Mr. Pagani and his cars will outlive the combustion engine, it seems.
There are plenty of companies that come bursting on the scene, usually with some form of showcar, that promises to be the next big thing. They tout big numbers, make bold claims about craftsmanship and engineering, and then disappear into the darkness from whence they came. That’s the timeline of most startup supercar companies.
But not Pagani. When its debut car, the Zonda arrived on the scene in 1999, it took the world aback. The brainchild of Lamborghini’s former composites whisperer, Horacio Pagani established his firm in 1992, and it’s clear that all the cars that bear his name carry a little bit of Pagani’s passion and love of the automobile.
In an interview with Autocar, Mr. Pagani said that while the company is still smaller than the likes of Ferrari or indeed his former employers Lamborghini, Pagani Automobili is profitable and stable, with decent turnover and very happy clientele. With an eye on the future, Mr. Pagani spoke about how the company intends to embrace the future of mobility, going further than just looking into it.
“There is electric car research already ongoing. Everyone is developing something in this [electric] direction. That is not something you can just pretend not to see. The management is already organising the company to have a division specifically for electric cars. By the end of 2018, the idea is to have a section where electric cars can be developed and tested.” — Horacio Pagani, Founder & CEO, Pagani Automobili S.p.A.
Pagani’s long-standing arrangement with Mercedes-Benz means that the electric vehicle will benefit from Merc’s knowhow too. However, while Mr. Pagani seems keen on the idea of an electric sports car, a hybrid powertrain isn’t quite to his liking. The interview revealed that he quite likes the Porsche 918 Spyder, but he doesn’t think Pagani would benefit from such a powertrain setup.
“I imagine a car that is fully electric. I love the design and the style of the 918, but it will only allow you to drive around 25km in full-electric mode. When the battery runs out, you are still carrying the batteries around with your combustion engine. That’s about 300kg of weight – useless weight.” — Horacio Pagani, Founder & CEO, Pagani Automobili S.p.A.
Though precious little else was revealed of the Pagani electric hypercar, one thing is clear: Neither Pagani Automobili nor Mr. Pagani himself are going anywhere anytime soon. They’re in it for the long-haul, and the industry is better for it.
Stay tuned to CarShowroom as we bring you more updates as they come.
