Pagani Utopia Roadster revealed, and it’s a V12, roofless work of art

Sometimes art doesn’t need an extensive explanation. If for whatever reason something hits you in the right spot, you don’t have to say a word. Which makes this story about the new V12 Pagani Utopia Roadster with a manual transmission a bit… challenging.

Because oops. Of course, Pagani is a specialist in blending art and technology together – modeled after Horace’s great idol, da Vinci – but the carbon red AMG V12 roadster doesn’t need much explaining. It’s just good. Very very good.

Let’s start with a little context. Pagani designed the Utopia as both a hardtop and a Roadster, meaning that this version is pretty much and literally a carbon fiber copy: monocoque, suspension, brakes and all. It also means a dry weight of just 1280kg, just like the coupe, which is nothing short of stunning in the world of the 2.4t BMW M5 in 2024.

“Ah-ha,” you yell, “I see a hard top on this car too!” And you’re right: the new Utopia Roadster is basically three cars in one. Indeed, there is a hardtop cover – with a clear panel – that can be removed and stored in your air-conditioned garage or living room, along with a removable folding top that can be stored in the car.

Then, of course, there’s the version you’re all for, which ditches those pesky roof mounts and instantly transforms this 1280kg piece of unobtania into a moving (really, really fast) open-air theater via 6.0 liters of Merc – AMG goodness. It’s the same spec you get in the coupe, with twin turbos, 864bhp at 6000rpm and 811 torque available between 2800rpm and 5900rpm. Very very good specification.

It’s sent, like the coupe, to the rear wheels via your choice of an Xtrac seven-speed automated manual or a proper seven-speed manual up to 217 mph. Or, perhaps more appropriately, to the tune of the big, AMG V12 doing its thing, because 99 percent of the V12 roadster’s appeal is how that engine sounds like it’s bouncing off the mountains. In the coupe, we said the noise was “both soothing and alarming.” Then it should be fine without the roof.

With the design of this carbon-titanium monocoque, the Roadster follows the shape of the coupe to the tee, Pagani simply assures us that the airflow is carefully guided around the car, through the wheel arches, around the sides and down to the trailing edge. .

The interior also follows the coupe pattern, so you immerse yourself in the world of handmade, exquisite analog jewelry. There are no massive portrait touchscreens, just dials, a gear stick, carbon and leather surfaces and a thick steering wheel. Like we said, very, very good.

Special shout out to the tires. Pirelli has devised “cyber tires”, each equipped with sensors that feed information back to stability control systems. Since it’s Pagani, he no doubt does it against the background of the opera.

It has an obvious premium over the coupe. Pagani is building just 130 Utopia Roadsters, each starting at €3.1 million before tax. So in the UK it’s at least… just over £3.1 million. We say start because “the sheer number of color and trim combinations available makes it impossible for two Utopia Roadsters to be identical.”

Speaking of specs, the Utopia Roadster will make its public debut next month with the optional “Sport” package. This means: more carbo-titanium in the seats (equipped with a 20 percent lighter seat pad), paddle shifters, shifter and floor mats, as well as a body surround, titanium exhaust, carbon “Aeroblade” deflectors on the wheels to help cool the Brembo brakes, and a set of Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tires.

Horacio himself uses a few words to describe his latest work, describing it as “the culmination of our ongoing research into creating objects combining the most sophisticated technology with timeless design”.