Official: 2012 Pagani Huayra

Pagani have officially unveiled their 2012 Huayra. The hypercar is named after Aymara god Huayra Tata, god of wind. Aerodynamics are a big part of the new car which will be displayed publically for the first time at the Geneva Auto Salon 2011.

During the five-year design process, eight scale models were created, as well as two 1:1 models, each an evolution of the previous in a never ending quest to perfect the form and refining the substance. The car features bi-xenon headlamps from the Zonda R, and LED daytime running lights. The rear bumper integrates a diffuser and features the four central exhaust outlets which have now become characteristic of most Pagani road cars.

The new central monocoque on the Huayra is an entirely new design made from carbon-titanium. There is a new set of gull wing doors which cut deep into the roof, necessitating much research into achieving the highest levels of rigidity throughout. New advanced composite materials and technologies first tested on the Zonda R have helped during this process. The fuel tank is located in a protected area of the monocoque, behind the driver, reinforced by a safety cell made of different composite and ballistic materials.

Weight reduction measures have resulted in simple ideas such as the integration of all ventilation air ducts into the monocoque’s structure. The use of complex materials and attention to detail means that the hypercar weighs just 1,350kg making the Huayra the lightest sports car in its class.

At the heart of the Huayra is a Mercedes-AMG provided twin-turbo M158 V12. Displacement is 5980cc and power peaks at 700 horsepower and 1000Nm of torque. The turbos have been designed to offer immediate response at the slightest throttle input, giving the driver full control over the engine at any rpm and preventing delays in delivery. The Huayra has been subjected to tests in the extreme heat of Death Valley and the extreme colds of the Arctic Circle, proving its reliability. The two radiators are positioned in the front to provide efficient cooling and dry sump lubrication ensures an optimal oil feed to the engine. An oil/water heat exchanger reduces warm-up times by heating the engine lubricant during cold start and keeps the engine coolant and lubricant levels at steady operational temperatures.

More simple weight saving has been applied to the engine components. In order to reduce hoses and connections, as much as possible is built directly to the engine.

Carbon dioxide emissions as well as fuel consumption have been reduced, to make the Huayra class leading amongst 12 cylinder sports cars. The two stage fuel supply system features two microprocessor controlled pumps feeding fuel to the engine with the second pump only activated when necessary. A large 85 liter fuel tank ensure the Huayra’s grand touring ability. All engines display the AMG emblem on the intake manifold alongside the name of the technician that assembled the engine by hand at the Mercedes-AMG headquarters in Affalterbach, Germany.

The Titanium exhaust system has been engineered by MHG-Fahrzeugtechnik and is a direct application of race proven technologies on a high performance road car. The complete exhaust weighs less than 10kg. The unit is made from Titanium and guarantees a low weight muffler while Inconel guarantees reliability on the parts of the exhaust more exposed to high temperatures.

A transverse sequential seven speed gearbox and a dual plate clutch have been added to this car. The complete gearbox weighs only 96kg. A dual clutch system was ruled out as it would have increased the weight by approximately 70kg negating any minor improvement in shift-time. The seven-speed unit comes from Xtrac who supplied the gearbox for the Zonda R.

The forged AvionAl double A-arms have been tested extensively through the Zonda R programme. Incorporated into the wheel hub assemblies are cooling ducts that connect directly to the support brackets, extending the reliability and lifespan of the bearings. Pushrod operated adjustable Öhlins shock absorbers have been used here.

Pirelli have developed bespoke P Zero tires, specifically for the Huayra. These P Zero tires are built in a dedicated MIRS (Modular Integrated Robotized System) facility, dedicated to the production of ultrahigh performance tires and are at the forefront of what is technically possible, suited to top speeds above 370km/h as well as to lateral forces exceeding 1,5G.

The aerodynamic concept of the Huayra is that of a wing. The driver can modify the properties of this wing by varying the front ride height, which can be adjusted dynamically, and by adjusting the four control flaps on each of the four corners of the car. The goal is to have a neutral handling behaviour under all conditions and to control body roll via aerodynamic means. The behaviour of the flaps is managed by a dedicated control unit that is fed information from the ABS and ECU, which pass information about the car’s speed, yaw rate, lateral acceleration, steering angle and throttle position. The system improves aerodynamic efficiency in a variety of driving conditions, where a low drag coefficient is not the determining factor.

Another vital design tenant for the Huayra project was to ensure clean airflow over the body of the car. The two engine air intakes behind the occupant’s shoulders allow the motor breath without disrupting air flow. The flow of air through the car was also carefully studied. The radiators are angled to contribute down force and provide the best flow for hot air to be extracted. Air from the central radiator is extracted by vents on the front bonnet and trough the front wheelhouses. Air from the side radiators is channelled to ducts cooling the brake discs and wheel hubs. This air blows onto the brakes at a temperature of approximately 50 degrees centigrade warming the brakes up when cold and improving the first bite significantly.

The driver will find all primary functions on the steering wheel, similar to the Ferrari 458 Italia design. The gearshift paddles are mounted directly to the steering wheel so the driver never needs to take his hands off the steering wheel. The seats provide both the comfort to make long trips enjoyable as well as the lateral support required when the g-forces build up on extreme driving.

Inside there’s leather latches to the toggle switches, and a mechanical aluminium gearlever assembly. The aluminum dashboard takes inspiration from the most complex swiss watch designs and includes a central Multi-Function Display displaying performance relevant information. The aluminium center console is machined from one solid block of aluminium and features a clarinet style array of mechanical switches controlling the HVAC system. The high definition central touchscreen is the heart of the vehicle infotainment system, controlling audio functions, satellite navigation, secondary vehicle functions and Bluetooth phone.

To date five prototypes have been built which have been conducting road tests for the past four years. Currently, over half a million kilometers have been covered and before entering the US market Pagani will have reached one million test kilometers. Each prototype has been assigned to a specific development task. At Mercedes-AMG one is used to develop drivability, and another is used for emission development. One car is operated constantly by Bosch Engineering for the application of ABS and advanced stability and performance enhancement systems. Another vehicle is used for gearbox testing, and general vehicle dynamics development.

The car complies to US standards for the first time too so US customers should expect to be able to order the car when it goes on sale!