Beating on a Million Kilometer Zonda

The legend of "il Nonno" is well know, the second ever Pagani Zonda ever made has been the factory test mule for some 14 years.   In that time it raked up 1.1 million kilometers, over 680,000 miles of testing, a testament to good maintenance at least.

Over the years this orange Zonda has been upgraded as all the new bits were developed,and is now essentially the same 760 RS spec as the purple one Lewis Hamilton owns, minus the manual transmission.

The yellow ostrich skin interior may be Mansory nasty but damn this car loves a beating.  As much as we hate being passengers, some don't seem to mind so we get this video of Pagani test driver, the aptly named Davide Testi, just RIPPING though the Modena's outskirts.  

Ken Block, take note

Huayra Monkey

Be honest, would you rather spend $1.4 M on this rolling sculpture built in gorgeous factory in Emilia-Romagna or $1 M on a re-bodied Elise with a pushrod engine built in a shady Texas garage?

Surprised Harris can't think of another 730HP two wheel drive car though. Really? He could probably see one from where he filmed this clip!

You can follow Chris HArris on twitter @harrismonkey and read more about the Huayra at PistonHeads

Art and Science

Thank you JF!

by [JR] .

Carbon Bug

(photo by Philipp Murphy)

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Horacio Pagani: 6:47 was easy

Amazing...



end of post

Snapshot: Horacio Pagani and the 6:47 R

Horacio Pagani with a Zonda R, Circuit Paul Ricard July 2010 by Savan Calians


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6 Minutes 47 Seconds: Pagani embarrases Ferrari

(photo by [ JR ]

In the battle of the track toys, cars that are not road cars but are not really race cars either, Horacio Pagani has just struck a big blow to Ferrari: a 6 minute 47 second lap of the Nürburgring with a Zonda R.
This is even faster than Radical SR8LM some people claim is a "street car" and a massive 11 seconds faster than the recent lap with the 599XX Ferrari claimed as a record for a "production derived" car.

Pagani were cleverer than Ferrari in that they hired Marc Basseng a driver with massive experience at the 'ring who, EVO reports, figures there is is still much time to be had in the car, possibly down to a sub 6:40!

In the end of course Nürburgring track records are about a meaningful as winning the Track Day World Championship, it's time for Pagani to go racing and see how they do.







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Monaco: What do you drive?

The racing may not always be the most exciting but one of the great things about GP week in Monaco is the sheer quantity of dream cars, those seen only in glossy car magazines, that descend on the principality and are there for all to drool over as they compete for parking spots on the Place du Casino.

This great set by "Nicars-06" gives the idea perfectly.

Full Screen Slideshow



And here is the rest of it.

The Pagani Zonda R, the ultimate track day world championship tool.

Perhaps best to just let figures speak for themselves:

Not street legal, not eligible for any racing series.

6000 cc V12

750 hp

1070kg (2360lbs)

0-100km/

€ 1.4 Million

Limited to 15 (just to make the 30 FXX owners mad)

Stee and I were just discussing Pagani Zondas yesterday.  This Zonda R  certainly is a rolling work of art, but would you choose it over an FXX if you had to?

Don't miss the video clips after the jump...for the sound, it's quite amazing.


(Pagani and carplatform.com)



And here is the rest of it.

Pagani Zonda F Clubsport Nürburgring lap.

The latest installment of the Supercar Movies/Black Falcon supertest has been published. Can the Pagani Zonda F Clubsport better the Maserati MC12's lap time? The big Maserati used it's superior aerodynamics to overcome a power disadvantage and less than perfect brakes and was faster than both the Enzo Ferrari and the heavy Koenigsegg CCX.

The Zonda gets good marks for it's engine and brakes, not so good marks for wht I always objected to about the car , the gawdy non-funtional interior. From the video it looks like the car would be faster with some of the understeer dialled out, the driver has to use massive amounts of lock and the front tires scream for mercy in all the tighter sections.

