Pagani marks founder's 70th with manual roadster

Pagani, the Modena-based hypercar manufacturer, has joined Ferrari in the revival of manually shifted supercars with the unveiling of the Huayra 70 Derecho, according to Motor1.com. The car marks the second of three special editions created to celebrate founder Horacio Pagani's 70th birthday, and pairs a twin-turbo AMG V12 engine with a gated shifter—a mechanical rarity in modern elite automotive design. The decision echoes Ferrari's own recent pivot toward manual transmissions in limited-edition models, signalling a broader turn among Europe's most exclusive carmakers toward mechanical engagement over automated convenience.

The Derecho's open-top configuration and manual gearbox represent a deliberate counterpoint to the automation that has come to dominate even the highest echelons of the motor industry. Motor1.com noted the car's positioning as part of a broader anniversary celebration, suggesting Pagani is using the milestone to underscore the founder's enduring philosophy: that driving should remain a visceral, direct experience. For Motor Valley—the stretch of the Emilia-Romagna plain that houses Ferrari, Lamborghini, Ducati and Pagani—the gesture reflects a shared conviction that mechanical craftsmanship and driver involvement remain the philosophical bedrock of the region's automotive identity, even as electrification reshapes the broader industry.

The limited production run and emphasis on analogue control suggest Pagani sees a market among collectors who value the ritualistic aspects of driving a manual car at speeds most roads cannot accommodate. This positioning has become increasingly common among Emilia-Romagna's supercar makers, who market their machines not merely as transportation but as expressions of engineering philosophy and regional heritage. The Huayra 70 Derecho thus serves as both birthday tribute and commercial statement: a reminder that Motor Valley's prestige rests not on speed alone, but on the promise of unmediated mechanical mastery.