--- title: "Horacio Pagani Is Sticking With V12s Because ‘No One Wants a Hybrid’" date: "2024-08-27" modified: "2024-08-27" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/horacio-pagani-is-sticking-with-v12s-because-no-one-wants-a-hybrid" categories: - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Pagani News" tags: - "hybrid" - "Pagani" - "Supercar" --- # Horacio Pagani Is Sticking With V12s Because ‘No One Wants a Hybrid’ ![]() *Pagani \Pagani S.p.A.\* When it came time to develop the [Pagani]() Huayra's successor, the engine was the first and most important component to figure out. Horacio Pagani and his team worked closely with [Mercedes-AMG]() to develop the motor that made the most sense at the time: a twin-turbo V8 hybrid. However, it quickly became obvious that electrifying Modena's newest hypercar added too much weight and ruined the family recipe—though there was an even heftier reason why a hybrid Pagani wouldn't see the light of day. The Utopia was ultimately unveiled in Sept. 2022, powered by what's become Pagani's middle finger to the industry: a 6.0-liter, twin-turbo V12. It produces 852 horsepower and can be had with a traditional manual transmission. No electric motors, no batteries. As Horacio Pagani explained to me at the unveiling of the [Utopia Roadster]() earlier this month, the lack of customer interest in a hybrid (and ultimately, EVs) put the final nail in the project's coffin. ![]() **Pagani* Pagani S.p.A.* "In reality, no one is interested in a hybrid car," Pagani told *The Drive*. "And I have hybrids in my collection; I have a [Porsche]() 918 and a few more. But when it's time for me to take a Porsche out for a spin, I'll take my 911R or Carrera GT. Our clients think along those lines. I believe that if you ask people, most of them will say that a hybrid is something extraordinary because it has all the problems of an electric car and all the problems of a combustion car—along with higher \[development and maintenance\] costs." With the current AMG V12 in the Utopia Coupe and Roadster developed to meet worldwide regulations, there was no need to reinvent the wheel then and introduce a hybrid or even a fully electric Pagani. The Argentinian visionary explained that back in 2017, an entire team was assembled to explore these propulsion systems, but once again, the combination of a severe weight penalty and lack of customer interest brought things to an end. "The hybrid V8 was considered, but the car was just too heavy, 400 or 500 kilos more, and our clients didn't want anything to do with it. We have to build what the client is going to buy from us," said Pagani. "In 2017, we built a team to work on an EV. The whole team was focused and excited—including myself—and we defined the concept for this car and we got to work with Mercedes-AMG and other partners. We even started working with [Lucid](), which has excellent technology in the world of EVs. But then this is what happened: customers were not interested. "It's not about being stubborn on whether it's electric or hybrid—they are all fresh challenges for us. Pagani is a family, we don't have a massive automaker or conglomerate behind us, we have to build what the customer wants to buy and we have to have lots of technology to rapidly pivot in case we need to change," he added. ![]() **Jerry Perez** ![]() **Pagani* Pagani S.p.A.* Not far from where my conversation was taking place with Pagani, Lamborghini was pulling the sheet off its new supercar; the [Temerario](). You guessed it, it's a hybrid. Whether [Lamborghini]() is being pressured from up top by its Volkswagen Group owners, or their clients are actually demanding electrified supercars, they won't say, but Lambo is not alone. Both Ferrari and [Maserati]() are also bolstering their hybrid and electric offerings to better comply with regulations. According to Pagani, the current V12 and its future evolutions are homologated until 2031, allowing him to "give the client what it wants" until then. As far as what's coming after 2031, Pagani put it this way: "We're doing everything we can to keep the V12." *Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()