Review: The Pagani Huayra Codalunga Is A $7.6M Masterpiece Of Italian Power

Six years ago, when the world was living in a simpler time—by which I mean no self-driving cars and AI-robot pizza chefs, while the biggest automotive concern was the lack of trophy holders in Bugatti, a pair of Pagani. enthusiasts knocked on Horacio Pagani’s door with a curious request: they wanted a long-tail version of the Huayra Coupé, or as they poetically pronounced it in Italian, “coda lunga” – literally “long tail.”

Their vision was to create a luxury hypercar with a clean and streamlined design, a style that would turn heads faster than a Taylor Swift album drop – and be as coveted on the road as at any Concours d’Elegance.

After what seems like a permanent design by Pagani’s elite special projects team “Grandi Compliazioni”, the Codalunga was officially born. Longer and sleeker than the Huayra, it draws inspiration from the long tails of the 60s that raced at Le Mans. The machines, with their razor-smooth movements and aerodynamic efficiency, produced some of the most iconic shapes in automotive history.

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Photo Dimitris Manolaros and Aggelos Skanavis

Timeless design

The Codalunga is 360mm or 14.2 inches longer than its Huayra Coupe counterpart, but that’s just scratching the surface. Its uniqueness is found in intricate details, such as its dual headlights, a departure from the usual four-segment configuration, and a different style of taillights. In particular, there are no grilles at the back, giving an unobstructed view of the magnificent exhaust system. Designed with a white ceramic coating – a first in production cars – it shows off not only the exhaust but also the engine and suspension components in all their glory.

Furthermore, it marks Pagani’s first departure from carbon fiber bodywork, allowing the car to fully highlight its attractive semi-matte paint, dubbed Azzuro Sardinia. To complement these cosmetic changes, the wheels have been redesigned to aid in brake cooling.

More: $7.6M Pagani Huayra Codalunga Long-Tail Is Five-Type

The interior is just different. Upholstered in leatherette and nubuck upholstery with a stylish design, the seats exude Italian elegance. Of course, there is a matching luggage set that helps as well. The dash and center console closely mirror those of the Huayra, featuring toggle switches reminiscent of those found on airplanes.

Photo Dimitris Manolaros and Aggelos Skanavis

Despite its traditional look, the interior has modern features like Apple CarPlay. The craftsmanship of the entire cabinet is amazing, with aluminum components machined from a single block. Even the gear knife, which combines layers of wood and carbon, goes through a detailed process that takes several days.

A symphony of numbers

Codalunga’s numbers are pretty incredible – and that’s before you even consider the price tag. It boasts Pagani’s 6.0-liter turbocharged V12 from Mercedes-AMG, producing 829 hp (840 PS) and 811 lb (1,100Nm) of torque, available from 2,000 to 5,60 p.m. This power is transferred to the rear wheels via a single clutch, seven-speed Xtrac automatic transmission. Pagani hasn’t provided a 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) acceleration figure, but to put it in layman’s terms, let’s say it’s “stupidly fast.” By the time you say those words in about 2 seconds, Codalunga will have already exploded beyond that speed.

Naturally, the carbon-ceramic brake rotors are massive, supported by six-piston calipers up front. The best part is the weight: despite packing such a massive V12 powertrain, the Codalunga tips the scales at just 2,822 pounds (1,280 kg). Fun fact: that’s the same weight as a Toyota GR Yaris!

However, these figures alone fail to capture the full essence of Codalunga. One of the features that set the Pagani Huayra apart since its introduction in 2011 was its innovative design of aerodynamic curves, strategically placed even at the front of the car. Each flap works independently, responding to the driver’s inputs, enhancing the ability of the hypercar to break and corner and increase agility. The impact these changes have on the driving experience is hard to explain but it’s amazing to experience.

Although production of the Codalunga was limited to just 5 units worldwide, all of which were quickly snapped up by eager collectors, we were lucky enough to get behind the wheel of the prototype car used during its development, owned by Pagani themselves. .

