up to 1.8G is said to be achievable, a crazy figure for a car fitted with road rubber.
How have they done that then?
Active aerodynamics and active suspension. These are complemented by a drag-reducing flat floor, and the suspension components themselves are made from a featherweight aluminium alloy called 'HiForg'. Widespread use of carbon fibre and titanium in the chassis construction keeps the overall weight below 1,300kg - an impressive figure for a car like this.
Is it fast?
Of course it's fast. The 764hp and 1,000Nm of torque produced by the AMG-built twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre V12 take care of that, and while no official performance figures have been released yet, expect it to accelerate from 0-62mph in around three seconds. A seven-speed automated manual gearbox transmits drive, while huge carbon ceramic brakes (courtesy of Brembo) take care of stopping the thing.
What if it rains?
There's switchable ESC, and a choice of roofs; a fabric item if you get caught in a shower and a carbon fibre and glass assembly for a sleeker coupe appearance.
Can I buy one?
Don't be silly. Only 100 will be made, and all have already been sold at a price of £1.95m each. You can still ogle the car on the Pagani stand in Geneva next month, but it's destined to become yet another piece of unobtainium. More's the pity.
Maurice Malone - 16 Feb 2017
