Footnotes

'It's a car with its own personality – or rather its own split personality. Beyond refinement and ease of use is a demon with one eye open waiting for its turn, a car that is scintillatingly fast and hugely demanding, a car that can thrill and terrify in equal measure, a supercar in every sense of the word.' – evo.

One of the more fascinating aspects of the modern motoring scene is the recent emergence of the small independent supercar manufacturer, many of which have gone from relative obscurity to the status of household names in just a few short years, usually on the back of a product range offering hitherto almost unimaginable levels of performance. Whereas at one time established manufacturers such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Aston Martin only had one another to worry about, they now have to contend with the likes of Koenigsegg, Spyker, Noble, Ultima and, of course, Pagani.

Succeeding the Zonda, Pagani's latest offering is the Huayra, a mid-engined coupé hailed by Top Gear magazine as 'Hypercar of the Year 2012'. Horacio Pagani was no newcomer to the world of automotive engineering when he built the first Zonda in 1999, for the Argentine-born industrial design graduate had been working with Lamborghini since the mid-1980s, developing the Countach and Diablo road cars and assisting with the Italian manufacturer's Formula 1 engine programme. The Zonda C12 debuted in coupé form at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show, its maker freely acknowledging that its styling had been inspired by the Mercedes-Benz Group C 'Silver Arrow' sports-racers. Mercedes-Benz's influence was more than just skin deep, for the German firm's AMG performance division was responsible for the Zonda's 6.0-litre V12 engine, which was mounted longitudinally amidships in the predominantly carbon fibre body tub. With some 408 horsepower on tap, the C12 was always going to be quick, but performance figures of 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds and 0-100 in 8.2 were simply staggering plus, of course, that all important 200mph (or thereabouts) top speed.

Seemingly small from the outside yet endowed with a comfortable cabin, the C12 provided the basis for a host of derivatives, which emerged from Pagani's factory at San Cesario sul Panaro near Modena (where else?) in strictly limited numbers over the next 11 years.

Its successor, the Huayra - named after a wind god of the South American Quechua people - made its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2011. Once again, AMG provided the engine, on this occasion a twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre V12 producing a mighty 620bhp and a titanic 737lb/ft of torque. A mind-boggling top speed of around 238mph (383km/h) was claimed for the Huayra, with the 0-60mph dash accomplished in a neck-snapping 2.8 seconds. Power reaches the road via a transversely-mounted Xtrac seven-speed sequential semi-automatic transmission, while the stupendous performance is kept in check by Brembo carbon ceramic disc brakes featuring four-pot callipers all round. It is worthwhile noting the Horacio Pagani chose to stick with a conventional single clutch rather than the more complex and heavier twin-clutch technology favoured by some rivals, reasoning that the considerable saving in weight would result in a better-balanced car.

The most significant difference between the Huayra and its Zonda predecessor is the former's use of active aerodynamic aids. These consist of variable front ride height and moveable spoilers at front and rear, their deployment being managed by a dedicated control unit to minimise drag or maximise downforce as required. Under hard braking, the rear spoiler flaps function as an air brake, the front ride height being increased at the same time to counteract weight transfer to the front wheels and thus maintain stability. Cleverly, this system is also used to limit body roll when cornering by raising the 'inside' flaps to generate increased down force on that side only. As had been the case with the Zonda, an open roadster and various limited-edition variants followed.

Testing a Huayra in 2013, evo magazine found that even before the ignition key had been turned, the experience of just sitting in the cockpit was almost overwhelming. 'Inside a leather, carbon fibre and aluminium cocoon of obsession, every detail agonised over and beautifully thought out, every material used sympathetically and expertly integrated into this stunning sculpture. The driving position is superb.' Needless to say, the driving experience did not disappoint: '...the engine is just phenomenally powerful and when it's delivering the full 737lb/ft of torque, it scrambles your brain. This is the sort of performance that doesn't dull even with prolonged exposure'.

Pagani's agreement with AMG limited the supply of engines to 100 units, restricting production of the Huayra Coupé to only 100 cars, thus guaranteeing the Huayra's instant exclusivity and future collectible status.

This rare right-hand drive Huayra was delivered new in May 2016 to the current owner via Pagani's UK base in Park Royal, London, making it one of only 4 UK supplied cars. The car was supplied with the specification/options listed below:

Sonus Fabar Sound System
Carbon Ceramic Brakes
Inconel Titanium Exhaust System
Front Vehicle Lifting System
Bluetooth Hands Free System
Tyre Repair Kit with Wheel Socket Adaptor
Paint Layout 2 - Exposed Carbon Fibre & Paint
Metallic Paint (Plus Option Multi-Layer Paint - Blu Francia)
Exposed Carbon Fibre Nose
Exposed Carbon Fibre Front Splitter
Huayra Style Wheels - Liquid Silver Finish
Standard Calliper Colour - Black
Exterior Metal Features - Titanium
Parking Sensors
Pagani Premium Leather Interior - Black Malvec & Grey Ardesia
Two Tone Interior Layout as per 'PT1' car
Contrast Stitch - Black
Seat Belts - Black
Interior Metal Features - Titanium Finish

Before leaving the factory, the inside of the clamshell was signed by the Pagani family and the Pagani factory staff who built the car before the final clear coat was applied. In July 2016, '109' was back at Pagani UK where a Pagani-specification Cobra Cat 5 tracker was supplied and fitted, and a full car paint protection film kit applied at an additional cost of £11,271. Bills relating to the Huayra's supply and subsequent upgrading are on file together with one for the car's first annual service, carried out in December 2016. We are advised by the private vendor that the Huayra has spent some four months back at the Pagani factory in Modena being readied for sale, and is in effectively 'as new' condition throughout. It is also offered with its private registration 'HU16YRA'.

In short: what we have here is a state-of-the art modern supercar, with one owner from new, prepared for sale by the factory and presented in immaculate condition, ready to delight its fortunate next custodian.