Pagani Huayra R: the ultimate naturally aspirated 6.0-litre V12 track hypercar

Pagani and V12 engines go hand in hand - it’s hard to discuss one without immediately thinking of the other. Now, a decade after the Pagani Huayra debuted at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, Horacio Pagani - the mastermind behind the entire venture - has unveiled what is positioned as the ultimate iteration of his hypercar. Meet the Pagani Huayra R, a track-focused “monster” powered by an all-new 6.0-litre naturally aspirated V12.

In 2021, talking about pure internal-combustion performance with no electrification at all is becoming increasingly rare - but Pagani is not backing down.

For the Huayra R, the Modena-based manufacturer partnered with HWA - the company that builds DTM and Formula E cars for Mercedes-Benz - to create a naturally aspirated V12 from the ground up, rather than using the 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 supplied by Mercedes-AMG found in the standard Huayra.

Because this is such a special, driver-led machine, Pagani asked its customers whether they wanted a forced-induction engine or a naturally aspirated unit for the Huayra “R” - and the responses, by all accounts, left little doubt.

850 hp of power

The end result is one of the most cutting-edge hypercars money can buy, yet it retains an old-school appeal. A clear example is the decision to fit a six-speed manual gearbox that is non-synchronised, despite delivering an eye-opening 850 hp (redline at 9000 rpm) and 750 Nm of peak torque (from 5500 to 8300 rpm).

The engine tips the scales at just 198 kg and is bolted directly to the Huayra R’s carbon-fibre monocoque chassis. As for the soundtrack, expectations are sky-high - although Pagani notes that silencers can be fitted to cap noise at the 110-decibel maximum “required” by the FIA.

It weighs just 1050 kg

Pagani has waged war on mass, producing a Huayra R that weighs only 1050 kg. The Italian brand is not disclosing top speed or 0–100 km/h acceleration times, saying only that it has engineered a car capable of generating 1000 kg of downforce at 320 km/h, thanks to an extensive and highly complex aerodynamic package, with the rear wing standing out as one of its defining elements.

Even with the more aggressive aero, the car’s identity remains intact - it still looks unmistakably like a Huayra. The rear wing is larger than the one on the Huayra BC, for instance, the rear diffuser is more pronounced, and there is now a dorsal-style “fin” running over the roof. Even so, the overall silhouette and key lines have been preserved.

Special run of 30 units

Pagani has confirmed it will build only 30 examples of the Huayra R, as part of a highly exclusive series. Most likely, the brand’s regular clientele will have secured every slot even before the public reveal, despite each car costing €2.6 million before taxes.

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