SimplyAbuDhabi IX

H owever with their latest creation, it looks like Pagani have done it again. The Huayra, named after Huayra-tata, the god of the winds, is truly spectacular to behold, even more spectacular to drive. The car's appearance is the kind of feast for the senses we've come to expect from Pagani. A series of sensuous sweeping curves combine to form a thing of real beauty, while the trademark gullwing doors provide a stunning centrepiece and open to reveal an interior that couldn't be anything but Pagani. Inside, the totally bespoke cabin is certainly ornate but when you slide into the driver’s seat a smile spreads across your face. The detailing is exquisite, the materials – titanium, carbonfibre, leather – are sumptuous, and the driving position is perfection. Reach above your head and pull the leather strap down hard to close the door, then turn the key and you'll experience a truly wonderful sound as the Mercedes AMG twin-turbo V12 situated just behind you bursts into life. It's a sound you'll soon learn to both love and respect when you discover just what that fabulous engine has to offer and how the sensational Pagani sub-frames and suspension set up translates all that power into a completely unforgettable driving experience. The Huayra's handling is simply incredible. Push the car hard into a corner and you'll see the two flaps at the nose and the tail of the Huayra that pop up in tandem on straights, suddenly operate individually. Why individually? Because this forces the inside, unloaded wheel back into the surface, seamlessly upping downforce at that critical moment and negating the need for a rear spoiler. It's this kind of technology and endless quest for perfection that marks out Pagani as the ultimate in supercars and justifies the kind of loyalty that drivers show for the marque.