After a frankly absurd amount of leaked images stretching back 2 months, Mercedes has finally unveiled the all-new 2014 S-Class in a star-studded event held in Frankfurt. Aiming to be one of the most luxurious and advanced vehicles ever produced, the new S-Class aims to take business away from not just BMW’s 7-Series and Audi’s A8, but from Bentley’s Flying Spur and Rolls Royce’s Ghost.

The styling has links to the latest design language seen in the A- and E-Class ranges, with a more rounded appearance compared to the angular previous models. It even has a slight look of the 2001 era S as well. One area that has been significantly improved is the aerodynamic efficiency, with a very impressive drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.24. To put that into perspective, the BMW 7-Series has a Cd of 0.31, meaning the S-Class will use less fuel to push the car through the air.

There are a raft of material changes in the body structure, which is larger than the previous model but help to lower the weight by around 20 kg. Not a massive amount, but given the size increase it’s impressive nonetheless.

The interior is where Mercedes claims to have made the biggest improvements, with rear legroom and ambience improved to cater for the important Asian market. Mercedes claims that there is virtually zero road or wind noise at 70 mph thanks to new NVH sound deadening and suspension components. Up front there is a massive twin TFT display covering all the major dials and infotainment screens, which we think is actually quite an ugly solution, but we can see why some would like it.

The most popular engine in the UK is expected to be the carry over 3.0-litre V6 diesel with 254 bhp in the S350 BlueTEC though now there is the option of a 2.1-litre four-cylinder diesel with 204 bhp in combination with a 20kW electric motor for a total output of 228 bhp in the S300 BlueTEC Hybrid. The diesel hybrid has a lower coefficient of drag than conventional models, dropping from 0.24Cd to 0.23Cd, and is stated to emit 115g/km of CO2. Depending on cost, this could attract many buyers away from the standard diesel version.

Also planned is an upgraded version of Mercedes-Benz’s existing twin-turbocharged 4.7-litre V8 petrol engine that produces 449 bhp in the S500; a plug-in hybrid version is planned for 2015 which will emit less than 75g/km of CO2.

Coming next year will also be the S63 AMG. Like its predecessor, it is powered by a twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre V8 that is likely to offer 563 bhp. In 2014, Mercedes-Benz will bring a new S600 model to the line-up. It receives a revised version of the outgoing model’s twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre V12 developing around 530 bhp. This engine will also power a range-topping S65 AMG flagship in 612 bhp 6.0-litre guise.

The new Mercedes-Benz S-class goes on sale in the UK in September, with prices starting at around £68,000.

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Aston Martin has revealed the stunning CC100 as part of the company’s centenary celebrations, at the Nurburgring 24hr race this weekend. The open top supercar was revealed on a parade lap of the famous circuit, driven by Aston Martin boss Ulrich Bez, in formation with a classic DBR1 driven by Sir Stirling Moss.

It is this DBR1 that serves as the inspiration for the CC100, with the sleek styling and open cabin, though the CC100 takes its underpinnings from a much more modern car – the V12 Vantage. The full carbon fibre bodywork is an incredibly attractive design, with the familiar Aston grille in naked carbon and bright yellow accents. The bodywork sweeps back to a pert tail like that seen on some Aston Zagato concepts, but with a neat carbon diffuser and mesh vents. All over the bodywork there are carbon details that are both functional and simply stunning in design.

Under the bodywork sits the familiar VH architecture from the current Aston Martin range, with the 6.0 litre V12 engine from the V12 Vantage, producing around 550 bhp. Weighing in at 1200 kg the CC100 manages the 0-62 mph dash in 4.0 seconds and has a theoretical top speed of 180 mph, though this concept is limited to 100 mph.

The CC100 certainly harks back to the DBR1 visually, but the interior is pure new millennium, with exposed carbon fibre and tan leather, with neat touches like the toggle switches on the dash. The only thing that disappoints us about this car is that it runs a paddle-shift gearbox. We would have loved to have seen a nice manual gearbox in there as a final link back to the DBR1.

There are no plans for the CC100 to go into production, though we can expect aspects of the styling to show up in the new Vantage expected next year.

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It goes without saying that all stunt drivers were highly trained in their art for these flicks. Don’t try to pull a Fast and The Furious on your morning commute.

