I love Pagani’s almost freakish loyalty to its older cars. Usually, when a car company replaces a model with a new one, the now-obsolete predecessor is dead to them. But not so with Pagani. Those Italians will regularly pump out new special editions of older models, even after you think they’ve finally moved on. The company’s latest is perhaps the most special of them all, as it’s the only Pagani Huayra with a manual transmission on the planet.
The Pagani Huayra Epitome is quite literally the most unique Pagani you can buy, as there’s only one. This one-off hypercar was made specifically so that Pagani could fit it with a manual transmission for a single customer. Since every other Huayra uses a dual-clutch automatic transmission, the Epitome instantly becomes the most desirable of them all.
Manual transmissions aren’t anything new for Pagani. Far from it. Both the Zonda and Utopia are manual transmission only. However, that’s what makes this Huayra Epitome so special. See, the standard Huayra was an outlier in Pagani’s three-model history, as it was the only one without a manual transmission.
Despite swapping from a dual-clutch to a manual, the Huayra Epitome doesn’t lose any gears. It’s still a seven-speed ‘box, built by Xtrac, and it uses a triple-disk clutch and a tripod-style driveshaft joint. Gears are shifted with a lovely wooden knob, through skeletonized gates. Paired to that manual transmission is still a 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged AMG-sourced V12, but it makes 864 horsepower and 811 lb-ft of torque in the Epitome. Helping that engine breathe better and sound even more exotic is its new lightweight, six-way titanium exhaust, too. Rev-matching in this thing must be life-changing.
I also love that Pagani leaned into the fact manual transmissions are slower than dual-clutch units, so the Huayra Epitome isn’t made to be some extreme track car. Instead, it’s made to be an enjoyable road car. The Epitome’s new adaptive suspension one-ups Ferrari’s bumpy road mode with a “super soft” button, for choppier roads or just when you want extra comfort. However, that mode only works up to 93 mph, after which it reverts to its normal suspension setting.
Pagani continued its relative chillness in its design, too. Most special edition Paganis look as if they’re challenging traditional methods of sub-orbital spaceflight. But the Huayra Epitome is pretty tame by Pagani standards. Aside from its inherent Huayra flamboyance—such as its gullwing doors, insectoid side mirrors, active aero flaps, and quadrant exhausts—the only added flourish to the Epitome is its tall wing. You can still see its “carbotanium” body panel weaves through the gorgeous blue paint, too, which is a stunning visual touch. All of its unique visual touches, such as its headlights, taillights, and aforementioned wing, were done at the request of its very deep-pocketed customer.
It’s a bummer that only one person will own this, as it means fewer people will be able to see it. However, I’m just happy it exists. I’m also hoping that since this customer went through the trouble of convincing Pagani to build just one manual Huayra, they plan on making use of it often.
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