Pagani Utopia Roadster Debuts as an 852-HP Convertible with Manual Transmission
The Pagani Utopia Roadster and Coupé feature a carbon fiber monocoque, twin-turbo V12 engine with 864 horsepower, and highly customizable interiors. Share
Two years ago, Pagani Automobili introduced the Utopia, a car whose name encapsulates the philosophy of striving for perfection, an elusive ideal that nonetheless propels creators toward excellence. Dubbed Project C10, Utopia’s development included both Roadster and Coupé variants from the outset, a departure from previous models like the Zonda and Huayra, where the Roadster versions followed the closed models. This simultaneous development addresses the longstanding debate among enthusiasts regarding the purer expression of automotive art: closed or open cabins. Pagani has resolved this by offering both versions, allowing fans to choose according to their preferences. Remarkably, the Utopia Roadster is just as light, dynamic, and high-performance as its Coupé counterpart.
The styling of both versions was crafted by the same team of designers and engineers under Horacio Pagani’s guidance in the Modenese Atelier. The elegant butterfly doors showcase a sophisticated mechanism. When opting for an open-air experience, the hard-top can be placed on a stand, becoming a piece of art to admire. Additionally, a soft-top can be stored in a suitcase, replacing the vanity case usually located behind the seats. This versatility allows the Utopia to transform into three different versions, catering to different moods and seasons, whether one prefers the protection of a closed cabin or the freedom of an open-air drive.
Inside the Utopia Roadster, the floor mats have a texture reminiscent of an outboard boat, and the key is redesigned to reflect the open version’s profile. The hard-top, even when in place, offers a light-filled interior thanks to a large roof window. Removing the hard-top connects the driver and passenger with nature, allowing them to experience the landscape uniquely, with subtle changes in air temperature and surrounding scents as the road unfolds.
The upholstery options for the Utopia Roadster are extensive, with a nearly endless choice of colours and materials, making the car’s interior a focal point for onlookers. This cabin offers a view of the world and serves as a window through which the world sees the driver. The Utopia comes with two matching suitcases featuring leather-covered carbon inner shells, adorned with the Pagani ellipse, which can be stowed in compartments next to the engine. These suitcases, made with meticulous craftsmanship, further enhance the car’s luxury. Additional matching garment bags are positioned behind the headrests.
Horacio Pagani, a pioneer in advanced composite materials, has continually invested in research, leading to innovations showcased in the Utopia Roadster. The car incorporates over forty formulas of composite materials, including Carbo-Titanium HP62-G2 and Carbo-Triax HP62. This technological sophistication enables the Roadster to match the Coupé’s lightness, with a weight of only 1,280 kg (2,822 lb), despite being a large hypercar with a V12 engine. This was achieved by redesigning the monocoque chassis to optimise rigidity without the heavy reinforcements typically required when removing a car’s roof.
Pagani’s engineers focused on achieving a low aerodynamic drag coefficient and significant downforce without using large appendages. They conducted extensive wind tunnel studies to guide and control airflows around the car, improving aerodynamic efficiency. The Utopia continues Pagani’s tradition of using the V12 engine, developed in collaboration with Mercedes-AMG. This engine, producing 864 horsepower (635 kW) and 1,100 Nm of torque, offers both smooth low-rev driving and explosive acceleration.
The Utopia Roadster delivers extraordinary agility and road holding, with active suspension and electronic differential control eliminating understeer. Pirelli’s exclusive tyres, equipped with advanced sensors, interact with the car’s stability control systems to ensure maximum performance and safety. Every detail of the Utopia Roadster, from its analogue instrumentation to its sophisticated manual gearbox, is designed to offer visual and tactile satisfaction. One hundred and thirty Utopia Roadsters will be produced, starting at 3.1 million euros (excluding taxes). Each customer can create a unique car, with an extensive range of colour and upholstery options.
