$5m Pagani Huayra BC Roadster unleashed

The drapes have been pulled off the new Pagani Huayra BC Roadster -- the fastest, most hard-core drop-top the Italian hypercar-maker has ever built.

Like the Huayra BC Coupe it's based on, the roofless Pagani adopts its 'BC' initials from Benny Caiola – the Ferrari collector who became Pagani's first customer.

Featuring a removeable carbon-fibre hard-top, Pagani claims the BC Roadster tips the scales at just 1250kg – only 32kg more than the BC Coupe and 30kg less than the Huayra roadster.

The key to the weight loss is plentiful use of lighter materials including a new carbon-titanium construction that is both lighter and stronger than regular carbon-fibre.

Featuring a new, completely redesigned body, the Huayra BC Roadster is claimed to be capable of generating up to 500kg of downforce at 280km/h, mainly thanks to underfloor elements like flaps next to underfloor exhaust pipes that mimic an F1 car's blown diffuser.

Under the rear boot lid, like the BC Coupe, the hard-core Huayra coupe gets the same twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre V12 that pumps out an earth-trembling 588kW and 1050Nm of torque.

Channelling its power to its rear pair of wheels is a seven-speed single-clutch automated manual, sourced from XTrac.

Pagani hasn't released performance figures yet but it's thought the lightweight powerful drop-top should be capable of a sub-3.0sec sprint to 100km/h – if those wide rear tyres can summon enough traction.

Just 40 Huayra BC Roadsters will be made, the Italian car-maker says, with each priced at an incredible $5 million (plus local taxes) – almost three times what Pagani charges for the Huayra.

If you fancy one, even at the astronomical price, you're too late. All have already been spoken for.