► Pagani Utopia Roadster revealed
► Miles of headroom now standard
► Proudly un-electrified V12
‘Act Three, Scene Two.’ That’s how Pagani describes its new Utopia Roadster – the latest in a line of ultra-luxury, high-performance supercars following on from the Zonda, Huayra and the Utopia coupe. The new Utopia Roadster, you’ll be unsurprised to know, is a convertible version of that most recent car (which we’ve driven), and it’ll make its public debut during 2024’s Monterey Car Week.
Pagani has a long history of creating engineering masterpieces, and this is no different. The brand proudly states that its V12 is ‘devoid of any hybrid support’ and comes armed to the teeth with finely-crafted touches and a whole load of exotic materials. Most notably, the Utopia Roadster weighs the same as the coupe.
Wait, what? A roadster that isn’t heavier?
Not this time. Pagani says it has answered the (let’s be honest, rather in-the-clouds) ‘dilemma’ of those fortunate enough to be in the position between choosing a coupe or a roadster. The coupe is almost always seen as the purer choice, not least because of the usual weight penalty convertibles have, but Pagani has levelled the playing field here as the Utopia coupe and Roadster were designed in tandem, rather than one after the other.
‘This result was achieved thanks to a monocoque chassis entirely redesigned to optimize rigidity and resistance, without resorting to the heavy reinforcements usually required when a car roof is eliminated,’ says Pagani.
As well as carbonfibre bodywork, the Utopia Roadster’s monocoque is made out of Pagani’s own ‘Carbo-Titanium’ material, with front and rear tubular subframes made from chromium-molybdenum alloy. That means the Roadster clocks in at 1280kg.
Naturally, the Utopia Roadster follows the design cues of the coupe model. It’s still a familiar Pagani to look at; it’s low, wide, has a cosy passenger cell and finishes with a blunt rear end and four tailpipes arranged in the centre. In the example pictured, the colour is weaved into the carbonfibre bodywork and carbonfibre is deployed in the forged aluminium alloy wheels to act as air blades, forcing hot air out of the wheelarches.
Inside, the design is as wild as it always is with a Pagani. Analogue instruments remain for the driver, something that Pagani says have been ‘all too quickly abandoned with the advent of digital displays’ and is inspired by fine watchmaking. The example pictures features a two-tone cream and tan upholstery combo, more red exposed carbonfibre and a luggage set to match.
Can I have some performance specs?
But of course. Naturally, these numbers are remarkably similar to the Utopia coupe. The Roadster uses a Mercedes-AMG-derived V12 developing 852bhp and 811lb ft of torque without any electrified assistance, good for an electronically-limited top speed of 217mph.
Power is sent to the rear wheels either via a manual transmission or a seven-speed automated manual from Xtrac. An electro-mechanical differential is applied here, too. As well as summer and winter tyres offered by Pirelli, Brembo-derived carbon-ceramic brakes, with six-piston calipers at the front and four-piston ones at the rear. To make sure it handles like a proper supercar, the Utopia Roadster also boasts active suspension.
Can I have one?
Only if you’re wealthy enough to stump up €3.1m before local taxes, and manage to get in the rather short queue – only 130 are being made.