The 2019 Pagani Huayra BC RoadsterNicholas Maronese Pagani, the Italian maker of hand-crafted hypercars with psychotic levels of performance, is, yes, reportedly thinking about building an SUV. According to an interview with Horacio Pagani himself on the digital pages of AutoCar, its a topic which has been discussed a number of times with collectors.In other news, pigs have learned to fly and old Alfas have suddenly become reliable daily drivers.We kid we should have known this development was coming, of course. Porsche, with the Cayenne, arguably opened the floodgates on the idea of a sports-car maker building SUVs. Now, theres a whole market full of stilt-wearing all-wheel-drive rigs from the likes of Bentley and Lamborghini.Still, we shouldnt fault the man for listening to his customers. After all, if the outrageously wealthy are asking him for a Pagani SUV to match their Zonda and Huayra, he would be silly to say no. Projects such as these pave the way for future car development, often with cubic acres of dollar bills.Pagani goes on to say that an SUV from the company that bears his surname would likely have a price tag in the neighbourhood of 3 million Euros ($4.4 million). They would access the technology of Mercedes-Benz a logical statement given the relationship between the two companies and maybe use the big SUV platform. A Pagani SUV based on a G-Wagen and stuffed with a V12 might not be so bad after all. The next hypercar from Pagani, set to replace the spellcheck-vexing Huayra, is scheduled to appear in the calendar year 2022. At its outset, the car will deploy a familiar Mercedes-AMG V12 twin-turbo, eschewing hybrid technology until a later time. In fact, Pagani said in the Autocar interview that the mighty V12 will be homologated until 2026, which is great news for gearheads who enjoy a screaming exhaust note.A move to electrification is on the horizon, of course, as only the most tone-deaf automaker would refuse to recognize consumer trends. Pagani is possibly the least tone-deaf CEO on the planet, so it makes sense that future hypercars from the brand will have some electrons in their
Origin: Yes, now Pagani’s mulling over building an SUV
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Bugatti mulling over SUV, 500-km/h Chiron variant
The Bugatti Galibier 16C ConceptHandout / Bugatti Bugatti said a while ago an SUV wasn’t in the cards. But times, they are a-changing, with an interview with Volkswagen boss Stephen Winkelmann revealing the premium automakers got a crossover utility at the ready and may be planning to build an even faster Chiron.Automobile Magazine sat down with Winkelmann to discuss the future of the storied brand and its forthcoming projects, and apparently the prospect of an SUV joining the lineup is very real.The design is done. Some potential customers have seen it, and they liked it. One or two influential people up in Wolfsburg were complimentary about it, Winkelmann said of what could become Bugattis second product beside the Chiron.But at this point there is no budget and no decision.The decision to make an SUV instead of an all-electric hypercar comes from demand, and a lack of a high-performance, high-end luxury CUV. The refusal to consider an all-electric hypercar also comes from battery technology being relatively young not good enough for a Bugatti yet, Winkelmann says. The CUV will definitely have some sort of electrification, however. Most Bugatti models are ultra-exclusive, and the CUV will be no different, but the body count wont be as low as the Chirons. Winkelmann says were not talking 100 cars a year here, but 600 to 800.As for the Chiron itself, its not going anywhere soon, with Winkelmann saying it will be another five years before the finishing touches are put on the evolution of the vehicle. That evolution might encompass a 500-km/h version, as well as an open-topped variant though likely not in the same
Origin: Bugatti mulling over SUV, 500-km/h Chiron variant
Mazda is mulling over a new Mazdaspeed3, but might not call it that
Miss the Mazdaspeed3? Mazda says it was childish and we wont see anything like it in the next little while.Handout Mazda could be planning to build another Mazdaspeed3 for the first time since 2013. Representatives have confirmed to Autocar and Car and Driver the Japanese brand is seriously considering adding a performance version of its new Mazda3 to the lineup. According to Mazda program manager Kota Beppu, Mazda is very close to approving the proposed vehicle. It would directly face off against the Volkswagen GTI, which has been the benchmark for hot hatchbacks for many years. Mazda already has all the ingredients for the perfect hot hatch recipe, namely a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder from the CX-9 and CX-5 SUVs that makes up to 250 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s a huge bump up from the 228 horsepower found in the GTI and encroaches on Honda Civic Type R territory and Golf R territory, which also means that the zero-to-96-km/h times could be as slinky as 5.0 seconds. All that twist would be sent to all four wheels, a serious upgrade from the front-drive-only models. It won’t just be a track toy, however; Mazda has gotten much better at injecting luxury into the everyday norm, and this new model could be no different. The previous-generation Speed3 was a little harsher than most and was more suited to performance driving, but this new one, if it happens, will be more livable while still delivering thrills. After all this though, it will be down to the enthusiasts to decide if Mazda will build a new Speed3 or not. Mazda has said if people really want them to build the vehicle to let them know. So scream loud, hot hatch
Origin: Mazda is mulling over a new Mazdaspeed3, but might not call it that
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