Pagani Huayra – Sports Cars

Okay, I confess, when I received an invitation to the "gathering", I was a little worried: I imagined a kind of folk festival between the mystical and the crazy. I decided to search on Google, but it did not calm me down. I discovered that the first "meeting" with that name was a Christian Vision for Men event in a field near Swindon. Wandering among teepees in the mud and singing hymns in the choir is not exactly my idea of ​​fun.

Fortunately, the meeting to which I was invited was not held in Swindon, but in Sardinia: a good start. IN Rally Pagani it has reached its seventh year and is organized by the House to bring Pagani fans together and entertain them in some beautiful local street. The only drawback is the very high cost. ticket to participate in the event, and by that I mean not only the entrance fee to 2.400 euro... Basically, to be invited to this party, you need to have a Pagani or be on the list to buy it.

This year's rally promises to be even more exciting than usual because Horacio Pagani has decided to bring his Huayra. And that's not all: he said he'd even let some guests drive him. I need to make sure that I am among the lucky ones ... The only drawback is my Zonda it absolutely needed service and was therefore brought to the Modena plant a couple of weeks before. I wanted him to be ready for the meeting ...

When I come to the factory to pick up my car, I do my best to contain my enthusiasm. The count will take care of that: it's so salty that it feels like a cold shower. After a trip to the workshop (where there are three Zonda Rs, Huayra, five "regular" Zondas, and a very special Zonda that I can't tell you about) it's time to head to Sardinia. Part of the trip will be in ferry: a new thing for my Zonda.

The road to Livorno is nothing surprising, the most interesting begins when I put my nose into the port. Behind the entrance is the Guardia di Finanza, who thinks she hit the jackpot when they see my car, and gestures me to stop. I have to admit that he is not entirely wrong: a Zonda without a front plate, ready to set off on a night crossing to Sardinia, will raise some suspicions in anyone. But my English passport seems to be helping and I was eventually released. It is clear that they are a little disappointed ...

I'm not telling you what the fuss is when I line up with other cars waiting for a ship. The guys who control the traffic inside the ferry lanes are gesturing like crazy. “I need a car registration,” one of them tells me in bad English. I'm not going to argue, I just don't understand what the problem is. I pass it on to him, he looks at it and seems satisfied. "This is fine. It's not a car, it's a truck,” he laughs. So, I figured out that if the loaded car wider than two meters (and the Zonda is 2,04 meters) is not classified as a car, so I have to queue with camper... I'm not telling you what camper owners look like when they see me ...

The next morning, at 8 pm, the ship's ladders open, and the Probe appears under the blinding sun of Sardinia. They are already there 25 degrees and the streets are full of tourists. When I see pieces of the turquoise sea on the right, I understand the charm of this magical island.

The hotel chosen by Pagani for the meeting participants is a real miracle, but what amazes me the most is the parking. Scattered among Ferraris (599 GTOs, 458 and 575 Superamerica) and various AMGs (including three SLSs) are eight Zonds, as well as the star of the show: the Pagani Huayra. What a spectacle: I came here specifically to see her.

All that remains is time for a coffee before everyone is gathered in the parking lot, ready for today's drive along some of the island's most beautiful roads. Elbowing in, I manage to sit behind Wyra and spend the next hour strapped to his buttocks on the winding coastal roads. I'm fascinated by her active aerodynamic fins: they seem to be living their own lives. It is impossible to predict what they will do in a moment. When the Huayra accelerates a little, they climb a couple of centimeters, then stop before picking up again at high speeds. When braking before cornering, they rise almost vertically, and then when the car calms down, the outer stops and the inner continues to move (probably to increase downforce and improve the inner wheel). After the rope is sharpened, the two fins are lowered at the same time, and the car exits the bend.

I've never seen anything like this on a car - the flaps don't go up to stay in place and then back down, but they keep moving (both front and rear). They work? We'll know when we finally get the chance to drive the Huayra in person, but in terms of spectacle, there's nothing quite like it in the world.