6. Death Race (2008)

This film is not one to watch for the plotline, but it’s still got everything to get any petrolhead revving. A prison warden, played by Joan Allen, decides to make money out of her inmates by pitting them against each other in some lethal car races.

What follows is a wealth of explosions, adrenaline and some incredible stunts in some cars souped-up beyond recognition.
Some of the most notable include a supercharged 4.6L V8 engine 2006 Ford Mustang GT, a 1980 Porsche 911 dressed up with a series of missile launchers, a 1989 Jaguar XJS sporting a roll cage for serious stunts and a 2006 Chrysler 300C with a custom fabricated fuel cell and Tildon hydraulic secondary break system.

5. Gone in 60 Seconds (2000)

With a plot a little different to the original, the 2000 incarnation of Gone in 60 Seconds told the story of Randall Raines (played by Nicholas Cage), a retired car thief who is forced back into the fray after his brother gets into a tangle with a Russian Crime Lord.

Tasked with stealing 50 cars and getting them onto a container ship within days, Raines has to gather up his old crew even as the police are breathing down his neck.

The car which causes the team the most problems in pilfering is perhaps the most memorable, a 1967 Shelby Mustang GT 500 – codenamed, like in the original, ‘Eleanor’. Twelve different versions of Eleanor were created for the film, all of which were actually converted 1967 Mustang fastbacks. Seven survived the film, albeit in various states of repair.

The only real GT 500 in the film appears at the very end, with many of its parts replaced by junk parts under the request of the real owner, who demanded it was returned in its original condition.

While some action film fans were disappointed with the use of CGI to pull off some of the stunts, the climatic chase scene is still one of the best examples of adrenaline-pumping action out there.

4. Bullitt (1968)

While it’s not lauded so much for its plotline, when Steve McQueen gets behind the wheel of a ’68 Dodge Charger and gets on the tail of the killer of a witness under his protection, things start to get exciting. In an epic chase scene – which took three weeks to film but lasts only 10 minutes – McQueen plots the hills of San Francisco in a high-octane chase.

The two Ford Mustangs used in the chase were modified specifically to be able to achieve the high-speed chase, given that the suspension of the cars was originally unable to deal with the speeds and turns of the roads. Both Dodge Chargers were scrapped after the film.

3. Gone in 60 Seconds (1974)

This classic film that’s all about the cars and not about the plot. With the collector’s edition sporting a tagline like ‘three hours, over 500 crashes’, you know you’re in for a treat.

Centred on the story of Insurance Investigator Maindrian Pace (played by H.B. Halicki, who also directed the film) who also happens to lead a team of car thieves in his spare time. A drug lord pays him to steal 48 cars, and all but one are easy enough to nab. When detectives get on his tail, one of the most epic car chases in cinema history ensues.

Halicki had bought most of the cars featured at auction previously, and the cars stolen in the film include a 1966 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II, 1972 Ferrari Daytona 365, a 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and a 1970 Jaguar E-Type. The car which causes the team the most difficulty is a 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1, codenamed ‘Eleanor’.

A massive 40-minute-long car chase is the main reason to watch this film. Packed with plenty of crashes and stunts, director H.B. Halicki was proud to brag that he trashed nearly 100 cars during filming of the scene.

2. Taxi (1998)

A pizza delivery boy has big dreams of becoming a race car driver, and is elated when he finally gets a licence to drive a taxi. With a modified Peugeot 406, he sets out to take all his fares to their destination as quickly as humanly possible. After he’s caught by the police for speeding, he finds himself forced to help a gloomy police officer on the tail of bank robbers.

With some high-octane chases, impressive stunt work and some wonderfully ridiculous examples of Peugeot modding, it’s well worth a watch.

1. The Fast and The Furious series (2001 – 2013)

The Fast and the Furious franchise is pretty much the main go-to for car action film lovers. The first film set the precedent for impossible stunts, heavy modding, adrenaline-pumping chases and ridiculous crashes that would quickly define the series.

With all the films concerning illegal car racing with incredibly modified vehicles and a series of heists, this film series got so many things about cars wrong, but looked pretty awesome while doing it.

Among the host of cars that make an appearance, there’s the 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse (a popular tuning car, given that its engine is great for modification), the 1997 Mazda RX-7 (which had a body kit in the film appearances), the frequently-appearing 1999 Skyline GT-R, a nitrous-oxide equipped 1995 Toyota Supra Turbo and the 1970 Dodge Charger.

