Pagani Utopia (2023)

Pagani Utopia

Horacio Pagani’s company is now in its third decade, and here is its third creation. The C8 project, the Zonda, began to establish the legend. The C9 project, the Huayra, built upon this on a global scale, integrating the use of active aerodynamics and Carbo-Titanium. What then, could its third model, codenamed C10, add? More power, increased performance, a better structure and aerodynamics? Absolutely, but what else? Above all, you need a goal.

AIMS AND AMBITIONS

The alchemy of pleasure, the equation of beauty ... What would be important for the next Pagani hypercar? Horacio Pagani certainly had his own ideas, but he asked his closest clients, those who eagerly await each of his creations, to express their wishes. They already had exceptionally fast and beautiful cars, what were they still missing? Three terms stood out almost each time they replied: simplicity, lightness and the pleasure of driving. In its development, the C10 project therefore went against the main trends of the time. No heavy batteries, no hybrid power, just a wonderful V12; no dual-clutch system, just a pure seven-speed manual or automated transmission. All this to ensure that the car would respond better than ever to its driver’s every action and work with them to be the purest form of driving, a ‘classic’ experience defined in new ways.

With a brief like this and such high ambitions, what name could be chosen for the car that would embody these principles? Utopia... For the philosopher Thomas More in 1516, Utopia was a place that did not exist, and ever since the name has been given to the idealized places of which we dream. But for those who make their own future, for creators, utopia exists, it is ‘merely’ a case of finding it!

WHAT WE SEE

Every Pagani begins with an aesthetic shock. Utopia radiates simplicity. It asserts itself straightaway, affirms and imposes its lines, which are so typical of Pagani but at the same time it is so different from anything they have offered us before. A shape that is more flowing and curvaceous. From the windscreen, with its rounded upper edges, to the details of its wings and bonnet, its softer contours give it a new expression, a new outline. A shape smoothed and refined over a long time, but which sticks in your memory from the first time you see it. The most difficult part of the process for Pagani has been to follow as closely as possible the original intention of creating a timeless design object, instead of one that follows the fashion of the period.

The new car has very few aerodynamic add-ons yet is more efficient than ever. Where some hypercars have a multitude of spoilers, Utopia incorporates the function of these appendices into its overall shape, achieving greater downforce and reduced drag solely by means of its design.

The details of its styling are few in number, but each is so carefully executed that it can be admired in its own right: technologically advanced, their shape is inspired by objects from the 1950s like the streamlined headlamps of Vespa scooters or the fittings of Riva speedboats. The forged wheels have a turbine-shaped carbon fiber extractor which draws hot air away from the brakes and reduces turbulence under the body. Mounted on carbon-ceramic discs, the brake calipers have a new, lightened design.

The role of Pirelli tires is to transfer the exuberant torque to the ground efficiently and bring the finishing touches to the car’s exceptional road feel, thanks to the unusually large 21” wheels in the front and 22” wheels in the rear, which triggered new creativity and distinguishing design freedom on the surrounding bodywork. The silhouette of Utopia can be seen on their sidewalls, demonstrating just how much they have been specially developed for this car.

The side mirrors, as if suspended in mid-air, thanks to the airfoil-shaped support are set apart from the body for better aerodynamic penetration, showing the meticulous optimization that was carried out on them in the wind tunnel. The rear lights float at the sides of the rear wings, set into the air extractors. Each part of them, so beautifully crafted, could be displayed in the window of a jeweler’s shop.

The titanium quad exhaust, a personal monument and signature of the brand, is still present. It has a ceramic coating, in order to dissipate the heat efficiently, but still sets the weight just above 6 kilograms for the complete system.

A GLANCE TO THE FUTURE, A TRIBUTE TO THE PAST

A car may be compared to a sculpture, but opening the door changes everything; a sculpture, yes, but one you can sit in. The interior of Utopia is even more original, if that is possible, than its exterior shape.

Neither modern nor retro, it is timeless. There are no screens apart from the minimal display in front of the driver; big screens would have been easier to fit and would have saved a lot of effort in the design, but it would have taken away much of the beauty. All the instruments are purely analog and each of the easy-to-read dials subtly reveals part of its mechanism as if it were revealing the skeleton movement.

For Pagani, every component needed for the car to function is an opportunity to be creative. Even the steering wheel has been reinvented: it is fashioned from a solid aluminum block, from the spokes and hollow rim to the steering column boss, which contains the airbag. The pedals are also made from a single block of metal, while the gear lever mechanism is still exposed but more sophisticated than ever. All this with proper obsession paid to ergonomics, efficiency and ease of access.

