Thursday 14th December 2017

Garage Italia Customs unveils Huayra 'Lampo'

In the world of custom Paganis, lightning can definitely strike twice

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You may not have heard of Garage Italia Customs before - we hadn't. But that's rather the point of this project: to draw attention to its work and the perspective with which it views automotive design.

It describes itself as, "a natural evolution of the great Italian coachbuilders of the last century". A place where, "the classic tailoring services of bodywork, painting and upholstery are accompanied by more affordable solutions, such as wrapping... to offer an unlimited choice of stylistic options to... represent the ultimate expression of the desires and personality of the client."

To that end, the Huayra's mechanicals remain unchanged, its AMG-built 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 still producing the same 764hp and 737lb ft of torque. The alterations, rather obviously, coming to the car's interior design and exterior styling instead.

Penned by Lapo Elkann, the founder of Garage Italia, and handcrafted by Pagani's own employees, the Huayra Lampo - Lampo being the Italian word for lightning - celebrates Italian style and high-technology. It does so with a livery, inspired by the Fiat Turbina concept of the 50s, which intensifies the aerodynamic lines of the Huayra by playing on colour contrasts. The result being "a blend of different styles and languages in the perfect match between tradition and innovation." There's a very loud, although equally impressive, interior to match, too.

Speaking about the collaboration, Horacio Pagani said, "Working with Garage Italia Customs on this car has been a pleasure. A beautiful and very interesting exercise which allowed us to move away from the shoreline, to dare and to discover always more. Unfortunately the journey is over since the car has been completed and we are here to show it but it would be nice to start over".

The Lampo's in your face design certainly won't be to everyone's liking - there will likely be more than a few people who'd agree that starting over wouldn't be such a bad idea - but it's always interesting to get a glimpse into the imagination of the people pushing the boundaries of automotive design. And taste. First impressions welcome below!

[Turbobanana]

I achieved a similar effect on my old Hillman Avenger, c1987, at what I would guess would be a fraction of the cost, from Halfords.

[thegreenhell]

I wonder why they decided they should showcase it in a studio with the lights turned off...

[MesserXJR]

Surely they have just left the delivery wrapping on ... 😂

[Andrew[MG]]

"Lapo Elkann, the founder of Garage Italia" he's a bit more than that...

[Rawwr]

Oh just put it in the f*cking bin.

[cheddar]

I always thought the standard car was way too understated, you know, bit of a shrinking violet with bland interior styling, this is exactly what it needed.

[RemyMartin81D]

Nice car that's been ruined/ spoilt.

Some people should accept they are not designers for a good reason.

[patmahe]

I know supercars are meant to be a bit flash but that is just out and out garish, looks like something an 8 year old came up with, I would like to see a breakdown of who buys this over the standard car.

[JuniorD]

So it's just a visually tarted up Huayra. Groundbreaking.

[givablondabone]

Always preferred the Zonda visually. This is, well, err.................. g4sh!

[Crouchydc]

I can appreciate the craftsmanship and the attention to detail with the lightning theme and impeccable finish but its not my sort of thing.

[keith2.2]

Is it just me, or does it seem a little odd to have someone offering a 'customisation' service for a vehicle that can be entirely bespoke during the build? Surely if someone (had taken complete leave of their senses and..) conjoured up this exact specification whilst sitting with the Pagani consierge, or experience relationship manager or whatever they deign to call the salesman - then that's what would have been built?

The only thing I can see of use here is either someone in the second hand market who fancies some additional trinkets, or some sort of third party design consultation service at the point specification (I don't for one second believe there is no consultation service at point of specification, soooo....)

Given the result of this particular collaboration - whilst it's perhaps interesting to see what can be done - I'll be using my own judgement when I sit down to specify mine, thanks all the same.

I'd start with surfacing and silhouette - 'Appearance..before we get on to colour, can you change the whole panel please - I want it to look more...how can I put this...Zonda shaped'

Edited by keith2.2 on Friday 15th December 03:01

[ZX10R NIN]

I do like the interior but the outside doesn't work for me but then that's the point of coachbuilders, they're there to make it work for you.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Not some tax dodge to let the owner of Garage Italia put a Pagani through the books then eh?

(“Can we get a VAT invoice please Horacio?”)

[AmosMoses]

Money is not equal to taste...

[Davey S2]

MesserXJR said:

Surely they have just left the delivery wrapping on ... ??

Exactly what I thought

[BelfastBoy]

keith2.2 said:

Is it just me, or does it seem a little odd to have someone offering a 'customisation' service for a vehicle that can be entirely bespoke during the build? Surely if someone (had taken complete leave of their senses and..) conjoured up this exact specification whilst sitting with the Pagani consierge, or experience relationship manager or whatever they deign to call the salesman - then that's what would have been built?

The only thing I can see of use here is either someone in the second hand market who fancies some additional trinkets, or some sort of third party design consultation service at the point specification (I don't for one second believe there is no consultation service at point of specification, soooo....)

Given the result of this particular collaboration - whilst it's perhaps interesting to see what can be done - I'll be using my own judgement when I sit down to specify mine, thanks all the same.

I'd start with surfacing and silhouette - 'Appearance..before we get on to colour, can you change the whole panel please - I want it to look more...how can I put this...Zonda shaped'

Edited by keith2.2 on Friday 15th December 03:01

I would agree with you 100%. Pretty much every Pagani, Koenigsegg, Bugatti etc is a one-off, given the levels of personalisation on offer now. Most Rolls Royce Phantoms are bespoke in some way, but RR generally doesn't feel the need to boast about it in the press. A few years ago there were so many 'special edition' Zondas and Veyrons being publicised that I was always asking myself the same question you did in your first paragraph. I remember reading a nice article in TG magazine featuring the Veyron Pur Sang, a 'special edition' I was able to replicate almost exactly using Bugatti's online configurator!

[IknowJoseph]

thegreenhell said:

I wonder why they decided they should showcase it in a studio with the lights turned off...

"Light is not your friend"

[DiscoColin]

More Leepu than Lampo to my eye I am afraid

[Inspectre]

Well I like it, especially the inside...it's a supercar after all? Nice to see a team linked to factory getting after it.