Find the lap video HERE



Pagani Zonda F:

Engine: Mercedes-Benz AMG 12 cylinder V 60°, 48 valves; displacement 7291 cc.
Max. Power: (kW) hp/rpm (478) 650/6200.
Max. Torque: Nm/rpm: 780/4000.
Weight-to-Power ratio: 1,89 kg/hp.
Intake manifold: aluminium hydroformed alloy/avional MHG-System.
Exhaust system: hydroformed steel and ceramic coated, inconel manifold, titanium muffler.
Transmission: longitudinal mid engine; rear wheel drive with self-locking differential.
Clutch: twin plate clutch.
Gearbox: mechanical 6 speed (+ reverse).
Brakes: 4 ventilated Brembo disks, hydraulic power brake.
Carbon-ceramic brakes: front 380x34 mm 6 piston caliper;
rear 380x34 mm 4 piston caliper.
Steering: TRW rack and pinion power assisted.
Wheels: Forged aluminium/magnesium alloy APP wheels; 19” front, 20” rear.
Tyres: Michelin Pilot Sport 2: front 255/35/19 rear 335/30/20.
Suspensions: 4 independent wheels with double A-arm; pull rod helical springs and Öhlins adjustable shock absorbers; anti-roll bar; aluminium/magnesium alloy suspension arms.
Structure: central carbon fiber chassis; front and rear Cr Mo space frames; carbon fiber “MD System” bodywork panels.
Dimensions: length 4435 mm; width 2055 mm; height 1141 mm; wheelbase 2730 mm;
dry weight 1230 kg (without Comfort Pack and with CCM brakes).
Weight distribution: 46% front; 54% rear.
Downforce: ~600 kg at 300km/h (Clubsport version);
downforce distribution: ~270 kg front; ~330 kg rear.
Vehicle-Diagnosis: TMD remote diagnosis. Texa Mobile Diagnostic.
Safety: ABS/Traction Control Bosch; central carbon fibre safety cell with steel and carbon fibre roll bar; front and rear impact energy absorbing structure in carbon fibre and Cr Mo.
Performance: acceleration 0-100 km/h 3,6 sec.; 0-200 km/h 9,8 sec.;
Lateral g’s: 1,4 g with SPORT setting;
Braking 200-0 km/h: 4,4 sec.;
Top speed: > 345km/h.

Supercars in Hell...

...the green hell that is.

Pardon the pun but this test runs rings around all others we have seen. This is how tests should be done: same time, same place, same driver, same amount of fuel and cars to factory spec. This is an Axis approved test.

Enzo Ferrari, Maserati MC12, Pagani Zonda R, Porsche Carrera GT and a Koeniggseg CCX, Supercar Movies and Black Falcon Performance really hit one out of the park.

The only improvement would be to have all the telemetry data available, perhaps in later episodes we will get that too. Below is the introduction and, after the jump, let's find out how the Enzo did on a timed lap around the Nürburgring.
(thank you Jay for the tip!)





Sorry but Supercarmovies.com objected to our direct use.... go see them on supercarmovies.com
Interesting about the shocks, whe we were at the Nürburgring, Dale Lomas told us the new M3 had similar issues, where dampners would overheat during the lap...

Can't wait for the next four episodes!

The Artisan

I'm not big on the Pagani Zonda but many love the car, here we have a clever little movie from Automobili Pagani that makes it seem as if Horatio Pagani builds every car himself from design to test drive. As it tuns out this is not too far from the truth and I guess is what makes the Zonda legend live.


download

Super toy

I'm not a fan of the Pagani Zonda, a fugly car with an interior only out-uglied by Spykers and TVR's. And while I do admire a car that springs from the mind of a single individual with no compromise and appreciate that Gordon Murray likes Horatio Pagani's creation, I still find the car soulless. Now, as befits a carmaker without racing heritage they have created a 1.2 million euro track toy that will not be legal in any race series, the Zonda R. Ferrari did the FXX but at least you get to run at Fiorano for your million.

However the specs are incredible and from above it does make a pretty picture