With the sixth film released tomorrow, viewers can expect more of the same. If driving films are your preferred type of movie, don’t miss it.

There’s some incredible cars to see in the films, with beauties like the 2012 Lucra LC470, Mazda RX-7, and the Porsche GT-S making appearances alongside the Toyota Supra, 1970 Chevy Chevelle and the series icon 1970 Dodge Charger. With so many in the series to choose from, it’s hard to pick our favourite one.

This inforgraphic made things a little easier by speculatively mashing together the best parts of the best cars in the series. Unfortunately, we can’t offer this car up for our competition, much as we’d like to.

Have we missed any out? Let us know in the comments.

Infographic was created by Vue Cinemas

Lamborghinis have always been the crazier looking of the two Italian supercar manufacturers. The Countach shocked the world when it was released, as did the Diablo, Murcielago and Aventador in subsequent years. But lately Lamborghini seem to be trying to shock without any real substance to their designs.

When they revealed the Sesto Elemento in 2010 everyone wowed at the design, which was really out there but kept the Lambo design language that we love. Fast forward to 2013 and they revealed the Veneno at the Geneva Motor Show. Hmm, certainly outrageous but also completely unusable and destined to sit in a few collections, getting passed around at auction in years to come. It was a brash design, looking as if it had been styled after a Japanese Manga comic car. But as it was based on the Aventador it still had the basic proportions which looked good and you could imagine it with numbers on the side at Le Mans which was pretty cool.

Now though, Lamborghini have revealed a concept car and we’re sorry to say, but we think it looks awful. Created to celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of Lamborghini and named ‘Egoista’ the concept was revealed at the end of the celebrations in Bologna this weekend to a room of slightly over excited Italians. Apparently inspired by the Apache helicopter, the Egoista has a central, single seater ‘cockpit’ with a canopy that rises up for entry. All very fancy, but looking around the car we just can’t help think it’s, well….. ugly. The front end has a three-pronged look, while the proportions are all wrong when viewed from the side. Maybe it’s just us and we’re getting old and boring, but we genuinely think Lamborghini could have done more, and better for their 50^th Anniversary.

There is potential tech within this concept though, as the Egoista uses a 600 bhp version of the 5.2 litre V10 seen in the current LP560. Hopefully this points the way to the powerplant going into its replacement, along with the carbon fibre tech that brings the Egoista’s weight down to under 1000 kg.

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Porsche has revealed the all-new 911 (991) Turbo far earlier than expected, given the public debut isn’t until the Frankfurt Motor Show in September – but we’re not complaining as a new 911 Turbo is something to be celebrated especially when it’s as impressive as this 991 version.

Happily commemorating the 40^th anniversary of the 911 Turbo, the new 991 Turbo will be launched later this year alongside the more powerful Turbo S variant for the first time, giving Porsche a double-headed attack on the supercar establishment.

For the first time the 911 Turbo breaks the 500 bhp barrier in standard form, producing 513 bhp while in Turbo S form it now produces an incredible 552 bhp from the twin-turbocharged 3.8 litre flat-six engine, sent to all four wheels. Torque levels are yet to be revealed but expect them to be rather high. This new power boost means that; along with a moderate weight loss over the previous model, performance takes another notch up the scale straight into McLaren territory. The 0 – 62 mph sprint takes just 3.1 seconds in the Turbo S and there’s a limited 198 mph top speed.

Visually there isn’t as much of a change as from Carrera to GT3, but certainly still enough to know that this is no ordinary 911. Up front there’s a lower front bumper with a larger splitter, while there are reshaped DRL LED’s and air vents. The lower splitter has an inflatable section that expands at higher speeds creating more downforce. The front and rear wings are for the first time even wider than the Carrera 4S by 28 mm, itself wider than the standard Carrera. This gives the Turbo a much wider body shape with a pronounced crease over the rear, with the customary air intakes ahead of the rear wheels.

Speaking of the wheels, they are now 20-inch as per the rest of the 911 range options, but this time they have centrelocks, as the GT3 does. The rear gets a new bumper with side vents and quad exhaust outlets and the spoiler is now larger and extends upwards in three stages.

Overall the new Turbo keeps the conservative looks of the 911 while adding a little touch of aggression here and there, just enough to let those in the know, know you mean business.

