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Mercedes-AMG V12 Engine

Mercedes-AMG provides the heart for the Pagani Huayra. The 60 degree 12 cylinder turbocharged engine with a displacement of six liters has been developed not just to meet the strictest technical and quality requirements, but also to give the car its many faces.

The calm and harmony of driving one of the world's most refined GT car is interrupted when the driver calls upon the Pagani Huayra to unleash its 700 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque. The turbos have been studied to offer immediate response to the slightest throttle input, giving the driver full control over the engine at any rpm and preventing unwanted delays in the delivery of power.

The engine's systems have been designed and tested to stand up to the most adverse conditions of temperature and performance. The Pagani Huayra has been subjected to the highs of Death Valley and the lows of the Arctic Circle. The two lateral radiators are positioned in the front to guarantee the best cooling efficiency of the intercoolers placed over the cylinder heads. Dry sump lubrication ensures an optimal oil feed to the engine even when the car is subjected to the most extreme lateral accelerations.

The M158 engine is homologated to meet the strictest environmental regulations, EU5 and LEV2. Despite the increase of power compared to the other Mercedes-AMG V12 engines developed for Pagani, CO2 emissions as well as the fuel consumption have been reduced, to make the Huayra class leading amongst 12 cylinder sports cars with values that are respective of much smaller vehicles in the market. The two stage fuel supply system features two microprocessor controlled pumps feeding fuel to the engine with the second pump only activated when necessary, thus reducing the energy required to run the fuel pumps and eliminates the waste of excessive fuel being transported and heated in the fuel lines. This efficiency combined with a large 85 liter fuel tank ensure Pagani Huayra's grand touring ability.

As an homage to the decennial tradition of Mercedes-AMG in building world class sports car engines, the M158 displays the historic AMG emblem on the intake manifold alongside the name of the technician that assembled the engine by hand at the Mercedes-AMG headquarters in Affalterbach, Germany.

Titanium Exhaust Provides Thunderous Growl

The Titanium exhaust system has been engineered by MHG-Fahrzeugtechnik and is a direct application of race proven technologies on a high performance road car and the complete exhaust weighs less than 22 lbs (10 kg). Careful attention has been paid to the tuning of its sound, which has led to a harmonic rumble at idle speeds with a hint of the power that lies hidden at low speed and a deep thunderous growl of motor and air, reminiscent of an airplane, at high speeds.

7-Speed Transmission

The power and prodigious torque generated by Huayra's V12 are transferred to the wheels through a transverse sequential seven speed gearbox and a dual plate clutch and the complete gearbox weighs only 212 lbs (96 kg). Keeping the weight of the rear overhang as low as possible has been a priority as we aim for a neutral behavior at the limit. A further benefit of this layout is a better behavior of the car during a rear impact. A dual clutch system was evaluated but ultimately not selected as it would have increased the weight by approximately 154 lbs (70 kg), thus negating any minor improvement in shift-time.

Pushrod Suspension

The suspension geometry has been designed to further enhance the sure-footed nature already present in the Zonda on the longer wheelbase Huayra. The individual suspension made with forged AvionAl double A-arms have been tested extensively on the Zonda R program. Incorporated into the wheel hub assemblies are cooling ducts that connect directly to the support brackets, thus extending the reliability and lifespan of the bearings. Pushrod operated adjustable Öhlins shock absorbers keep everything under control and have been optimized for the dynamic requirements of the vehicle.

Pirelli Tires Developed Exclusively for Pagani Huayra

To assure complete control for the driver, Pirelli has developed the bespoke P Zero tires specifically for the Pagani Huayra. The Pirelli engineers were faced with a demanding task, combining road holding for excitement behind the steering wheel and lower rolling resistance to reduce CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. These P Zero tires are built in a dedicated MIRST (Modular Integrated Robotized System) facility, dedicated to the production of ultrahigh performance tires and are at the forefront of what is technically possible, suited to top speeds above 230 mph (370 km/h) as well as to lateral forces exceeding 1,5 G.

Complex System of Flaps for More Downforce

The aerodynamic concept of the Pagani Huayra is that of a wing. The vehicle can modify the properties of this wing by varying the front ride height, which can be adjusted dynamically, and by adjusting the 4 control flaps on each of the four corners of the car. The goal is to have a neutral vehicle behavior under all conditions and control body roll via aerodynamic means. The behavior of the flaps is managed by a dedicated control unit that is fed information from the ABS and ECU, which pass information about the car's speed, yaw rate, lateral acceleration, steering angle and throttle position.

The system improves aerodynamic efficiency in a variety of driving conditions, where a low drag coefficient is not the determining factor. During braking, for example, the rear flaps and the front suspension are raised to counteract the weight transfer and balance the weight distribution between front and rear axles, allowing a better use of the rear brake force. Another vital design tenant for the Pagani Huayra project was to ensure clean airflow over the body of the car. The shape of the two engine air intakes behind the occupants shoulders are a tribute to the supersonic aircraft of the late 1950s and 1960s, but also allow the motor breath without disrupting the flow. The intake for the gearbox radiator is located between the engine bay window and the carbon clamshell of the rear bonnet, which provides an excellent airflow to the radiator without having a substantial impact on aerodynamic drag. This decision also led to the omission of a rear wing, replaced by the movable flaps.

In addition to the downforce generated by the flaps and body, two high negative pressure areas were designed into the shape of the underbody and the diffuser at the rear, thus enhancing the aerodynamic stability and guaranteeing the Pagani Huayra downforce under all circumstances.

Four Prototypes Test Each Aspect of the Pagani Huayra

To this date five prototypes have been built which have been conducting road tests for the past 4 years. Currently, over 300,000 miles (or half a million kilometers) have been covered by the prototypes and before entering the US market Pagani will have reached 700,000 test miles (one million kilometers). Each prototype has been assigned to a specific development task. At Mercedes-AMG one is used to develop drivability, and another is used for emission development. One car is operated constantly by Bosch Engineering for the application of ABS and advanced stability and performance enhancement systems. Still another vehicle is used for gearbox testing, and general vehicle dynamics development.

First Pagani to be Officially Sold in the US

Pagani will begin selling the Huayra in the U.S. through a dealer network beginning in 2011. The U.S. arrival of its high-styled Huayra allows stateside enthusiasts the opportunity to obtain a Pagani automobile in the U.S. for the first time, and bolsters Pagani as a major player in the world's largest automotive market.

"We are thrilled at the opportunity to represent the Pagani brand in the United States and we look forward to the successful launch of the Huayra," said Horacio Pagani, the company founder. "This automobile is the result of five years of dedicated effort from the Pagani team and we see this as an unprecedented opportunity to continue expanding our vision of the future for the supercar industry."

Pagani Huayra: Photo Gallery, Review (1/2) and Specifications