{"id":52741,"date":"2026-07-30T15:40:53","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T13:40:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.italpassion.fr\/?p=52741"},"modified":"2026-07-30T11:14:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T09:14:34","slug":"the-former-top-gear-stig-reveals-why-pagani-rejected-the-best-transmission-on-the-market-and-why-it-added-a-second-engine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.italpassion.fr\/en\/pagani\/lancien-stig-de-top-gear-revele-pourquoi-pagani-a-refuse-la-meilleure-boite-de-vitesses-du-marche-comme-ajouter-un-deuxieme-moteur\/","title":{"rendered":"The former Top Gear Stig reveals why Pagani turned down the best transmission on the market: \u2018It\u2019s like adding a second engine\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Horacio Pagani has never made a secret of his passion for perfection. But according to Ben Collins, the former Stig from Top Gear<\/em>, this quest goes far beyond a simple attention to detail: it revolves around a true obsession\u2014the quest to shave off even the slightest kilogram. As a guest on the Cars & Money podcast, the British driver\u2014who has long tested the world\u2019s most extreme cars for the BBC show\u2014recounted a memorable conversation with the founder of Pagani<\/a>. A conversation that perfectly sheds light on the Italian brand's sometimes controversial technical choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A choice that has been criticized\u2026 but one he stands by because of the weight<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When the Pagani Huayra<\/a> When it hit the market, many journalists pointed to its single-clutch automated transmission. At a time when Ferrari was already making dual-clutch transmissions standard and Porsche was establishing its famous PDK, the solution chosen by Pagani seemed outdated. Ben Collins acknowledges, in fact, that the Huayra\u2019s first two gears were particularly jerky. But behind this decision lay an ironclad logic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Pagani Huayra 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Pagani Huayra 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The former Stig recalls a conversation he had directly with Horacio Pagani at the Italian manufacturer\u2019s workshops. According to him, the creator of the Huayra explained that the only dual-clutch transmission capable of handling the torque of the AMG V12 was the one used in the Bugatti Chiron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem? Its weight. \u00abThat transmission weighed as much as our engine,\u00bb Horacio Pagani reportedly explained to him. \u00abIt was like adding a second engine to the car. \u00bb Faced with this reality, Pagani\u2019s founder believed a choice had to be made: prioritize fast, smooth gear changes or preserve the car\u2019s overall lightness. For him, the answer was obvious. The choice therefore fell on a 7-speed Xtrac automated sequential transmission (single-clutch). This 7-speed Xtrac sequential transmission is mounted transversely and can handle torque exceeding 1,000 Nm, while saving 70 kg compared to a conventional dual-clutch transmission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lightness Above All Else<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This philosophy has shaped Pagani's entire history. Since the Zonda<\/a> until the Huayra<\/a>, every component is designed to reduce weight, even if it means foregoing certain technologies that have become standard among competitors. Ben Collins fully understands this approach. For him, a sports car must above all remain lightweight, responsive, and offer an immediate response to the driver\u2019s inputs. He points out that adding increasingly heavy components inevitably detracts from the driving experience. In his view, this obsession with weight explains why Pagani has long resisted the trend toward dual-clutch transmissions, despite criticism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n