2012 Pagani Supercars Huayra The Lightest Sports Cars In Its Class

2012 Pagani Supercars Huayra The Lightest Sports Cars In Its Class

Speed is great, but a true hypercar can dance with the best of them. Elegant and muscular the Pagani Huayra merges the past, present and future in a timeless interpretation of automotive art. Pagani have officially unveiled their 2012 Huayra. The hypercar is named after Aymara god Huayra Tata, god of wind. Aerodynamics are a big part of the new car which will be displayed publically for the first time at the Geneva Auto Salon 2011. 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 new central monocoque on the 2012 Pagani Supercars Huayra The Lightest Sports Cars In Its Class 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.

2012 Pagani Supercars Huayra The Lightest Sports Cars In Its Class

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.

2012 Pagani Supercars Huayra The Lightest Sports Cars In Its Class

Mercedes-AMG provides the heart for the 2012 Pagani Supercars Huayra The Lightest Sports Cars In Its Class. 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 2012 Pagani Supercars Huayra The Lightest Sports Cars In Its Class 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.

2012 Pagani Supercars Huayra The Lightest Sports Cars In Its Class

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.

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.

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 2012 Pagani Supercars Huayra The Lightest Sports Cars In Its Class. 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.

2012 Pagani Supercars Huayra The Lightest Sports Cars In Its Class

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. 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 2012 Pagani Supercars Huayra The Lightest Sports Cars In Its Class downforce under all circumstances. 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.

2012 Pagani Supercars Huayra The Lightest Sports Cars In Its Class

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. The high definition central touchscreen is the heart of the vehicle infotainment system, controlling audio functions, satellite navigation, secondary vehicle functions and Bluetooth phone. 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.

Ferrari 250 GT Police Car

Believe anything Hollywood says and you’ll already be thinking all the cool coppers drive around in Ferraris – they certainly do in Magnum, Miami Vice and Bad Boys 2. But back in the ‘60s the Italian police drove one for real.

The lucky driver’s name was Marshal Armando Spatafora, something of a legend in Rome it seems, and his car was a 250 GTE. Together, they patrolled the streets of Rome for nearly a decade, hunting down serious criminals in the kind of heroic chases Hollywood directors would kill for.

For its day, the car was seriously quick, with a 240bhp engine that could sling-shot it speedily round the tight Roman streets. As you’d expect, no car of the day stood a chance, especially as the GTE shared its roots with the 250 GTO, one of Ferrari’s finest supercars and racers. The 250 GTE was also the first mass-produced four-seat Ferrari, so there was actually a bit of space to stick any arrestees. But it looked so damn cool you’d probably want to commit some crime just to see it in action. These days it's as rare as a straight politician but the actual car used still survives in a museum of police cars in Rome.

Top Ten Ugly But Fast Cars

Beauty and speed are two qualities that sit together very well indeed when it comes to cars. But it doesn't always work out that way.

Back in the days before aerodynamics stylists were free to let their imaginations run riot and pen gorgeous shapes.

This resulted in some truly beautiful cars but ones whose handling didn't always measure up. These days all sorts of functional considerations have to be taken into account too, like downforce, meeting crash regulations and cooling brakes and mega powerful turbo engines. Which means vents, wings and all sorts of aesthetic challenges.

Just look at the latest crop of F1 cars if you were in any doubt of where putting function before form can get you. The same is true of road going performance cars too, modern supercars often lacking the elegance of their forebears. Here are 10 examples of where style and speed don't quite match up successfully.

1. Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary: Gandini and Bertone’s original 70s vision for the Countach was a vision of hard-edged futurism and a true supercar pin-up. Sharp, wedge-like lines and taut detailing – not to mention those famous scissor doors – set the Countach apart. But by retirement in 1989 middle-age spread hit the Countach hard.

The V12 engine had grown from the original 4.0 litres to 5.2 litres and power from 375hp to 455hp but the Countach 25th Anniversary celebrating a quarter century of Lambos was a hideous mess of chavvy bodykit extensions and fussy vents. More McDonalds carpark Basildon than Casino Square Monaco, it was a sad end to the Countach legend.

2. Gumpert Apollo: if you’re looking for superlatives the Gumpert Apollo is a clear winner. Odd looks? The ugly stick must have been worn out by the time they’d stopped thrashing it. Fastest? A 224mph top speed and record-breaking run round the Top Gear test-track put it up there with the best. Daftest name for a supercar ever? Yup.

If the excuse for the function (way) before form design was performance above all else Gumpert certainly succeeded there, the brutish, ultra aggressive Apollo designed entirely around the needs of aerodynamics and feeding and cooling the Audi RS6-donated 650hp (at least) V8 engine. Beauty contests are out then. But on track few come even close.

3.MG Maestro Turbo: the Maestro never was a looker but the addition of a chunky bodykit, cross-spoke alloys and big air intakes on the bumper did it no favours whatsoever. So, ugly? Yes. But boy was it rapid. And those who looked beyond the dumpy looks got to enjoy one of the fastest cars of its era.