One of the most disappointing, if not entirely surprising elements to the new 911 Turbo is the fact that it will only be available with the company’s PDK dual clutch gearbox. We know that it makes it a faster cross country car and the driver can stay more focused, hands on the wheel more etc, but we just wish that Porsche would at least offer a manual gearbox as an option. Still, less than 20% of all 997 Turbos were sold with a manual gearbox so you can see why Porsche have done it.

The 991 Turbo is available to order now with deliveries starting in September. The Turbo starts at £118,349 and the Turbo S from £140,852.

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We love the new V6 Lotus Exige. So much so that we think it’s a better driver’s car than the Porsche 911 GT3 (see our review here). So when Lotus announced last year that there would be a Roadster version we were massively excited. Then, everything went quiet at Lotus and the Roadster got forgotten about amidst the troubles with parent companies and boss Dany Bahar being forcibly removed from office.

But now Lotus has announced that the Exige V6 Roadster is coming this summer and we couldn’t be happier. Well, we could if they’d made a better video (it’s pretty rubbish) but we’d rather they continue making cars than spend money on big budget videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNEbh7YrxOw

The only thing that worries us is the focus on track work in the video – they have the V6 S Coupe for that – this Roadster needs to have a plusher interior and a less hardcore demeanour if it is to convert the Boxster S drivers of this world.

So come on, Lotus – give drivers what they need and you might just survive.

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Audi has revealed the lightweight TT Ultra Quattro Concept, to be shown for the first time at the Worthersee tuning show in early May. Aiming to be a showcase for future weight saving technologies, the  TT UQC gives hints that the next generation TT; due in 2014, will be much lighter than the current car and much more focused as a result of that weight reduction.

According to Audi the TT UQC “sharpens the TT’s focus” and has been designed for “minimum weight and maximum sportiness” – good news for those who still regard the TT to be a second-rate sports car (though those people clearly haven’t driven a TT-S or –RS as they’re really rather good).

The TT UQC benefits from lots of weight saving measures, mainly from the use of carbon fibre in many places including the rear end, B-pillars, roof, centre tunnel and wheels, while magnesium has been used for the floor and hinge reinforcement areas. There are also engine weight savings too, with a modified crankcase, crankshaft, balancer shafts, flywheel, sump and even bolts giving a 25 kg saving. These all add up to the TT UQC weighing 1100 kg – around 300 kg less than the current production TT. Using a tuned version of the TT-S’s 2.0 litre four cylinder turbo engine producing 310 bhp it means the TT UQC has a power to weight ratio of 279 bhp/tonne – much more than the TT-RS’s 235. This results in 0 – 62 mph taking 4.3 seconds and a 173 mph top speed.

Visually the modified TT gets a new single piece grille mimicking the shape of the grille on the new RS6, while there is a carbon fibre ventilated bonnet and black roof. The aforementioned alloy wheels are a new design and there’s a larger carbon rear wing sitting above a new rear bumper featuring a lightweight exhaust system exiting in the centre.

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The new Jaguar F-Type must be one of the biggest hyped sports cars of the last 50 years. Autocar were running features predicting the mythical E-Type successor back in 1988 and it’s taken 25 years for Jaguar to finally get it on the road.

Then of course we had the teaser images, followed by the full reveal of the car last year to critical acclaim. Designer Ian Callum really has done a cracking job of designing the F-Type – seemingly everyone loves it and for good reason. The styling is utterly stunning – the aggressive front end with wings sweeping back to the seductively bulging rear arches, flowing back to that pert rear – we’ve had a presentation by Ian Callum about the car and got to pore over the details and it really is an exquisite bit of design.

Then we had the passenger ride stories and now, finally the world’s motoring press gets to drive the F-Type. So does it live up to all the hype? Well, we’ll be able to tell you first hand next month as we can’t get our hands on the press car so have to wait until a good friend gets his – he’s going to lend it to us for a few days. But for now the rest of the world has, so here are a few video reviews to whet your appetite:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRPLoO89vB8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIlEx7h9u4U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEuKNjxQHJk

So by the looks of it, the F-Type appears to be a roaring success and we couldn’t be happier for Jaguar. They really need this to be a hit and despite the higher than predicted prices we think it’s going to be a massive hit. People will buy it just for the looks, but then you also get the great handling and some of the naughtiest exhaust notes ever to grace a set of exhaust pipes. We look forward to driving the V8S soon!

