Huayra

Make
Pagani
Segment
Coupe

Pagani may have added just two letters to the Huayra – the BC (as we thought) representing the initials of the first person to buy a Pagani, Benny Caiola – but the Huayra BC is a completely different animal to the Huayra Coupe. In fact, save from the roof, they don't have a single body panel in common. In order to match the likes of the LaFerrari and P1 in terms of hypercar capabilities, Pagani says it considered hybrid propulsion, but ultimately went a different route, choosing to focus on creating the lightest hypercar on the market instead.

To that end, Pagani developed a brand new type of carbon fiber it says is 50 percent lighter and 20 percent stronger than normal carbon - at just 1,218 kg, the Huayra BC is a staggering 132 kg lighter than the Huayra coupe - as well as a motorsport-derived carbo-titanium monocoque chassis and suspension, and an all-new gearbox. Where Pagani created a track variant of the Zonda in the form of the Zonda R before unleashing its road-going iteration dubbed the Cinque, with the Huayra, Horacio Pagani took a new direction, creating a road car inspired by its track-focused predecessors.

An AMG-built 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 delivers 789 hp and 737 lb-ft of torque, mated to a brand new 7-speed AMT automated manual supplied by Xtrac, with power sent to the rear wheels through a Le Mans prototype-derived tripod axle drive shaft. The 40% lighter gearbox boasts new carbon-fiber synchronizers and an electro-hydraulic actuation system, which help to increase gear engagement and cut gearshift times in half (75 ms instead of 150ms), while a new electronic active differential has been designed to adapt to a range of driving conditions, from low grip scenarios to full-on extreme track driving.

We can't wait to hear this going flat out – no performance specs revealed as yet, but expect a top speed in excess of 220 mph and 0-62 mph time of 2.8 seconds – the new titanium quad exhaust, weighing in at just 2.9 kg (7.9 kg lighter than stock pipes!), is said to deliver an even more intense soundtrack courtesy of a new acoustic design. Not to mention it looks absolutely stunning. A 25% lighter suspension is forged from an aeronautic aluminum alloy, meaning it's exceptionally strong and rigid, which translates to an even more dynamic and responsive drive. The Bosch ESP system has been recalibrated and a "Track" mode joins the familiar modes of "Comfort" and "Sport" accessed via a button on the wheel.

Brembo-developed carbon ceramics feature a new Monolithic design (six pot up front, four at the rear), are, like everything else on the BC, lighter, and the calipers are stiffer for increased stability under high-performance braking. Functional, lightweight forged alloys, are staggered 20/21 inches front/rear, and come wrapped in bespoke Formula 1-inspired Pirelli P Zero Corsa rubber utilizing new polymers and mixing systems. Pagani has once again teamed up with Dallara to hone the aerodynamics of the BC, increasing air speed across all the new air ducts and inlets, and in turn optimizing cooling and reducing drag.

Step inside, and there's matte carbon-fiber weave galore, black anthracite suede, deep red leather, a beautiful suede-wrapped steering wheel, and gloss black highlights that combine to stunning effect. The naked gear linkage is something you could look at all day. Only 20 units of the Huayra BC will be made at 2.35 million Euros a piece, and all have been accounted for. We'll bring you pictures of the car in the metal from the Geneva show floor in a couple of weeks' time.