A 150hp turbo conversion for the 2.0-litre engine meant 60mph came up in a tyre scrabbling 6.9 seconds when tested by a prominent car magazine in 1989, others claiming even faster times. Developed and assembled by tuning firm Tickford, just over 500 were made, ensuring classic status among a small but dedicated fanbase.

4. Ferrari 612 Scaglietti: a Ferrari? Ugly? Well, yes, actually. In fact, we had a job narrowing it down. Can you even remember the last time Ferrari made a pretty car? No wonder that jealous geezer in the Italian Job shoved the Aston off the cliff. Evidence? Consider the Enzo, the F50, the 80s Testarossa...

Etcetera, and indeed, etcetera. Even our favourite modern Fezza, the 599, is more functional purity than catwalk queen. But we had to choose just one: the 612 Scaglietti. A cool car, almost by virtue of its very frumpiness, but too big, too ungainly and 0-62 takes a whole 4.3 seconds. Sacrilege!

5. IFR Aspid: IFR boss Ignacio Fernandez hates it when people compare his wild-looking Aspid with the familiar Lotus Seven/Caterham shape but there’s no escaping the fundamental resemblance. But whereas the old Seven has an elegant simplicity the Aspid is bristling, angry and more than a bit mad looking. Neatly, this more or less sums up the driving experience too.

Honeycomb aluminium and carbon fibre mean the Aspid is far more advanced than any Caterham, the supercharged Honda S2000 engine’s 402hp meaning performance is on the alarming side of rapid with 62mph coming up in just 2.9 seconds. Tuned by rally engineers the handling is incredible too, even if the looks take a little getting used to.

6. Aston Martin Virage/Vantage: modern Aston Martins like the DB9 and Vantage are among the most beautiful performance cars on the planet, more than living up to the cheesy ‘Power, Beauty, Soul’ company motto. And old classics like the Bond-spec DB5 were real lookers too. But in the late 80s and early 90s Astons were somewhat more brutish in appearance.

The Virage certainly had power, the twin supercharged Vantage version coming with a 550hp evolution of the 5.3-litre V8. And soul? Well, it’s an Aston so it had that for sure. Beauty took a back seat though. Still, two out of three ain’t bad and high profile owners like Prince Charles and Rowan Atkinson certainly seemed to approve.

7. Nissan GT-R: it’s one of the most talked about sports cars of recent years, Porsche-baiting lap records at the Nürburgring and a dazzling application of high technology ensuring cast iron high performance credibility. Believe the hype too because the 485hp twin turbo V6 and ultra sophisticated four-wheel drive drivetrain are every bit as potent as the breathless reviews suggest.

But it ain’t pretty. Impressive, yes. Cool even, the design – like the engineering – fabulously precise and detailed. But undeniably brutish with it, from the gaping grille and Terminator-like beady eyes to the cartoonish, howitzer sized multi-barrelled exhaust system. Untamed aggression is all part of the package though. And we love it!

8.Alfa Romeo SZ (ES-30): is “Il Monstro” ugly? Or is it merely a form of Italian style that the unsophisticated just haven’t gotten yet? Few cars turn heads quite like this incredible late-80s Alfa Romeo. Designed by Zagato and sold between 1989 and 1991, it still looks fresh right now. If not exactly beautiful.

All SZ coupés are red (bar one built for Andrea Zagato) while the RZ convertible came in three colours. Powered by a 3.0-litre V6, it’s based on the Alfa 75 - which sounds rather unglamourous until you learn the chassis settings came from a racing car and the SZ can corner at 1.1G...

9. Porsche Cayenne Turbo S: no line up titled ‘ugly but fast’ could fail to include the monstrous Porsche. In fact, the Cayenne – here in its full £90K, 550hp Turbo S hideousness – is so bluff and so ugly it’s hard to believe it wasn’t intended that way from the start with the express aim of irritating as broad a range of people as possible.

Purist Porsche fans, environmentalists, anyone with even a slight appreciation of aesthetics – varyingly all find the Cayenne’s rampantly aggressive looks and butchery of the brand’s design heritage deeply offensive. But with that epic twin-turbo V8, 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds and handling even the cynics have to admit defies belief the über Cayenne challenges like no other.

10.Subaru Impreza STI: it’s probably a little unfair to single out Subaru in this instance. After all, its arch rival the Mitsubishi Evo hasn’t exactly been blessed with good looks in any of its 10 – sorry, X - iterations. But over the years and across its range of cars Subaru’s eccentric approach to styling has varyingly enthralled and horrified.

The old ‘classic’ Impreza had a certain rugged charm about it. But the hated ‘bugeye’ version that followed appalled fans, as did first sighting of the new hatchback version. The STI is arguably the best of the new-wave Imprezas in styling terms, the ballistic cross country performance the one constant that has kept enthusiasts hooked over the years.