Whenever the BC initials are affixed to a Pagani supercar, you know Horacio Pagani is cooking up something good. The all-new Pagani Huyra Roadster is the latest to receive the BC treatment. And as expected from a low-volume supercar maker like Pagani, the new Huayra Roadster BC is all about outrageous numbers.
The newest Huayra Roadster BC is equipped with a new V12 engine courtesy of Mercedes-AMG
But it’s unlike any Mercedes-AMG engine. The Huayra Roadster BC gets a reworked version of the already bonkers 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V12 motor in the Huayra BC coupe. This new motor is properly called the Pagani V12 and employs new turbochargers, twin throttle bodies, four water-to-air intercoolers, and a hydroformed intake manifold. Equipped with six titanium exhaust pipes (two of which are extra outlets for the catalytic converters), the exhaust note is expected to be gloriously epic, to say the least.
When all is said and done, the Pagani Huayra Roadster BC is good for 800-horsepower and 774 pound-feet of torque. Maximum horsepower comes in at 5,900 rpm while maximum torque is accessible from 2,000 to 5,600 rpm. Wow.
The screaming motor is connected to a newly developed seven-speed automated-manual transverse automatic transmission from XTrac driving the rear wheels. The car also receives an electro-mechanical differential to further heighten the fun factor.
The Huayra Roadster BC is supposed to be a one-off project
The Pagani Huayra Roadster BC is supposed to be a one-off model. It was purportedly commissioned for a loyal Pagani customer, but Pagani didn’t say who. After crunching the numbers, Pagani said the new car will cost nearly $3.5 million based on current exchange rates, and the company is not sure if the astronomical price tag is feasible enough to merit sufficient interest.
But lo and behold! It seems the ultra-wealthy are thirsty for $3.5M supercars. When word got out, the orders came pouring in. That’s when Pagani decided to build 40 examples of the bonkers Huayra Roadster BC for – you guessed it – $3.5 million each.
Contrary to popular belief, BC doesn’t stand for ‘bare carbon’
On the other hand, the BC initials pay homage to Benny Caiola, the first customer to buy a Pagani supercar. Caiola is the founder of one of the largest real estate firms in Manhattan. But the man is also known for owning the largest and most extensive Ferrari collection in the world, which includes the Ferrari F50, Ferrari F40, and a 1973 Ferrari Dino.
But Caiola is not only fascinated by Ferrari cars, but Italian cars in general. The man has a special place in his heart for Italian thoroughbred exotics like the Maserati MC12 and Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4. Reputedly, Caiola wrote a letter to Horacio Pagani in 2000 and expressed his unbridled appreciation for the Zonda supercar.
Unfortunately, Benny Caiola passed away in 2010. As a fitting tribute to the man who greatly inspired Horacio Pagani over the years, Pagani unleashed the special edition Huayra BC at the 2016 Geneva International Motor Show.
And now, the BC name is literally starting to make waves with the new Huayra Roadster BC. Pagani is quick to point out this car is not merely a restyled and reshaped Huayra coupe.
It’s lighter and more aerodynamic than the regular Huayra
The new Huayra Roadster BC tips the scales at 2,756 pounds (1,250 kg) which makes it lighter than the regular Huayra coupe and Huayra roadster. Interestingly enough, it’s a tad heavier than the 2,685-pound Huayra BC Coupe. But then again, gaining weight is expected if you’re building a higher-performance roadster.
Pagani knows this all too well and is the reason why he insisted on having a more powerful turbocharged V12. Whereas the Huayra BC Coupe came with a 750-horsepower version of the V12 motor, the new Roadster BC makes good use of 800 ravishing horses.
The Huayra Roadster BC is equipped with a carbon-titanium monocoque frame with steel tubular subframes in the front and rear. The new body comes with an advanced aerodynamics kit, a redesigned rear wing, and tweaked inlet ports to slice the air more effortlessly. Pagani says the Huayra Roadster BC generates 1,102 pounds of downforce at 174 mph, which is amazing for a roadster with a chopped roof.
It has bespoke Pirelli tires
When configuring the right set of tires for the Huayra Roadster BC, Pagani asked Pirelli to create a tire prioritizing driving feel over intense grip. After all, we’re talking about an emotional Italian supercar and not a dedicated track monster, so the car needs to be fun to drive rather than have the clinical response and precision of a tuned racing car.
Pirelli went to work and came up with the PZero Trofeo R, which is exclusive to the Huayra Roadster BC. But still, the car generates 1.9 g of lateral grip with the new tires, which is not too shabby if you consider the hardcore McLaren Senna achieves the same levels of cornering grip.
The tires are wrapped on APP forged monolithic aluminum alloy wheels measuring 20-inches for the front and 21-inches in the rear. The car also comes with forged aluminum alloy independent double-wishbone suspension with electronically controlled shock absorbers and helical springs. Stopping power is courtesy of Brembo ventilated CCM brakes with six-piston calipers in the front and 4-piston calipers in the rear.
You can have a first taste of the magnificent 2020 Pagani Huayra Roadster BC at the 2019 Pebble Beach Concours de’Elegance. Prices start at $3.5 million with only 40 units slated for production.