Inspired by racing cars from the 1960s and 70s, the Pagani Huayra R offers big power in its sleek track-only packaging.
Rattling around inside Horacio Pagani’s head since 2008, the idea for the Huayra R actually birthed the Zonda R. Now the Huayra is a reality.
“In 2008 we were working on the Huayra, a very challenging and demanding project from an engineering and stylistic point of view. After so many years, I felt an overwhelming desire for freedom and that’s how the Zonda R came about, a track car free from constraints and regulations. Beautiful, high-performing and safe. The Huayra R, just like the Zonda R, is the freest, most extreme and performance-oriented Pagani car of all time,” Pagani said.
And he’s not talking jive. And nor does he mention anything about hybrid assistance, etc. Nope, the Huayra R’s donk, Pagani said, had to have the soul of a 1980s F1 car. And that means it’s a stonking, naturally-aspirated 6.0L V12 thumping out 625kW and 750Nm of torque. The engine weighs just 198kg. This is mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox that’s attached both to the engine and the chassis which helps with rigidity it weighs just 80kg.
Similarly, the exhaust system was designed to give that old-school F1 sound with identical length pipes with mufflers that can be fitted to reduce the noise down to the FIA’s sanctioned 110 decibels for noise-restricted tracks.
The monocoque chassis is constructed from a raft of new, lightweight and strong materials, including Carbo-Titanium HP62-G2 and Carbo-Triax HP62. The monocoque incorporates the seats fully for improved strength and protection. Further tweaks to improve the Huayra R for the track mean there’s been a 16% increase in structural rigidity and a 51% increase in flexural rigidity. All up, the new car weighs 1050kg.
Being a race car, aerodynamics are vital. And the design of the Huayra R is such that it can generate a staggering 1000kg of downforce at 320km/h. With a front to rear downforce balance of 46:54% right throughout the speed profile.
To handle the ups and downs, the suspension system is forged aluminium alloy, independent double wishbone with helical springs and electronically controlled active shock absorbers. The brakes are from Brembo and they’re massive measuring 410mm at the front and 390mm at the rear with six-piston calipers all around.
Pagani plans to build just 30 of these things with a price tag of around $4.5 million.
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