With the admittedly slim prospect that Imola could return to the Formula 1 calendar in 2020 as a last minute placeholder for the postponed Chinese Grand Prix, a special edition supercar dedicated San Marino’s most famous circuit could hardly be more timely.
Said tribute comes courtesy of Italian independent Pagani, which recently unveiled the ‘Imola’, named after the circuit at which it was developed across more than 16,000km. It’s also incredibly limited, with only five examples of the Huayra special edition set to be sold for an eye-watering €5 million (around $5.4 million USD). Bear in mind you can get two of the hardcore Roadster BC for that price!
Though roadworthy, the Imola – formerly project code PS-01 – “embodies the maximum expression of Pagani Automobili’s track technology”, which means it will also go like stink. Credit for that goes to the Mercedes-AMG-derived 6-litre twin-turbocharged V12 at its base, which produces 827hp – around 15hp more than a Roadster BC – and 811lb ft / 1,100Nm of torque, enough to uproot a tree. Said monstrous power is sent to the rear wheels via the same seven-speed Xtrac automatic transmission as you’ll find in the BC, albeit one incorporating a new ‘SMART GAS’ system, developed to reduce shift times.
Massive, carbon ceramic Brembo anchors, now with advanced cooling, reign in the Imola’s grunt, while the independent double wishbones have been given a tweak for improved stability. The ‘Imola’ also sits on the same, ultra-stiff, ultra light carbon-composite monocoque as the Roadster BC. As you’d expect, that means Pagani’s newboy weighs about the same as a Pirelli Trofeo R-clad paperclip at 1,246kg (2,747lb), and thus boasts a power-to-weight ratio of almost 664hp/ton. That’s McLaren P1 territory.
A light chassis isn’t the only weight shedding in progress though. As well as paying tribute to the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, the Imola is also a test bed for Pagani’s new ‘Acquarello Light’ paint technique, which reduces weight by a further 5kg (11lb). That might not sound like much, but that’s the equivalent of ripping a small bowling ball straight out of the paint.
Comfort though has not been sacrificed for the “roadworthy” Imola. The leather-trimmed cabin for example features bespoke-badged bucket seats and a carbon weave, and while the ground clearance could be even lower, company founder and chief designer Horacio Pagani himself opted against this: “we could have reduced the ground clearance so as to increase the downforce effect by taking advantage of the vehicle’s flat bottom. But don’t forget, the public roads are very uneven and can lead to the loss of several hundred kilograms of downforce in just a few instants.
“Customer involvement was very much a part of the Pagani Imola project.”
*Images courtesy of Pagani Automobili S.p.A.
