615KW PAGANI HUAYRA R: THE QUEST FOR THE PERFECT ENGINE NOTE

Pagani lifts the veil on its most unhinged performance car yet as Huayra goes atmo

IF YOU THINK the current crop of race cars are all a bit too anodyne, with too much aero and not enough auditory theatrics, then you and Horacio Pagani probably have something in common.

Instead of bemoaning the trend, Mr Pagani went and built a trackonly weapon that lives up to his lofty expectations – the bonkers 615kW Pagani Huayra R.

Limited to 30 examples, the Huayra R takes on where the ridiculous Zonda R left off in 2008 and promises to be “the most extreme and performance-oriented Pagani of all time” according to Horacio Pagani.

Answering to no regulations, the Huayra R is far more than a technical case study; but a romantic ode to the internal-combustion performance inspired by historic racing greats.

The centrepiece is its engine: a free-breathing naturally aspirated 6.0-litre V12 sourced from Daimler’s HWA AG. The engine will be largely familiar to Pagani fans, however, Pagani says it has undergone a significant redesign.

The figures are astounding: 615kW at 8250rpm (with a 9000rpm redline), and 750Nm deployed between 5500-8300rpm. The powertrain weighs just 198kg and is attached to the central monocoque as a structural element, suspended by chrome-moly alloy steel subframes.

A bespoke exhaust system minimises back pressure and maximises power delivery. Ceramic coated for superior heat dissipation, the exhaust system’s equal-length construction gives the Huayra R an absolutely sonorous set of vocal cords and almost sounds reminiscent of a vintage F1 car – as seen in Pagani’s Instagram teaser. Target achieved.