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Lamborghini has unveiled the Aventador LP720-4 50^th Anniversario (and breathe) ahead of the public reveal at the Shanghai Motor Show in a few days. Though some may complain that Lamborghini are starting to bring out the special editions too early for the big V12 model, this one is a very special case, celebrating the fact that Lamborghini turns 50 years old in May this year.

That month gives inspiration to the most striking element of the LP720 – the bright yellow paintwork called Giallo Maggio or May Yellow. This paint has a deep glitter effect and yellow was chosen because it is the most popular colour choice in the company’s 50 year history. This paintwork is set off by the new aerodynamic bodykit in satin black, which takes inspiration from the Aventador J concept seen last year.

There is a new front bumper with a jutting lower splitter and extra winglets at the sides. The side skirts and wing mirrors stay the same but are painted satin black. At the rear there is a massive new diffuser with aerodynamic blades and sharp lower edges to give a very aggressive look. The makeover is set off with a set of gloss black Dione wheels.

Inside the LP720 gets matching yellow seats and centre console, diamond quilted stitching and 50^th Anniversario logos.

Of course, the name implies that there have been some engine tweaks too, though these haven’t been detailed by Lamborghini yet. Given the name though, we can guess that some light tuning has taken place to give the new special edition 720 bhp over the regular car’s 700.

Prices are yet to be confirmed, but we can assume that there will be a fairly substantial increase in price over the standard car, given the limited run of 100 units worldwide.

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The eternity of the element air. Gentle and refined, yet the strength of the wind it is able to erode even the toughest of materials giving birth to distinctive shapes known in nature. Elegant and muscular the Pagani Huayra merges the past, present and future in a timeless interpretation of automotive art.

The styling of the car was perfected over the course of 5 years to find each line’s beginning and end. During this study, eight scale models were created, as well as two 1:1 models, each an evolution of the previous in a never ending quest to perfect the form and refining the substance.

The bi-xenon headlamps are just one of the many precious gifts from the Zonda R, and LED daytime running lights are seamlessly integrated in the elliptical shape of the design. The rear bumper integrates with the diffuser and is dominated by an elliptical frame that surrounds the four central exhaust outlets, now becoming a characteristic Pagani element.

Backbone

The new central monocoque on the Pagani Huayra is an entirely new design made from carbontitanium. However, with the gull wing doors cutting deep into the roof, much research was focused on achieving the highest levels of rigidity through the application of new advanced composite materials and technologies first tested on the Zonda R. The fuel tank is located integrally in the best protected area of the monocoque, behind the driver, reinforced by safety cell made of different composite and ballistic materials. The front and rear CrMo subframes offer an exceptional rigidity-to-weight ratio to allowing the suspensions to work at their best while incorporating an advanced energy absorbing crash structure, ready to protect the occupants in the unlikely event of an impact.

The never ending quest for weight reduction resulted also into the combination of structural and non-structural or aesthetical elements. An example is the integration of all ventilation air ducts into the monocoque’s structure, making the use of additional parts and ducts unnecessary.

The result of this attention to detail is a vehicle weighing 1.350 kg making the Pagani Huayra the lightest sportscar in its class.

Heart

Mercedes-AMG provides the heart for the Pagani Huayra. The 60 degree 12 cylinder turbocharged engine with a displacement of 5980 cm3 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 1000 Nm 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. It also regulates the oil flow so that only the necessary amount of lubricant is actually pumped into the engine from the external oil tank, reducing the friction caused by an excessive volume of lubricant inside the engine sump. An oil/water heat exchanger reduces warm-up times by heating the engine lubricant during cold start and keeps engine coolant and lubricant levels at steady operational temperatures. Extensive weight saving programs led to ingenious yet simple solutions. In order to reduce hoses and connections as much as possible is built directly to the engine. The intercooler covers serve as expansion tanks to the low temperature circuit and the engine coolant circuit. The vertical fins contribute to the cooling of the tanks.

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 Pagani 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.

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 10 kg. Hydroformed junctions are used to reduce backpressure and guarantee a free flow of the exhaust gasses. Titanium guarantees a low weight in the muffler area while Inconel guarantees reliability on the parts of the exhaust more exposed to high temperatures. 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.

