Pagani Huayra - a brave move?
Discussion
Hey guys, just been reading up on the Pagani Huayra again today, what a marvellous car in so many ways. It has taken some time to get here, and many would say that the Zonda was hanging in there for too long, I love the Zonda too but imo there were just too many "final" editions, and it is good to see where Pagani is going.
Some things I love about the car, the looks, the active aero, the incredible performance for a start, and others I don't like so much, namely the chintzy interior which looks far too overworked, in a similar fashion to a Spyker interior.
The one thing that really stands out to me though, is the noise. Below is a video of EVO's chief po-face Harry Metcalfe being driven in the Huayra by Horatio Pagani; in the video, Pagani describes the inspiration of the Zondas as a "Le Mans 24 hour" car, but the inspiration for the new car is a plane at take off. Skip along to 2:55 to see the car on the road.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRBCbMy_Tw0
It's obviously a staggeringly quick car, that much is a given, but the noise is something else. There is a slight bit of engine noise with transmission whine over the top, but the dominant noise is an incredible whistling of air from the turbo. Sometimes I think it sounds incredible, other times I think it's not at all what the car should have. I think it's a bold move from Horatio to stick to the wind theme so strongly to the point where all you can hear when driving it is a whistling turbo, as impressive as that turbo is. Whenever I read about it, I can't help but think the customers would probably rather have a roaring V12 over their shoulder, not a whooshy turbo and a dump valve.
Outside the car, it's a very different story, sounding every bit the mean, V12 engined monster you would expect. skip to 3:40 and see what I mean.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZt5QhCGZIU
What do you guys think? Awesome of naff? If you were in a position to buy one, would you have it or would you prefer a NA engine?
Personally I think it's the most exciting supercar I've heard about in ages!
Some things I love about the car, the looks, the active aero, the incredible performance for a start, and others I don't like so much, namely the chintzy interior which looks far too overworked, in a similar fashion to a Spyker interior.
The one thing that really stands out to me though, is the noise. Below is a video of EVO's chief po-face Harry Metcalfe being driven in the Huayra by Horatio Pagani; in the video, Pagani describes the inspiration of the Zondas as a "Le Mans 24 hour" car, but the inspiration for the new car is a plane at take off. Skip along to 2:55 to see the car on the road.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRBCbMy_Tw0
It's obviously a staggeringly quick car, that much is a given, but the noise is something else. There is a slight bit of engine noise with transmission whine over the top, but the dominant noise is an incredible whistling of air from the turbo. Sometimes I think it sounds incredible, other times I think it's not at all what the car should have. I think it's a bold move from Horatio to stick to the wind theme so strongly to the point where all you can hear when driving it is a whistling turbo, as impressive as that turbo is. Whenever I read about it, I can't help but think the customers would probably rather have a roaring V12 over their shoulder, not a whooshy turbo and a dump valve.
Outside the car, it's a very different story, sounding every bit the mean, V12 engined monster you would expect. skip to 3:40 and see what I mean.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZt5QhCGZIU
What do you guys think? Awesome of naff? If you were in a position to buy one, would you have it or would you prefer a NA engine?
Personally I think it's the most exciting supercar I've heard about in ages!
Edited by Mastodon2 on Wednesday 30th November 18:55
Having seen them hand-laying the CF for Huayra number 5 back in August, you could probably buy one based on the craftmanship alone!
Admittedly, the receptionist who was showing us around admitted she wasn't sure they were going in the right direction. They were still developing a Zonda for a rich customer somewhere in Asia who'd asked for a 750bhp engine in his new Zonda. They were testing the engine in their orange mule (which we got to sit in – it smelled lovely!)
Admittedly, the receptionist who was showing us around admitted she wasn't sure they were going in the right direction. They were still developing a Zonda for a rich customer somewhere in Asia who'd asked for a 750bhp engine in his new Zonda. They were testing the engine in their orange mule (which we got to sit in – it smelled lovely!)
I read an article on the Huayra earlier in the year.
Until then, I thought it was a 'difficult second album' kind of car, without the drama and sheer brilliance of the Zonda, but having read the article, I realised how much thought had gone into making it a supercar you could actually use.
I'd love one!
However, like an earlier poster, I'm not sure any amount of money would ever be enough for me to spend that much on a car (especially when I could buy an F40 for much less).
M.
Until then, I thought it was a 'difficult second album' kind of car, without the drama and sheer brilliance of the Zonda, but having read the article, I realised how much thought had gone into making it a supercar you could actually use.
I'd love one!
However, like an earlier poster, I'm not sure any amount of money would ever be enough for me to spend that much on a car (especially when I could buy an F40 for much less).
M.
Tycho said:
Love the looks outside but as you said, the inside is a mess IMO especially the Fisher Price ignition key. 
For that price, everything needs to be very very good, and I just don't like the interior. Do they do it in more sober colours perhaps? The bit round the screen in particular looks very naff indeed. Shame.I can't help but feel that the new car is a massive step backwards. To me it just looks like a bloated Zonda and the new engine is equally disappointing. I don't like the interior either, if I'm being honest.
Pretty dull Pagani Huayra: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8oOgXBj1l0
Sounds the same as this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVWfqadyNs
And compare that to the Zonda: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiroepFi1fw
If you combine that with Pagani wanting to increase production numbers of this new car, losing the sound, the looks, and the exclusivity of the old car, I can't see it holding it's value like the Zonda has. The Huayra doesn't seem special enough.
Pretty dull Pagani Huayra: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8oOgXBj1l0
Sounds the same as this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVWfqadyNs
And compare that to the Zonda: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiroepFi1fw
If you combine that with Pagani wanting to increase production numbers of this new car, losing the sound, the looks, and the exclusivity of the old car, I can't see it holding it's value like the Zonda has. The Huayra doesn't seem special enough.
Tycho said:
Love the looks outside but as you said, the inside is a mess IMO especially the Fisher Price ignition key.
Yeah that ignition key is frankly embarrassing, I'd feel a bit silly just using it! The Huayra is one of those cars whose interiors are as much a work of art as the exterior now. I'd rather have an aesthetically pleasing interior, but one whose primary purpose is function, not form. Other (cheaper supercars) like Murcielagos, Aventadors, MPCs, F458s etc all have great looking interiors but they are also obviously functional, whereas the Huayra looks like an expensive antique watch collection. However, I think this tarty aspect to the car will be terribly popular with the Arab money, who love this sort of twee and chintzy detail.The noise though, very controversial. I'm puzzled as to how they got the engine so muted and the turbos so loud, it's like they put an induction pipe to the turbos inside the cockpit!
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