Named after the racetrack on which it was modeled and fine-tuned, the new Pagani Imola is a roadworthy Hypercar with a wholly racing temperament that embodies the maximum expression of Pagani Automobili’s track technology. A major step forward in the technological and scientific progress of Pagani Automobili, the Pagani Imola is a vehicle-laboratory where important innovations have been devised, tested and developed. Some of these have been used in the Roadster BC and will be a feature of Pagani’s future creations. With a limited edition of only five examples built, the Pagani Imola has gone through the severest on-track validation test ever applied to a Pagani car. In addition to the regular and already scrupulous validation process, in fact, Imola has covered over 16,000 km on the track at racing speed – the equivalent to about three times the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Experimenting is an inborn part of Pagani Automobili’s research philosophy. The training experience Pagani acquired back in 2008 with the Zonda R proved priceless since it enabled us to create the Huayra using solutions tested in extreme conditions. At that time, the company came up with revolutionary ideas like the Carbo-Titanium chassis, as well as geometries, materials and concepts that were hitherto unheard of from the aerodynamic, dynamic and supercar-safety viewpoints. Working in partnership with Pirelli, the company developed tires for the Zonda R using the new MIRS system, subsequently applied to the Huayra and Formula 1 race cars.
Imola is a sacred place for car enthusiasts. It’s a fast, difficult, technical circuit that has always separated the wheat from the chaff, in terms of both men and machines. A circuit that has made the fastest drivers faster, one that has given rise to fierce duels between opponents and gentlemen, and where the sweetest victories and bitterest tragedies have been witnessed. A circuit in the Motor Valley of Emilia Romagna. A place that has given so much to the automotive industry. That has given so much to Pagani.” Horacio Pagani, Founder & Chief Designer di Pagani Automobili. Since Pagni could test drive on track in different temperature and track surface conditions, the company were able to try out new solutions, which Pagani often took to the extreme so as to work out their behavior. For instance, fitting semi-slick tires allowed us to subject different parts of the car to stress that far exceeded – with respect to the suspensions and lateral forces – the stress sustained when road tires are used. The Imola circuit became a second home while the car was being developed. This is why project code PS-01 was dubbed Pagani Imola, as a tribute to the track where the vehicle was created and which is part of its identity.
Pagani Imola uses the active aerodynamics system introduced by the Huayra, the first road vehicle ever to be equipped with this technology. This means that each of the four mobile winglets behaves according to the driving circumstances in a dynamic and immediate way and even when braking, by generating an aerodynamic braking action. Similarly, once Pagani had laid down the initial specifications, the company worked on the Imola project in a very open-minded way and with the utmost freedom from the technical viewpoint in our efforts to integrate the innovations as the vehicle took shape. The suspension geometry has been newly designed to transfer the power and lively 1100 Nm torque to the ground, reduce the dive effect and sway when braking. So much so, the driver can take a corner by braking at the last thousandth of a second. Pagani applied an electronically controlled system of active shock-absorbers to each wheel and interconnected them with each other. The front suspension is able to vary the ride height in a smart and automatic way. It dialogues with the Central Unit, which handles active aerodynamic control as well as controlling the engine, differential and gearshift functions. Introduction of the SMART GAS system reduces the shift time and enhances the racing character of the Imola, while driving pleasure is ensured thanks to active dumpers.
As always, Pagani Automobili is strongly committed to research into advanced composite materials. The new formula of the Carbo-Titanium HP62 G2 and Carbo-Triax HP62, developed for the ultra-reinforced central monocoque of the Pagani Imola and Roadster BC, was created to reduce weight while increasing torsional and bending stiffness. The extreme research for weight saving conducted by Pagani over the years has led to the increasingly extensive use of noble alloys, such as those of aluminum, titanium and chrome-molybdenum steel, allowing a general optimization in terms of mechanical properties and lightness and a greater aesthetic experimentation. On the new born Pagani Imola the effort involved more than 770 forged or CNC-machined components, this time featuring the newly developed texture-look finish specifically applied to the aluminum alloy parts. Pagani Imola takes the fanatical attention to weight-saving to new heights, with the introduction of Acquarello Light, a new bespoke painting system that represents a further evolution of Pagani’s advanced state of the art, allowing to reduce the weight of the paint by 5 kg while maintaining color richness, depth and shine unchanged. The innovative braking system built by Brembo has been optimized, through intensive aerodynamic study and countless dedicated tests, to further improve the entire cooling system. Working with Pirelli and the newly created Next MIRS system, Pagani developed tires for a vehicle that would provide an excellent performance on track but would also be “communicative” and easy to drive, in true Pagani style.
