Yes, it’s beautiful — poetry in motion — a masterful interpretation of artistry in modern machinery. The quintessential refinement and exquisite elegance of the Pagani Utopia, the successor to the Huayra, is obvious and undeniable. It is an eloquent vision that marries past and present innovation and comes to life with the meticulous details one would expect from the Italian automaker.
However, if we are to believe the quote that “true beauty resides within a good heart,”– with what’s inside – the heart that powers the Pagani Utopia is what is intriguing to us. Here’s a rundown on the power-pumping inner beauty of Pagani Automobili’s third venture, the hypercar originally codenamed C10, ultimately emblazoned Utopia.
It seems a shame to hide this work of art within a chassis. But It’s safe to say the Utopia’s bodywork is a work of art all its own. Photo by Jody Only
An Exclusive V12 Powers Pagani Utopia
As a joint effort under Pagani requirements, Mercedes-AMG specially developed the Utopia’s bespoke engine. Reflecting energies and resources from both automakers, the desire for the powerplant was a level of polished high-performance coupled with pleasurable drivability.
Bucking the electrification revolution, and sans hybridization, the Utopia’s power erupts from a 6.0-liter, twin-turbocharged, longitudinal 12-cylinder 60-degree V engine with dry-sump lubrication. It is mated to a transversely mounted, seven-speed Xtrac pure manual or automated manual transmission. A feat in itself, the V12 with its double throttle bodies, dual-turbos, and four liquid intercoolers is perfectly packed within the confinement of the Utopia’s bay.
The bore and stroke is 82.6 x 93 mm (3.252 x 3.661 inches), to reach 5,980cc (365 cubic inches), with a compression ratio of 9.0:1. Construction components include light alloy heads and a high-pressure die-cast (HPDC) aluminum crankcase with gray iron cylinder liners, as well as carbon fiber features on the air intake side. The engine weight comes in at 577.61 pounds. The ceramic-coated titanium quad-exhaust — a continuing personal monument and signature of the brand — weighs in at just over 13 pounds and the total dry weight is at 2,833 pounds.
The titanium quad-tip exhaust is ridiculously lightweight and has a signature Pagani touch. Photo courtesy of Pagani.
Utopia’s Demeanor Is More Than Power
With over six years encompassing 4,000 plus renderings, two 1:1 scale models, 10 1:5 scale models, a wind tunnel, and eight complete prototypes, we can assume stupendous speed wasn’t the only objective in the Utopia’s creation. Sheer power would have been simple, but manufacturing Pagani’s V12 with the complexity of perfect harmony and balance of brutal torque to the wheels, comfort in traffic, and smooth gear changes were the project’s goals.
At its debut, Utopia, with its twin-turbo engine, created 864 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, with maximum torque bringing all 811 pound-feet from 2,800 to 5,900 rpm, realized with intense fine-tuning of the engine valvetrain and ECU. Clocking a three-second 0 to 60 time, the Utopia’s top speed is 220 mph. And while the turbos are an AMG engine development model that is not public, we do know that boost pressure is measured at 21.76 psi.
Meeting worldwide emission requirements, the Utopia even adheres to the stringent laws and regulations under the California Air Resources Board, translating to a street-legal status in the Golden State. With all 99 models of the Utopia pre-ordered, there aren’t any available left to purchase; but if there were and we had the $2.5 million budget for it, we again would fall back on an inner beauty quote and say, “We see the beauty within and cannot say no.”
The 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine was developed between Pagani and Mercedes-AMG, to Pagani's exacting specifications. What resulted from the collaboration is an incredible engine making 864 peak horsepower at 6,000 rpm, and carries the peak torque of 811 lb-ft from 2,800 to 5,900 rpm, thanks to almost 22 psi from the turbos. Photos by Jody Only.
