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Pagani Zonda
This is the first right-hand drive Pagani Zonda C12 S in the country, now with a bigger engine - 7.3 litres as opposed to the seven-litre model that we’ve tested in Italy. This pushes the Zonda’s power output up 12bhp to an intriguing 555. It’s an Italian supercar that’s worth just under £300,000, does 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds, hits 100mph in just 7.4 seconds and has a top speed of 220mph… To make sure there are no problems the car has a Mercedes engine, a light-alloy 60-degree V12 that’s been worked on by AMG, the division that produces the most powerful, extreme Mercs. And producing 555bhp at 5,900rpm from 7291cc is hardly putting any parts under high stress. No other car has this particular engine; it’s been made especially for Pagani. Which says a lot about how a company with the reputation of Mercedes-Benz feels about this project. Rightly so. This is no lash-up, no dodgy kit-car with ideas above its station. The Zonda has been put together with the kind of craftsmanship, flair, sturdiness and attention to detail that you’d expect for a whopping three hundred grand. The Pagani factory in Modena, northern Italy, enjoys a reputation for producing carbon-fibre components of fine quality. And it doesn’t get much finer than this incredible body. I’d seen pictures before, but they don’t really give a sense of scale. The Zonda is bigger and much swoopier than I expected. It has a cab-forward look to it, like a Le Mans race car. In fact, it would be so cool to see and hear this car blasting down the Mulsanne Straight. It’s even got a set of rear wings with extra Gurney flaps. The tub and bodywork are all carbon fibre with a steel frame to hold the mid-mounted engine. The cabin’s screens, windows and glass roof, bubble up from the aerodynamic shell, offering better visibility than some examples of exotica I could mention. If Pagani’s artisans are renowned for their carbon-fibre work, one look at the interior reveals that they’re also no slouches when it comes to aluminium and leather. Check out those lovely pedals (I also spy a Bosch attenuator under the accelerator - it’s a drive-by-wire system, then). Although the column stalks look sourced from Fiat, at least they’ve taken the trouble to embellish them with a bespoke bit of ally. And the other switches are similarly finished off, adding to the overall tactility of the interior. I step over the kickplate, ease down into the biscuit-coloured leather-covered bucket seat, haul the other leg in and make the necessary adjustments, including those cool insect-antennae door mirrors. And here’s another difference: there’s now a six-speed gearbox. It’s made by the same company that supplies Lamborghini. ?The ‘box needs to warm up a bit,? I’m warned. So, let’s get it warm. No gimmicky starter buttons, just a twist of the key and suddenly I’ve been set upon by a dozen violent Rottweilers. No, hang on, that’s just the roar of the 12 pistons on their titanium conrods. The pack of angry dogs quieten down to a continuous growl as I thunk into reverse, ease out of the drive, clunk into first, get very excited, then hit the main road. There are times when it doesn’t take much to realise that you’re in something special. This is one of those times. After only a quarter of a mile - not even getting above third, no amazing bends, just a kink here and a curve there - I can feel that the Zonda has a lot to offer, has an incredible turn of speed and a deep well of talent. The Zonda corners flat and tracks true, the front wheels wear wide’n'low 255/40 Michelin Pilots, while the rears are wider’n’ lower 345/35s, all set onto handsome split-rim OZ 18-inch alloys. But it’s not roller-skate skittish, there’s some pliancy to the ride. Given the time, the space, the roads (and preferably a bit more skill), I know there’d be a lot more entertainment value. Just coming off a roundabout and accelerating away tells me that much. We had already decided in advance to set the story up as if I was trying to abscond with the car and shot the photographs that way. But once, while I had just driven past the camera doing a cornering shot, the idea struck me: what if I really did disappear with the Zonda, just kept going? I mean, it’s not every day you get to drive a car like this, is it? Who could blame me? Then I remembered Roland telling me that as part of the package, he offers customers a lifetime Tracker service. And yes, one has been fitted to this car. Bugger.
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Contributor's Note
Pagani Zonda is beautiful car. more info on http://piske91blog.99k.org/?p=25
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This intel first appeared on: http://piske91blog.99k.org/?p=25
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The copyright for this content entitled "Pagani Zonda" has been specified by the contributor as:
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This intel was contributed by piske91
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May, 2012
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