In the rarefied world of hypercars, where performance meets exclusivity, few names evoke as much admiration as Pagani. With a legacy built on handcrafted artistry and unrelenting attention to detail, Pagani has once again redefined automotive elegance and engineering with the Huayra Codalunga—a breathtaking long-tail variant of the already iconic Huayra. Limited to just five units worldwide, the Codalunga is not merely a car; it’s a moving sculpture, a tribute to coachbuilt race cars of the 1960s, and an engineering marvel of the modern era.
A Tribute to the Golden Age of Racing
The name “Codalunga” literally means “long tail” in Italian—a reference to the classic endurance racers of the 1960s, such as the Ferrari 250 GTO and Porsche 917. Those cars featured elongated tails to improve high-speed stability on long straights like those at Le Mans.
In the case of the Huayra Codalunga, the elongated rear isn’t just aesthetic. It stretches the car by 360 mm (over 14 inches), giving it a smoother, more fluid silhouette. The result is a car that appears more elegant and less aggressive than the standard Huayra—an homage to a bygone era when form followed function, and aerodynamics ruled supreme.
Born from Bespoke Dreams
Unlike typical hypercars that begin with a design studio’s vision, the Huayra Codalunga started as a request from two devoted Pagani collectors. They wanted something unique: a long-tail Huayra that combined vintage elegance with modern performance.
Pagani’s response was to launch a tailor-made project under the company’s Grandi Complicazioni division—essentially its bespoke workshop for ultra-exclusive builds. Over two years, Pagani worked closely with the clients to create the Codalunga, ensuring every detail, from the design sketches to the final carbon weave, met their vision.
The result is more than just a longer Huayra—it’s a new car in its own right, with significant aesthetic and aerodynamic changes. The rear clamshell is a single, massive piece of carbon fiber. The exhaust system is made from titanium and weighs just 4.4 kg (less than 10 pounds), and there’s minimal use of unnecessary adornments to keep the car’s form as pure as possible.
A Work of Art Inside and Out
Step inside the Huayra Codalunga, and you’re transported into a cabin that resembles both a jet fighter and a luxury timepiece. The exposed gear linkage, aluminum switches, and quilted leather upholstery harken back to the golden age of motoring, while the overall architecture remains futuristic and minimalist.
Pagani has never been about digital gimmicks. Instead, the cockpit of the Codalunga celebrates tactile craftsmanship. Each element, from the milled aluminum knobs to the precisely stitched leather, is built by artisans whose goal is perfection.
The color palettes offered for the Codalunga are subdued and elegant—earthy tones, bare carbon, and brushed metal dominate. It’s an intentional move away from the flashy colors of many modern hypercars, in favor of timeless sophistication.
Raw Performance, Refined Delivery
Under the sculpted body lies the heart of the beast: a 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 engine developed by Mercedes-AMG exclusively for Pagani. In the Codalunga, it produces a staggering 840 horsepower and 1,100 Nm (811 lb-ft) of torque.
Despite its elegant exterior, the Codalunga is brutally fast. Weighing just 1,280 kg (2,822 lbs), thanks to extensive carbon fiber construction, the power-to-weight ratio is staggering. The car can rocket from 0 to 100 km/h (0–62 mph) in under 3 seconds and easily reach speeds well over 350 km/h (217 mph).
Yet, the Codalunga isn’t about chasing top speeds or lap times. It’s about delivering performance with grace. The long-tail design increases aerodynamic efficiency, while the adaptive suspension and bespoke Pirelli tires ensure it remains composed whether on a mountain pass or a race track.
Exclusivity at Its Peak
Only five Codalungas will ever exist, each priced at €7 million (over $7.5 million USD at launch). All five were spoken for before the car was even revealed to the public, cementing the Codalunga as one of the rarest modern hypercars in existence.
For those fortunate enough to own one, the Codalunga is more than a collector’s item—it’s a personal statement of passion for automotive art and history. For the rest of us, it serves as a reminder of what’s possible when craftsmanship, performance, and design come together with no compromise.
Final Thoughts
The Pagani Huayra Codalunga is not just a car—it’s a celebration of the past and a testament to the future of bespoke motoring. In an era increasingly dominated by digitalization and automation, Pagani continues to champion human craftsmanship, emotion, and mechanical beauty.