Read: One Of Five Pagan Airlines Seized By Swiss Police

But before you dive into the driving dynamics, here’s another nugget of trivia for you: Do you remember that Pagani Huayra Codalunga we reported was seized by the Swiss police last month? Well, interestingly, it’s exactly what you see here. According to a rumor from a colleague, the reporter was supposed to be in charge when this happened. Although the specifics are still unclear, we are left wondering if the car was taken for breaking the sound barrier or perhaps another “violation”.

$7,630,000 for the mountain road

Exploring the limits of such an expensive and powerful supercar on the ramps of Modena can be intimidating. However, once behind the wheel of the Codalunga, you will be pleasantly surprised by how effortlessly it drives at any speed. It is good for long journeys or even daily trips, perfectly matching Horacio Pagani’s vision for his cars. Even the minutiae, such as the mechanical sounds when shifting the gears manually or the sound of the turn signals, are completely different and raise the mood inside the car.

One thing that stood out was that in normal driving conditions, it felt the same as driving any normal car – with low ground clearance and limited visibility. The steering is not light, but the car is surprisingly easy to operate at low speeds, even with a single-clutch gearbox. The Codalunga has a modified suspension setup that, in this case, is unexpectedly comfortable and provides a high ride quality by absorbing bumps in the road, a feature that Pagani engineers were keen to highlight. Along with its organized luggage set, it transforms into a high-class travel companion.

You have access to three additional driving modes: Sport and Race, both of which boost throttle response and suspension stiffness, while Rain Mode cuts power output in half to enhance safety in low-stress conditions. Race Select mode allows slight slip on the rear axle, resulting in steering corrections while maintaining manageable limits, providing an exhilarating yet controlled driving experience.

We don’t need to tell you that once we hit the mountain pass, the Raceway became the only route to choose. It transforms the car from a comfortable grand tourer to an untamed racing car, delivering wild performance.

Have the wind at your back

The handling at high speeds is exceptional: very precise and responsive to even the slightest input giving excellent feedback on wheel position and road surface conditions. Wide tires on all four corners provide great traction. Despite being a long car, it can change direction almost instantly at any speed. This is where the importance of aerodynamic curves becomes apparent: you can see them opening up during heavy braking and fast corners, enabling the car to overcome the limit of gravity that you see before. Especially when braking, you can feel the car being pressed down by the air.

It’s always fun to witness aerodynamics in action, but at Codalunga, it elevates the experience to a whole new level. It feels like defying the laws of Physics, while masterfully using them in an effortless fashion. After all, the Huayra was named after Wayra-Tata, the wind god of the Andes.

The reinforced suspension eliminates any body roll, making the Codalunga very predictable and stable at any speed. Gear changes from the Xtrac automatic transmission are quicker and sharper, providing sharp thrust on upshifts and instant downshifts.

In these modes, the exhaust becomes louder, producing exciting cracks and bangs. The sounds of turbos suck the air behind you and swooshes when you lift the throttle more lift the driving experience peak in an unforgettable peak.

Events like this really make you understand why there hasn’t been a buzz for electric Pagani, as Christopher Pagani, Head of Marketing for Pagani Automobili America and son of Horacio Pagani, pointed out during our conversation.

What is the judgment?

This may seem predictable and perhaps even cliché, but let me tell you: the Huayra Codalunga was a completely different experience than anything I’ve driven to date. It’s a paradox made perfect, a harmonious marriage of unbridled power and surprising comfort. Mere words cannot capture the sense of transformation this machine offers.

Until you’ve had the pleasure of driving it yourself, you can’t understand how it differs from the rest of the supercars out there. The marriage of high power and feather-light weight, all wrapped up in a beautifully designed and stylish package, is nothing short of amazing. It is a testament to automotive craftsmanship.

And indeed, it remains a unique marvel, with only five units ever made, all of which were quickly snapped up despite commanding a princely sum starting at 7 million euros, or about $7.6 million at current exchange rates. I had the opportunity to drive none other than an example of the Codalunga, a progressive car that remains an important part of Pagani’s collection.

The Pagani Codalunga serves as a fitting and unusual finale to the Huayra lineage of road cars. With the company’s focus on the Utopia Coupe, Pagani’s next revolutionary car, the torch has officially been passed.

We joined with Autotypos.gr to bring you this review on Carscoops

Photo Dimitris Manolaros and Aggelos Skanavis

Video Aggelos Skanavis