WHAT MAKES IT WHAT IT IS

To reach this very simple final shape, the process has never been as complex. For six years, from the first sketches and computer calculations until the definitive shape was frozen for the carbon fiber molds, its internal airflows were perfected through endless hours of research in the wind tunnel and countless changes, one touch at a time. Utopia takes advantage of the mysteries of aerodynamics to maximize sure-footed handling and stability at any speed, however high. Its active aerodynamics, combined with the electronically controlled shock absorbers, ensure the optimum dynamic behavior in all driving conditions. The double-wishbone suspension, made from aerospace aluminum alloy, benefits from the lengthy development work carried out on the R, the track-only version of the Huayra. But Utopia, a car designed for road use, can cope with surfaces for daily use.

The carbon monocoque used on previous Pagani models sets the standard in terms of its strength, lightness and build quality. Pagani has chosen to consolidate its existing strengths, to improve how its fibers are woven and to constantly invent new composite materials such as Carbo-Titanium and Carbo-Triax. On top of that, a new type of A-class carbon fiber has been developed specifically for aesthetic applications such as the bodywork, providing 38% of additional stiffness with the same density.

A high-performance car must not only please its buyer, but support them and provide all the safety they require, without their need to ask or worry about it. Many exemptions are granted to very low-volume manufacturers, but Pagani made it a point of honor – once again – to build its cars and meet the most stringent regulations in the world, in every respect, starting with safety. Utopia passed more than 50 severe crash tests, from development to pre-tests and homologation approval, to reach its global certification.

AT YOUR SERVICE

The Pagani V12 engine, a 6-liter biturbo specially built by Mercedes-AMG for Pagani, is the result of an enormous development work: it delivers 864 bhp and, above all, a prodigious 1100 Nm of torque. It revs higher and is both more flexible and more powerful while meeting the most stringent emissions regulations, including those in force in California.

For the transmission the choice was a philosophical one. It would not be a dual-clutch transmission which is efficient, but heavy and robs the driver of the ability to set the pace of the car’s acceleration. Instead, Pagani turned to the most prestigious motorsport and high performance automotive transmission manufacturer, Xtrac, to develop the quickest shifting gearbox with helical gears possible. It is compact, light and transversely mounted for an optimized center of gravity.

Moreover, in order to best match the wishes expressed by Pagani enthusiasts, its aficionados, a virtual manual would not be acceptable so a real seven-speed manual transmission has been developed. It was not an easy task to design such a gearbox with synchronizer rings and a mechanism able to handle 1100 Nm of torque adequate for a pure manual application, but it was an essential requirement for Utopia.

However intelligent automatic transmissions may have become, nothing can replace the driver’s own mastery of the gearchanges: the prevailing logic is his alone, each change up or down is totally unique and depends solely on his decision and good judgment, the exact combination of circumstances, the nature of the road and the mood of the moment.

THE STARTING POINT

As we discover his latest work, it is the path taken by its creator that fascinates us. Horacio Pagani builds the cars he has dreamt of. And it is to fulfill his highest aspirations, those closest to the impossible, that, as a very conscientious engineer, he seeks to serve the dreamer. In the land of dreams, you need a guide: the great Leonardo da Vinci has always been a crucial figure for Pagani. It is under Leonardo’s aegis that he has always believed that it is possible to combine art and technology.

Can you think of any more demanding mentor? An artist and an inventor, Leonardo, one of the greatest portrait painters of all time, was also interested in anatomy. It is not the case for Horacio to compare himself to the Florentine genius but of following his path: Leonardo constantly combined technical inspiration with his love of beautiful shapes.

Horacio Pagani is an artist, the car is his preferred way of expressing himself. When he draws something, however beautiful it is, the shape he creates is the result of the function it will perform. For him, a shape cannot be elegant if it is technically incorrect. And when the technical difficulty has been overcome, its beauty can be found in its solution.

Horacio has always gone about things in the same way, that is just how he is: the creativity and the act of solving real problems, take the shape in him of an expression of painting or poetic harmony. He has always been a composer, and for a long time as a designer he was a soloist, but now he has become a conductor and has learned to see his ideas carried out by his team – young men and women who will then contribute with their own ideas to the common masterpiece, and on which he can put his signature with pride.

NEW STRENGTHS

From its origin, the situation has changed considerably; the firm was self-sufficient in 1999, with just 25 employees in total and so much to be done; but this is no longer appropriate. Pagani, a function-focused company, remains essentially a family-sized business but today employs 180 staff. Engineers specializing in all fields, designers and highly qualified technicians occupy the Art & Science Research Center, where the Zondas originally came into being, whereas the new facility is home to the production process. Turning out 50 cars a year, it is closer to a sartorial atelier than an assembly line.

