Pagani's new Huayra R screams like an 80s F1 car

Pagani's not done with the Huarya just yet. Even after both the Huayra Coupe and Roadster have been long sold out, the Italian marque has revealed a new variant of the hypercar – the Huayra R. And just like the Zonda R that came before it, this new Huayra R is a track-only machine. It might look similar to the Huayra Imola, but this one has a lot more going for it, including a bespoke naturally-aspirated engine.

All Pagani models use engines sourced for Mercedes-AMG. Being the Huayra R, Pagani decided to take things one step further. With that, the Italian firm partnered with HWA AG, Mercedes's racing subsidiary, to design its unique engine. The result is a 6.0-liter V12 that produces 850 horsepower and 750 Nm torque with a redline of 9,000 RPM.

While the engine is impressive, what's even better is the soundtrack it produces. Thanks to a custom Inconel exhaust developed for the Huayra R, Pagani claims it sounds like a Formula 1 car. No, not the current turbo-V6 powered F1 cars, but instead, it sounds like a V12-powered F1 car from the 80s. A six-speed sequential gearbox then sends power to the rear wheels.

Curious how the Huayra R sounds? You can even hear it for yourself in the video above as it goes around the racetrack. And yes, it is loud. With that, a muffler can be fitted to lower the exhaust note for certain tracks with decibel limits.

Aside from the engine, Pagani also built the Huayra R around a new lightweight, carbon-fiber monocoque chassis. Not only does it make the chassis stiffer, but the overall weight has been dropped. The Huayra R has a dry weight of only 1,050kg. Like before, a pair of active aero flaps at the rear helps the car manage aerodynamics while on track. Pagani says the car can produce 1,000kg of downforce at 320 km/h.

Pagani plans on building 30 units of the track-only Huayra R, each costing EUR 2.6 million + tax or roughly PHP 150 million. Yes, it's a lot of money, especially for something you can't drive on the road. But, it does get you a piece of automotive art that sounds like an F1 car. At the same time, it doesn't appear to be sold out just yet.