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Pagani Huayra BC: The 20-Car Huayra Named After Its First Customer
The Pagani Huayra BC was a lighter, harder version of the Huayra hypercar, revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2016. It was named after Benny Caiola, Pagani's first customer. Pagani quoted about 588 kW (800 PS) from the Mercedes-AMG V12 and a dry weight of 1,218 kg. Twenty cars were planned at about €2.3 million before taxes, and all were sold before the show.
Key takeaways
- Revealed in March 2016 at Geneva; a Huayra derivative, not a new generation.
- Twin-turbo 6.0-litre AMG V12, about 588 kW (800 PS) claimed at the reveal.
- Dry weight 1,218 kg, 132 kg less than the standard Huayra.
- 20 cars planned at about €2.3 million plus taxes, all sold in advance.
Who was Benny Caiola?
Benny Caiola was born in Italy, moved to the United States at 17 and made his fortune in property development. He became the first person to buy a Pagani, a Zonda. He died in 2010, aged 79. Horacio Pagani's dedication reads: "Dear Benny, I dedicate the Huayra BC to you, from my heart."
Our April 2016 report called the BC a second-generation Huayra, which was not correct. The Huayra BC was a lightweight derivative of the 2011 car, with new bodywork and a reworked drivetrain. The standard Pagani Huayra remained on sale alongside it.
Huayra BC specifications
| Item | Huayra BC (Pagani data, 2016) |
|---|---|
| Engine | Mercedes-AMG 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 |
| Power | about 588 kW (800 PS) claimed; later data list 562 kW (764 PS) |
| Torque | about 1,100 Nm claimed; later data list 1,000 Nm |
| Gearbox | Xtrac 7-speed automated manual, single clutch |
| Dry weight | 1,218 kg |
| Wheels | 20-inch front, 21-inch rear, Pirelli tyres |
| Planned run | 20 cars |
| Price | about €2.3 million before local taxes |
Sources differ on power, so we give both figures. Even at 562 kW, each kilowatt moves about 2.2 kg, by our calculation. You can repeat the sum for any car with the power-to-weight calculator.
Where the BC saved weight
Pagani used a new composite called carbon-triax, claimed to be about 50 % lighter and 20 % stronger than ordinary carbon fibre. The suspension lost 25 % of its weight, and the gearbox and differential up to 40 %. The exhaust was partly titanium.
The Huayra BC's Xtrac gearbox used carbon synchronisers. Pagani claimed 75-millisecond shifts, about twice as fast as the standard Huayra's unit. Our old report also noted that the handbrake lever had gone, and the gearbox kept a single clutch. Dallara helped develop the aerodynamics, with a large splitter, canards, a big diffuser and a rear wing.
What Pagani built after the BC
| Year | Model | Output | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Huayra | 544 kW | about 100 coupés planned |
| 2016 | Huayra BC | about 588 kW claimed | 20 planned |
| 2019 | Huayra Roadster BC | 590 kW (802 PS) | 40 |
| 2020 | Huayra Imola | 616 kW (838 PS) | 5 for customers |
| 2021 | Huayra R (track only) | 625 kW, naturally aspirated V12 | 30 |
| 2022 | Huayra Codalunga | 618 kW (840 PS) | 5 |
| 2022 | Utopia, the third Pagani model | 635 kW (864 PS) | 99 coupés |
Later accounts say Pagani eventually built more Huayra BC coupés than the 20 first announced, though the exact number varies.
The Huayra BC in 2026
In October 2026 a Huayra BC can only be bought privately or at auction. Pagani's range has moved on to the Pagani Utopia, revealed in Milan in September 2022, which still uses an AMG V12 and offers a manual gearbox.
The Huayra BC suits collectors who want the most focused road-legal Huayra coupé; open-air fans would pick the Roadster BC, and track-day owners the Huayra R. The company's story is in the history of Pagani; rivals can be set side by side in the comparison tool.
FAQ
What does BC stand for in Pagani Huayra BC?
BC are the initials of Benny Caiola, the Italian-born American property developer who bought the first Pagani, a Zonda. He died in 2010, and Pagani named the car in his memory.
How much did the Pagani Huayra BC cost?
At the March 2016 reveal the price was reported at about €2.3 million before local taxes. All 20 planned cars had been sold before the public saw the car.
How powerful is the Huayra BC?
Pagani quoted about 588 kW (800 PS) and roughly 1,100 Nm at the reveal. Later specification data list 562 kW (764 PS) and 1,000 Nm for the coupé.
Is the Huayra BC lighter than the normal Huayra?
Yes. Its dry weight is 1,218 kg, which is 132 kg less than the standard Huayra. The savings came from carbon-triax panels, lighter suspension and a lighter gearbox.