Feet

The power and prodigious torque generated by Pagani 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 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 70kg, thus negating any minor improvement in shift-time.

Xtrac already supplied the gearbox for the Zonda R and so it was the natural choice for the development of a new high performance gearbox. Xtrac’s expertise in motorsports was obvious throughout the design and material selection processes that resulted in the strongest and lightest gearbox possible suitable for road use, with a synchromesh box that offers comfort levels a race car gearbox will never be able to offer.

The suspension geometry has been designed to further enhance the sure-footed nature already present in the Zonda on the longer wheelbase Pagani Huayra. The individual suspension made with forged AvionAl double A-arms have been tested extensively on the Zonda R programme. 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.

“Power is nothing without control…”

Pirelli say “Power is nothing without control” and 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 MIRS™ (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 370 kph as well as to lateral forces exceeding 1,5 G.

Skin

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 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.

The flow of air through the car was also carefully studied. The radiators are angled to contribute downforce and provide the best flow for hot air to be extracted. Air from the central radiator is extracted by vents on the front bonnet and trough the front wheelhouses. Air from the side radiators is channeled to ducts cooling the brake discs and wheel hubs. This air blows onto the brakes at a temperature of approximately 50°C warming the brakes up when cold and improving the first bite significantly. Lateral air outlets behind the front wheels generate a negative pressure inside the wheelhouse providing efficient extraction to lower the drag coefficient and generate downforce on the front.

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.

Man-machine

As soon as the doors are closed the Pagani Huayra transports the occupants to a new dimension; a world that pleases and surprises the senses. Having everything at arm’s length is not close enough for a vehicle with the capabilities of the Pagani Huayra. Consequently, the driver will find all primary functions directly on the steering wheel. The gearshift paddles are mounted directly to the steering wheel so the driver never needs to take his hands off the steering wheel. The seats provide both the comfort to make long trips enjoyable as well as the lateral support required when the g-forces build up on extreme driving.

A Pagani is able to present drivers with state of the art solutions while still drawing on the rich history that precedes it. The ever present emphasis is on a living breathing being rather than a digital one. This can be seen in everything from the leather latches to the toggle switches, but this ethos finds its purest expression in the mechanical aluminum gearlever assembly, a monument to the art of the manual gearshift; progress that does not deny the past. The aluminum dashboard takes inspiration from the most complex swiss watch designs and includes a central Multi-Function Display displaying performance relevant information when SPORT mode is engaged and a trip computer when the COMFORT mode is activated. The aluminum center console is machined from one solid block of aluminum and features a clarinet style array of mechanical switches controlling the HVAC system. The high definition central touchscreen is the heart of the vehicle infotainment system, controlling audio functions, satellite navigation, secondary vehicle functions and Bluetooth phone.

On the road

To this date five prototypes have been built which have been conducting road tests for the past 4 years. Currently, over half a million kilometers have been covered by our prototypes and before entering the US market we will have reached one million test 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.

Safety

The car complies to the strictest European and American standards in term of safety and pollution regulations. Several studies were conducted to determine the most frequent types of crashes involving high performance cars. The results of these studies have let us to develop specific safety measures not required by law but to guarantee an enhanced protection for the occupants. Several cars have been used to perform these tests.

Legend

Ancient legends of the Aymara tell us of Huayra Tata, god of wind, who commands the breezes, winds, and blizzards that invade the mountains, cliffs and hills of the Andean highlands. It is told that Huayra Tata resides deep in the high peaks and valleys, abandoning them only to demonstrate his power to his wife, Pachamama, goddess of mother earth. With his power Huayra Tata was able to lift the waters from lake Titicaca and rain them down on the fertile Pachamama. When Huayra Tata sleeps, the waters and rivers lay quiet. But the calm before the storm is about to be interrupted…

Pagani Huayra Technical Specifications

• Engine: Mercedes-AMG M158 V12 twin-Turbo
• Displacement: 5980 cc
• Power: >700 CV
• Torque: >1.000 Nm
• Gearbox: transverse sequential seven speed gearbox; AMT robotyzed system with driving programs
• Dimensions
  • Length: 4605mm
  • Height: 1169mm
  • Body width: 2036mm
  • Body width (with mirrors): 2356mm
• Dry weight: 1.350 kg
• Weight distribution
  • Front: 44%
  • Rear: 56%