Update: Pagani Huayra’s Request Denied By NHTSA, But Still Huayra Will Make It To The US in 2013

As we previously reported, in 2000, NHTSA published a final rule that upgraded the requirements for air bags in passenger cars and light trucks, requiring what are commonly known as “advanced air bags” and all automakers had to comply with the regulations, but a few low-volume manufacturers like Tesla and Lamborghini were given exemptions. As expected, Pagani applied for a similar pass and because the company didn’t have the financial resources to develop such a system, the administration has denied its request. So, as a result, the company will have to go back to the drawing board and develop the required advanced airbag system as required by the NHTSA to sell their car in the United States, but this would cost them around $5.7 million. They can also skip out on this market as they did with the previous Zonda, and probably this will happen.

Update: Well, here comes the interesting part, because, according to GTspirit, Pagani decided start of US deliveries in first part of 2013.
“The US market is important to Pagani and the future of our company. The Huayra project had a US market introduction as a key goal from the start. The reception we are currently experiencing in the US fully supports our vision and will fuel our determination to successfully deliver the Huayra to our customers in the United States,” Pagani said.

So, Pagani confirms reports that a requested exemption for the advanced airbag rule has been denied by NHTSA but denies this will permanently disrupt a market introduction of the Pagani Huayra in the United States and, with preparations for the implementation of an advanced airbag system done, and testing well under way a successful market introduction of the Pagani Huayra in the United States with a delay of six to nine months is still feasible. This way we’ll see Pagani Huayra on the US roads as soon as the beginning of 2013.

Pagani Huayra is priced at $1.2 million.

Source: NHTSA (pdf)
Source for update: GTspirit
Image credit: Copyright 2011 Drew Phillips / AOL