We do not have to wait long to stumble upon a straight line, as God tells us. I don't know if Horatio is trying hard or calmly, but my Probe seems to keep up with him without problems. Then we meet a longer straight line and I hear for the first time 12-liter V6 double turbo off 720 CV Wyres in all their might. Its sound is completely different from the naturally aspirated Zonda V12 engine: it is deeper and more complex. To be honest, I'm a little disappointed, but the acceleration that the V12 turbo delivers pays off and the Huayra soon leaves me in a cloud of dust. There is no doubt about its characteristics: Huayra is a splinter.

That evening, I chat with the people who left the bail for the Huayra. Apparently they were attracted by Pagani's incredible attention to detail, as well as a slightly lower price (around € 500.000) compared to the current Zonda special editions.

The future owner from Hong Kong told me that he chose Huayra because he fell in love with interior. “All supercars today have incredible performance, but when I stop in line or at a traffic light while driving an Enzo, I start looking at the interior, it sucks,” he says. “On the other hand, with the Huayra, every time I look at the cockpit, I fall more and more in love with it. The exterior is designed for the pleasure of the onlooker, the passers-by, but what impresses the owner most of all is the cabin: if it is done well, there is a feeling that you are on board a very special car.”

The next day at 9 am I have an appointment with Horatio. He promised to give me a ride on Wyre before everyone wakes up. When I approach the car with the doors raised to the sky, I have already won over its charm. Horatio is already in the driver's seat and ready to go, so I get on board immediately. When the key is turned in what looks like a toy car pressed against the dashboard, the twin-turbo V12 engine wakes up. It is more civilized than I expected, especially compared to the Zonda, which growls and barks even at the slightest moment.

Horatio slips onto his back and immediately checks the automatic transmission, traveling 230 meters back to exit the parking lot. You don't feel the slightest vibration and the clutch engages or disengages without any problems at any time. I am amazed at how fantastic she is, and it amazes me when Horatio tells me that she is not perfect: he is still working on it.

Once outside, Horatio slowly goes to warm up the engine. I take this opportunity to take a look at the cockpit: the Huayra is roomy, like a Zonda, and visibility is good. The front view looks the same, thanks to the swirling windshield and distinctive periscope central air intakes. I'm surprised to see the Horacio shift gears with a center lever instead of paddles behind the steering wheel. "I'm a little old-fashioned," he tells me when I point it out. Driving feels smooth, especially when overcoming sharp bumps. On the Zonda, such a hole would cause the suspension to work overtime, causing the entire cockpit to vibrate, but on the Huayra it's quite different: in terms of improvement, it seems to be light years ahead. When the engine finally warms up, Horatio opens the throttle in the first oncoming straight. He tells me that the inspiration for the Zonda came from the Group C Endurance car, but for the Huayra he wanted to capture the moment a jet took off. Then he focuses on the road and digs in the accelerator. I don't know what's more shocking: the sudden, freaking ambient bombardment of awakening turbines, or the indignation with which the Huayra devours the pavement beneath it.

It's almost like being aboard a jet plane. Judging by the noise in the cockpit, he was at the epicenter of the storm. Its power and agility are astounding, and as soon as you think the V12 has gone to its full potential, there is a new boost in acceleration. This beast looks as fast as the Veyron, but much more immersive, especially thanks to the surreal jet plane soundtrack. I feel relieved: it was my only fear. It may not have a Zonda roar from the outside, but from the inside it has an incredible sound.

However, what immediately catches the eye is that the Huayra is completely different from the Zonda. I may have said this once before, but I'll say it again: I hope Pagani will continue with the Zonda for a while longer. Nothing else - not even the Huayra, I'm afraid - offers such an intense and interactive driving experience.

The Huayra makes up for something equally important. This car combines the most modern technology with old-school craftsmanship and the result is a new genre of supercars. I understand that someone might complain about the automatic transmission and the turbo because they take something away from the driving experience, but want to find fault. The Huayra is even more exaggerated in performance than the Zonda and comfort at maximum power, but with it you will never forget the sensory feeling of pushing the engine to its fullest, as well as a stunning soundtrack.

Horatio Pagani knows better than anyone what people want from a supercar, and when designing the Huayra he realized that today the supercar wins and sells not pure performance, but a driving experience. And by offering something completely different from everyone else, she hit the mark. Can't wait to try Huayra for myself. I already know this will be special.