RE: Pagani Imola is a 'powerhouse of technology'

RE: Pagani Imola is a 'powerhouse of technology'

Monday 17th February 2020

Pagani Imola is a 'powerhouse of technology'

Five examples, at five million euros each, with new paint tech to save 5kg for Huayra-derived Imola



Pagani could never be accused of resting on its laurels; the Huayra was already a spectacular supercar out of the box, made significantly more so with the BC special edition of 2016 and then topped off with the Roadster version last. Surely, we all thought, the Huayra could go little further than a convertible version that produces both more than 2g and in excess of 500kg of downforce.

Seemingly undeterred by the challenge, Pagani has now revealed this: the Imola - an even more powerful, even more focussed Huayra derivative, the Zonda R reimagined if you will. The bare numbers are as mad as expected: the familiar twin-turbo V12 now produces 827hp and 811lb ft, still transferred to the rear wheels through an automated manual gearbox. It weighs just 1,246kg, too, thanks to the use of Carbo-Titanium HP62 G2 and Carbo-Triax HO62, materials also used in the BC Roadster.

The work is so drastic that weight has even been saved through the paint; a technology called Acquarello Light permits the same level of protection as regular paint but with 5kg less material applied in total.


Really, though, paint is paint, and will go unnoticed by many. What won't be missed by any is the dramatic aerodynamic overhaul the Imola has recieved; about which Horacio Pagani said: "Although on the one hand these details may detract from the lines and overall aesthetics of the vehicle, on the other, they also allow improved lap times, ease of driving and especially safety." Aerodynamics talking precedence over everything else? That's how important the Imola's aim of delivering a car "of wholly racing temperament that embodies the maximum expression of Pagani Automobili's track technology" has been.

To prove that yet further, Pagani has tested the Imola for more than 10,000 miles at the circuit from which it borrowed a name. At racing speed, it should be added, so more than enough to deal with a private members' track day. To handle that sort of strain, the Imola features further uprated Brembo ceramic brakes (398mm front, 380mm rear), Pirelli Trofeo R tyres and 'Smart Gas', said to reduce gearshift time and increase "racing character".

All told, then, it looks like the five multi-millionaires who have already reserved their Imolas are in for a treat. They know that, in fact, having been involved in the development process - one said to Horacio Pagani that he "never imagined it would be so easy to drive." Not the verdict we'd have expected, but pleasing to hear. Presumably these Imolas will reach customers at some point this year, then Pagani must surely begin thinking about a world post-Huayra. Can the V12 survive?









Author
Discussion

sidesauce

Original Poster:

2,456 posts

217 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
Oof. Just had a moment!

Gary Woodland

2,552 posts

161 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
Bit weird that the press pics are from a game? Wonder why.

gigglebug

2,611 posts

121 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
Is this not road legal as per the Zonda R then, doesn't go as far as saying so in the piece?

MDL111

6,895 posts

176 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
Looks like Gemballa got hold of one and went to town on it

Jim on the hill

5,072 posts

189 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
Incredible

gigglebug

2,611 posts

121 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
MDL111 said:
Looks like Gemballa got hold of one and went to town on it
I can see what you mean but it does still look like a Pagani and nothing else. The Gemballa Mirage GT is one of the few versions of a supercar, having been clobbered by an aftermarket tuner, that I like incidentally so it may not have been the worst thing if they had have done this.

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
the Zonda was Beautiful, this looks like it was driven into Halfords.

Why are they getting ridiculously expensive, 5 mil for a stupid looking car. Greed is good it seems..

Edited by Thesprucegoose on Monday 17th February 14:48

Thales

619 posts

56 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
sidesauce said:
Oof. Just had a moment!
A moment? What do you mean?

Vee12V

1,329 posts

159 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
gigglebug said:
Is this not road legal as per the Zonda R then, doesn't go as far as saying so in the piece?
It is RL and one of the 5 has already been delivered. It looks absolutely appalling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoJ1JzKaFZQ

Muzzer79

9,806 posts

186 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
I still can't love the Huayra.

I'm not sure what it is, but it just doesn't push my buttons.

Don't get me wrong, if someone threw me the keys then I'd wibble, but I wouldn't spend millions on one.


Schermerhorn

4,342 posts

188 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
Gary Woodland said:
Bit weird that the press pics are from a game? Wonder why.
Probably because none of them exist biggrin

sxmwht

1,548 posts

58 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
Is there normally >5 kilos of paint on a car?

Midgster

568 posts

233 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
Schermerhorn said:
Gary Woodland said:
Bit weird that the press pics are from a game? Wonder why.
Probably because none of them exist biggrin
As per the post above
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoJ1JzKaFZQ

take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey

5,071 posts

54 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
Interesting how they're evolving this into the Zonda - admission perhaps that the newer design just isn't as well liked?

C7 JFW

1,205 posts

218 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
I think it looks awesome, even if it is a render.

More Pagani content is very welcome.

V8 FOU

2,970 posts

146 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
Smart gas?

gigglebug

2,611 posts

121 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
Vee12V said:
It is RL and one of the 5 has already been delivered. It looks absolutely appalling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoJ1JzKaFZQ
All 5 ordered by the same person!!??

BigChiefmuffinAgain

1,054 posts

97 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
This car is in danger of becoming a parody of itself.....

PhantomPH

4,043 posts

224 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
gigglebug said:
Vee12V said:
It is RL and one of the 5 has already been delivered. It looks absolutely appalling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoJ1JzKaFZQ
All 5 ordered by the same person!!??
Yep and looks like the first IS road legal (questioned above). Not sure this actually warranted an article in the tone it's been written. The ACTUAL story should be about a Russian guy who has ordered 5 Huayras in 'mental' spec, rather than the implication that this is somehow a limited run model that Pagani put out to the world.

Esceptico

7,334 posts

108 months

Monday 17th February 2020
quotequote all
I think Pagini may have disappeared up their own tailpipe.

Maybe my memory is at fault but when the Zonda came out it was expensive but still vaguely affordable - something like twice the price of an equivalent Ferrari. Now their offerings seem to be ten times or more. And they don’t look as good as the Zonda and don’t have that NA engine. I’m sure they are laughing all the way to the bank but I miss the times when the Zonda actually appeared in group tests in magazines.