Nearly 25 years ago, the Zonda was designed and built by a very small team with few resources. Imagine what an intuition can grow into, nurtured and developed by the new strengths Pagani Automobili now possesses. Whatever the decision, whatever the direction its creative ideas may take, this little company is capable of realizing them, quickly and well, with an unrivaled standard of quality. Its design, prototyping, development and production work is worthy of the top racing teams, but at the service of limited-production cars. The first series of Utopia coupe?s, which have already been assigned to privileged enthusiasts, will be built in 99 units.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Engine

• New Pagani V12 60° 5980 cc twin turbochargers, developed on a bespoke basis exclusively for Pagani by Mercedes-AMG
• 864 HP / 852 BHP (635 kW) at 6000 RPM
• Max torque of 1100 Nm from 2800 RPM to 5900 RPM
• New valvetrain system to take the limiter to 6700 RPM
• Dry weight: 262 kg / 577 lb
• 3 vehicle prototypes dedicated to the engine development for almost 2 years
• Compliant to all global emissions regulations

Trasmission

• Pagani by Xtrac 7-speed transversal gearbox, to transfer all the power and the exceptional responsiveness of the Pagani V12 to the road
• Specific gear ratios for the driving dynamics of Utopia
• New triple plate clutch system with increased diameter for a better torque transfer, an electronically managed differential and a racing derived tripod- axis drive shaft system
• The transversal architecture contributes both to the overall weight reduction, as well as to the reduction of the polar inertia to significantly limit the unwanted oversteer, a dangerous behavior typical of mid-engine cars
• Also available in a manual version for a driving experience in the name of mechanical purity

Aerodynamics

• Preliminary evaluations, both overall as well as in detail via CFD analysis, getting to analyze hundreds of numerical configurations
• Wind tunnel model with fully working suspension, consisting of almost 700 individual components
• Numerous wind tunnel sessions to acquire and validate CFD data, in order to optimize the handling of the car in various set-up conditions
• Without the need for aerodynamic add-ons, Utopia incorporates the function of these typical appendices into its overall shape for greater downforce and a reduced aerodynamic drag coefficient
• Aerodynamic balance of 46-54% throughout the entire speed envelope
• Front splitter developed to generate downforce through a dedicated airfoil profile
• Aerodynamic ducts perfectly integrated within the bodywork components
• Cooling solutions for the highly energized flow braking system for discs, calipers and pads, hence allowing repeatability of braking performance for an extended period of time
• Rear extractor to generate downforce with minimum resistance
• Active suspended aero on the rear, integrated within the elliptical design of the bonnet and combined with the electronically controlled suspension, to gain maximum stability in every driving condition
• Goal to achieve a predictive handling, by reducing the sensitivity to the ground clearance in order to increase driving safety

Chassis

• Monocoque chassis made with the latest generation of composite materials including Carbo-Titanium HP62 G2 and Carbo-Triax HP62, complete with a perfectly integrated rollover bar imbedded within the roof structure
• Unique design to provide a spacious environment and integrate the dashboard
• Torsional rigidity increased by +10,5% compared to previous Pagani road legal vehicles
• Front and rear tubular subframes in Chromium- Molybdenum alloy steel (CrMo)

Suspension

• Developed with optimized elasto-kinematic for the road and intensively tested thanks to the laboratory that is the Huayra R, to ensure the maximum driving stability
• Made of forged aluminum alloy, with independent double wishbone with helical springs and coaxial shock absorbers
• Semi-active shock absorbers designed to attack curbs and be rigid under braking conditions on the circuit, but at the same time comfortable when driving on the road thanks to the different driving modes
• Integrated vehicle dynamic control unit for the simultaneous management of all active controls, including the electro-assisted steering box

Brakes

• Braking excellence guaranteed by the newly developed ventilated carbon-ceramic discs system by Brembo
• Cooling with highly energized air flow for the discs, calipers and pads, so as to allow repeatability of braking for an extended period of time
• Diameter 410 x 38 mm with 6-piston monolithic caliper at the front
• Diameter 390 x 34 mm with 4-piston monolithic caliper at the rear
• Combined with the latest generation ESP 9.3 system developed with Bosch

Wheels and Tires

• APP Tech monolithic rims made from forged aluminum alloy, with dimensions 21’’ on the front and 22’’ on the rear
• Unique dimensions, which triggered a distinguishing design freedom on the surrounding bodywork
• Exclusive tires developed with Pirelli, through state of the art simulation and construction processes to transfer the exuberant torque output to the ground efficiently
• Pirelli PZero Corsa 265/35 R21 on the front and 325/30 R22 on the rear, to offer the comfort of a driving on the road and a balanced grip for high performance conditions at the same time
• Pirelli SottoZero 265/35 R21 on the front and 325/30 R22 on the rear for driving in winter conditions

Interior

• Meticulousness of details inversely proportional to the size of the elements; large simple pieces, small pieces full of refinements to be discovered over time
• A philosophy that goes against the main trends of the time, there are no digital screens apart from the minimal display in front of the driver
• Instruments purely analog and each of the easy-to- read dials subtly reveals part of its mechanism as if it were revealing the skeleton movement
• Steering wheel machined from a single block of aluminum: simplification and reduction of components, with a display of construction technologies and uniqueness
• References to technical and aesthetic solutions of the ‘50s and ‘60s, both from the world of leather goods and horology
• Integration of a luminous aura that creates a pleasant and relaxing environment, while at the same time, emphasizes the components as works of art