Huayra Roadster

STORY

The Huayra, launched in 2011, was Pagani's long-awaited successor to the Zonda and a far more technically ambitious car. Its name comes from Wayra, an indigenous South American wind deity. That is fitting for a machine whose signature feature is active aerodynamics. Four independently controlled flaps at the corners of the bodywork continuously adjust the car's aerodynamic shape, raising under braking to keep the car stable and shifting to balance downforce and drag through corners.

Under the exposed carbon engine cover sat a new powerplant: a bespoke 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged Mercedes-AMG V12 (the M158), built exclusively for Pagani and producing around 730 hp. Combined with gullwing doors, an aircraft-inspired cabin milled from billet aluminium, and Pagani's obsessive craftsmanship, the Huayra pushed the brand deeper into hypercar territory while retaining its unmistakable artistry.