Auto Concept

The Pagani Zonda is a sports car built by the Italian manufacturer Pagani. It debuted in 1999, and production ended in 2011. As of June 2009, 206 Zondas had been built, including test mules. Both 2-seat coupe and convertible versions have been produced. Construction is mainly of carbon fiber.

Some of the early Zonda engineering was done by Formula One champion Juan Manuel Fangio. The car was originally to be named the "Fangio F1" after him but, following his death in 1995, it was renamed for an air current above Argentina.

The Zonda C12 debuted in 1999 at the Geneva Motor Show. Powered by a 6.0 L (366 cu in) Mercedes-Benz V12 engine producing 394 PS (290 kW; 389 hp) at 5200 rpm and 570 N·m (420 lb·ft) at 3800 rpm mated to a 5-speed manual transmission gearbox. The C12 could accelerate to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 4.2 seconds and to 100 mph (160 km/h) in 9.2 seconds.

Just five of the original 6.0 L Zondas were built, though it was still available in 2002 when the C12 S debuted. One was used for crash testing, while another was a demonstrator and show car. The remainder were delivered to customers during the next three years, priced at US$320,000.

The Zonda S uses a 7.0 L (427 cu in) AMG–tuned version of the engine producing 550 PS (400 kW; 540 hp). It can accelerate to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.7 secs, to 100 mph (160 km/h) in 7.5 secs and complete the quarter mile in 11.3 secs. Lateral acceleration on the skidpad is 1.18 g (11.6 m/s²), it can reach a top speed of 208 mph (335 km/h), and carries a price tag of US$500,000.

The Zonda S features an elongated nose, flaps at the rear for improved aerodynamics, and new light clusters and exhausts. Only fifteen 7.0 L Zonda S cars were produced.

The Zonda S 7.3 of 2002 used a new, larger V12 engine displacing 7.3 L (445 cu in) designed and manufactured by Mercedes-Benz AMG producing 555 PS (408 kW; 547 hp) and 750 N·m (550 lb·ft), to better handle the power,traction control and ABS were made standard. Performance claims were unchanged from the Zonda S.

In February 2003 the UK automotive magazine EVO attempted a top speed run on the Autobahn in which the car top out at 198 mph (319 km/h), 10 mph (16 km/h) off the mark of its claimed top speed of 208 mph (335 km/h). Company representatives at Paganis factory claimed this was the result of the car being in the setting for maximum down force, something that would drop its top speed to around 200 mph (320 km/h). However, the EVO article claimed that aerodynamic parts, specifically ones which created drag were in fact removed during the run, bringing Paganis claims into question.

In 2003 Pagani presented the Zonda Roadster, a roadster version of the Zonda S 7.3 with production limited to 40 examples, carrying the same components as the coupe, Pagani promised no loss of performance, a claim supported by the minimal weight gain of just 30 kg.

As of 2005, nine roadsters had been built. According to Road & Track magazine, three more C12 S 7.3 cars had been built as of June 2005, but it is unclear whether they were roadsters or coupes. Motor Trend reported in their January 2006 issue that 60 Zondas of all types had been built.

The Zonda F debuted at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. It is the most extensive re-engineering of the Zonda yet, though it shares much with its predecessors including the 7.3 L AMG V12 engine which through enhanced intake manifolds, exhaust and a revised ECU now produces 602 PS (443 kW; 594 hp) at 6150 rpm and 560 lb·ft (759 N·m) at 4000 rpm.

With Marc Basseng at the wheel the Zonda F CS lapped the 12.9 miles (20.8 km) Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7:24.7.^[2]

Production of the Zonda F will be limited to 25 cars, not US compatible. The next model (named the Huayra), will be fully EPA/DOT compatible.

The Zonda F, named after Formula One driver Juan Manuel Fangio, comes with an extra head light and different fog lights at the sides, new bodywork (revised front end, new rear spoiler, more aerodynamic vents all around) that improves the cars aerodynamics and different side mirrors. Further enhancements over the S centre around optional carbon/ceramic brakes developed in conjunction with Brembo, magnesium wheels, inconel titanium exhaust system, hydroformed aluminum intake plenum and a redesigned Z preg weave in the crash structure to improve rigidity and reduce weight.

The Zonda Roadster F debuted at the 2006 Geneva show. It is similar to the coupe, but with a removable carbon fibre roof and canvas side curtains weighing just 5 kilograms (11 lb). Production of the Roadster F is suggested at 25 units.

The Roadster F is able to maintain chassis rigidity without any gain in curb weight by eschewing conventional thinking by not strengthening the sills - a process which would have needed more than 35 kilograms (77 lb) of reinforcement. Pagani instead uses racing car thinking, materials and construction techniques, strengthening the firewall structure of the chassis tub together with billet alloy braces that connect the points where the roof rails would have joined. The windscreen is also strengthened for safety reasons. These techniques enable the Roadster to have virtually the same weight as the coupe, 1,230 kilograms (2,700 lb).

The Zonda Roadster F Clubsport was tested by Top Gears The Stig and achieved a lap time around their test track of 1:17.8, beating the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 tested during the same episode, but lost in a quarter mile drag race against the Veyron by nearly 2.5 seconds. According to James May, the Zonda F Roadster costs £825,000.

The Zonda Cinque was meant to be the last iteration of the Zonda, being a road going version of the Zonda R. Only five were built at the cost of £1 million ($1,930,700), with deliveries set to June 2009 for all five cars.

The differences over other road-going Zondas are the new 6-speed sequential gearbox, resulting in shifts now taking less than 100 milliseconds, dropping 0–62 mph down to 3.4 seconds. The Cinque also has a revised form of carbon fibre called "carbo-titanium" which incorporates titanium to increase strength and rigidity. Suspension makes use of magnesium and titanium components, and the engines power has been increased to 678 PS (499 kW; 669 hp). Revised bodywork, which includes a longer front splitter, new sideskirts, rear diffuser, bumper canards and a flatter underside as well as a roof-mounted air intake scoop, enables the Cinque to create 750 kg (1,653 lb) of downforce at 300 km/h (186 mph) and 1.45 G of cornering force.

The Roadster has the same specs as the Coupé from which its derived and only 5 units were built, with a price of £1.3-million/US$2 million plus local taxes.

The final mass-produced Zonda was originally conceived as a one-off; there were actually three Tricolores built. It was built as a tribute to the countrys aerobatic team. It carries a lot of the body from the Zonda Cinque. The car is unpainted except for a clear blue lacquer and red, white and green stripes that run up from the nose along the top of the cars surface. Unique to this car is a small wing placed behind the cockpit which reflects tricolores Aermacchi MB-39 PAN stunt planes tail wing. The three Tricolores will be priced at 1.2 Million pounds. Its also 6 mph (9.7 km/h) faster than a standard Zonda at 220 mph (350 km/h).