In a world of hypercars competing for the most expensive price tag, the quickest 0-60 numbers, the highest top speed or the lowest drag coefficient, a brand stands out from the rest in its vision of the automobile as an art form: Pagani. Born out of the imagination of its creator, Argentinian craftsman Horacio Pagani, the Huayra continues the journey started by the brand in 1999 with the legendary Zonda. The obsession with every detail, from the jewel-like instrument cluster to the intricate linkage shifter, is paired with advanced technology that gives the Huayra proper performance credentials: active flaps that respond to driving behaviour, exquisite carbon-fibre bodywork, and a bespoke Mercedes AMG twin-turbo V12 powerplant (M158) that catapults the car to 60mph in a respectable 2.8 seconds, capable of achieving speeds up to 238mph.

The relative success of the young Pagani company lies in its product and its creator, and it’s easy to see why. In the tradition of Italian craftsmanship, each Pagani is painstakingly customized to a client’s preference, infusing each car with a distinctive personality. Futuristic yet retro, mechanical yet organic, the Huayra’s holistic design philosophy transpires in every rivet, every stitch, every lever, and every isolated shape conforming a greater whole, each being one of Horacio’s 100 children.

This particular car, a rare White Edition, is a two-owner car and just completed an extensive service to be mechanically ready for its next custodian. A European specification with less than 1,000 kilometres on the odometer, it is a fabulous piece to admire in contemplation and take to the road to experience its magic —exactly as it should be.