Pagani C10

Pagani Utopia Roadster revealed, and it’s a V12, roofless piece of art

Lightweight. Hugely powerful. Pagani’s V12 theatre is now open-air

Art sometimes doesn’t need vast explanation. If something just hits you in the right spot for whatever reason, you don’t have to say a word. Which’ll make this story about the new V12, manual-gearbox Pagani Utopia Roadster a tad… challenging.

Because ooft. Pagani is a specialist of course, in blending art and engineering together – in the mould of Horacio’s great idol, da Vinci – but really, a carbon-red roadster with an AMG V12 doesn’t need reams of explanation. It's just Good. Very, very Good.

Let’s start with a bit of context. Pagani designed the Utopia as both a hard-top and a Roadster at the same time, meaning this version is pretty much and quite literally a carbon (fibre) copy: monocoque, suspension, brakes and all. It also means a dry weight of just 1,280kg, just like the Coupe, which in the 2024 world of 2.4-tonne BMW M5s is nothing short of astonishing.

‘A-ha,’ you cry, ‘I can see a hard-top on this car too!’ And you’re right: the new Utopia Roadster is basically three cars in one. There is indeed a hard-top cover – with a see-through panel – that can be removed and stored in your air-conditioned garage or living room, along with a removable soft-top, able to be stored in the car.

 
Pagani Utopia Roadster

In 2022, Pagani Automobili unveiled the Utopia, a car whose very name embodies the philosophy of a relentless pursuit towards perfection, an unattainable ideal that nonetheless inspires creators to aspire to excellence. Project C10, Utopia's code name, came into being with the dual nature of Roadster and Coupé already written in its destiny, following the enthusiasm generated by previous models. However, unlike the roadster versions of the Zonda and Huayra - which were designed after their respective closed versions - here the development of the two variants took place jointly.

What better way to solve the enthusiasts' old dilemma? Gran Turismo aficionados have always debated as to which is the purer expression: a closed or open cabin. Both traditions boast a rich pedigree and supporters of the two contrasting options are often irreconcilable. The only way for Pagani to help resolve this quandary was to offer both versions, leaving fans free to choose between them. Invariably, those who favor performance opt for coupés, since they tend to be lighter and more agile. But the criterion does not apply here, as the Utopia Roadster is just as light, dynamic, and high-performance as its closed sister.

The styling of the two versions is an expression of continuity, being the work of the same team of designers and engineers; a team united by common visions, working under the guidance of Horacio Pagani in the Modenese Atelier. The doors have the same elegant butterfly kinematics, a fascinating and sophisticated mechanism. When one wishes to travel under the open sky, the hard-top can be placed on a stand, transforming it into a piece of design to be looked at and admired. In addition to this, there is a soft-top, which can be stored in a suitcase in place of the vanity case that is usually located centrally behind the two seats. The same car can therefore convert into three different versions, each to be preferred depending on the season, the mood, the desire to feel enclosed and protected or in contact with the open air, and the wind gently caressing the face.

 
Pagani Utopia Roadster Is One Of The Few Convertibles You Can Get With A Manual Transmission

Think of it like a Mazda MX-5 Miata with a much higher price tag.

Following the success of the Zonda and Huayra, Pagani announced its third car — the Utopia — in 2022. It has a twin-turbocharged V12 that makes 864 horsepower and 811 lb-ft of torque, as well as an optional seven-speed dogleg manual transmission. That car was a coupe, though, so what is the Pagani-loving billionaire to do if they want to feel the wind in their hair while zipping along in their limited-production supercar? As it turns out, the answer was to just wait until Pagani introduced the Utopia Roadster.

 
Woah, check out the spec of this uniquely-liveried Pagani Utopia

Collector specs their third Pagani in a Martini livery, then adds some strange tears to expose bare carbon

If you’re speccing the third Pagani for your collection, you probably want to push the boat out a little bit. Perhaps you want something that’ll stand out from the other two, and something that’ll look different from all of your mates’ Paganis. They’re just everywhere, after all.

Perhaps you'd choose a livery like the one you see above. Pagani itself took to Facebook to show off this recently finished £2m+ Utopia, and if the comments section is anything to go by, it's certainly caused a stir.

We’re told it’s a “race-inspired livery” with a 'Bianco Benny' base and red, turquoise and blue stripes. Don’t mention the vermouth brand. Don’t mention the vermouth brand.

 
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