Pagani Zonda

Horacio Pagani is the man behind the Zonda. With experience gained by working at Lamborghini, he brought the Zonda C12 into fruition. The first prototype was seen at the 1999 Geneva Auto Show.

As a newcomer to the super car market, Pagani is taking on the top manufacturers. They completed this remarkable car in 1999 and will continue to sell it against the Ferrari Enzo, Porsche Carrera GT and Koenigsegg CC. The Zonda entered the super car market with their extended knowledge of carbon fiber construction. Before the car, Pagani manufactured carbon fiber components for third party manufacturers. They used the Zonda to showcase their high level of carbon fiber craftsmanship.

Each car is a carbon fiber masterpiece, with every layer of fiber being carefully lined up. Indeed, the Zonda eclipses Ferrari when it comes to carbon fiber construction. Much of the car sports unpainted, carbon fiber components, reminding the owner of what lies under the glossy paint.

The car is styled by Horacio himself. Early styling assistance comes from the great Juan Manuel Fangio. I have heard that motivation for the car's lines comes from Mr. Pagani's wife.

At the center of the Zonda is a Mercedes-Benz, AMG V12. New for 2002 is the 7.3 liter unit found in the 1995 SL 7.3 AMG. This is one of the largest V12s ever used in a road-going car. With increased displacement, no additional horsepower is realized. What the increased displacement offers is more torque earlier in the rpm band.

To cope with the additional torque, the Zonda now equipped with traction control. This is a new feature of the 7.3.

When considering the Zonda, it is hard not to compare it to the Ferrari Enzo. Both cars have a carbon-fiber monocoque with a midship, V12 driving the rear wheels. Easily, the Ferrari still has many advantages. It wins in shifting, braking, aerodynamics and handling. Remember, these are the most important aspects concerning a racecar. Despite that, the Zonda wins based on price and build quality (especially in the carbon fibre department). Both exclusive cars sprint to 60 mph in roughly the same time so you 0-60 junkies can call the cars 'even'.

The most remarkable fact behind the Zonda is that, as newcomer to the supercar market, it still competes with likes of Ferrari and Porsche. The Ferrari Enzo has benefited from fifty years of Ferrari racing while Pagani is entirely new. Horacio Pagani has done a job very few people in the world could do, and that is take on Ferrari with his first product.

The project of Argentinean born Horacio Pagani, the Pagani Zonda, the sole product of the company, is a Mercedes powered two seat sports car. Inspired by Group C racing cars and the late Fangio (a friend of Pagani's) the idea began to take shape in 1988. At that time Pagani was working for Lamborghini, a company he left later to establish his own company supplying composite materials (his area of excellence) to the automotive industry.

A Mercedes-Benz V12 engine (either a 6-litre with 394bhp or a 7-litre with 550bhp) is positioned centrally, driving the rear wheels. A central composite cockpit section has steel frames attached front and rear to which are attached the aluminum double-wishbone suspension and the engine/transmission unit. Braking is by four-pot Brembo calipers on ventilated discs all round. Early cars used a five speed gearbox, but after approximately the first 20 all are fitted with a six speed unit.

Two variants are produced, the C12 with the normal engine, and the C12S with the more powerful engine from AMG. The latter variant also has improved aerodynamics such as a longer nose section, a two piece rear spoiler as well as a different rear light and exhaust arrangement.

Internally the cabin is luxuriously trimmed with carbon fiber, aluminum and leather all mixed together.