Earlier in the week Evo teased us with their concise review of the Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster. But Autocar have delivered the business with a video that perfectly illustrates the beautiful sounds produced by that AMG V12. Just check out the brutal exhaust rorting snap on upshifts!
[Thanks to Derek for the tip]
The Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster is sure a very special hypercar, sampled by only a special few. Thankfully, Evo has been kind enough to share their thoughts after spending some time with the car. We’ve only been granted a brief taste of the Cinque Roadster in their online piece, but the outcome seems clear.
“The best Zonda we’ve ever driven, much of the praise actually going to its automated gearbox, not seen on non-Cinque Zondas. The smooth roads we tested the car on suit its lowered, stiffer chassis perfectly – although we know from our previous Cinque encounter that while it looks almost race-car low, it copes remarkably well with less-than-perfect tarmac – and the gearchange is so much better than expected.”
[Source: Evo]
Pagani have just published a YouTube clip showing the Zonda R “record” lap of the Nürburgring. It’s a great lap to watch, too. The car is just so stable, there is no discernable body roll and the way the Zonda R gathers speed is mind blowing. But for a couple of missed gears, most notably on the climb out of Ex-Mühle, a 6:46 time may have been possible.
Click on the image above to watch the clip over at AUSringers.com.
Dutch website Auto Week brings us news of a Pagani C9 prototype being scrutinised by German Customs authorities. This gave one passer by a great opportunity to snap some pics of the Zonda successor. As you can see “Gullwing” style doors will be a feature of the C9.
It us understood the C9 will be powered by a twin turbocharged 6.0 litre V12. Peak power should give 700bhp a very serious nudge. The C9 should be in showrooms in 2011 with a first public showing possible as soon the Paris Motor Show in October.
[Source: Auto Week (translation below) via motorcentral | Pics: Mathijn Konings]
The Pagani Zonda R isn’t new, but this clip by Runimation Studios is. And it’s very, very good. To see how this epic farewell Zonda makes the most of its 551kW/709Nm 6.0 litre V12 make sure you take the jump below and turn your sound up to eleven.
[Thanks to Tiaan for the tip]
A Hong Kong driver has put the F into fail after crashing his Pagani Zonda F, one of just 25 ever made. Supposedly the pwner was returning from a track day when he remembered Murray Walker’s immortal words “unless I’m very much mistaken”, at which point he was indeed mistaken as he proceeded to plough into a row of parked cars.
A moment’s silence, please, as we pay our respects to the great work of Horacio Pagani that has been senselessly wasted.
[Source: Wrecked Exotics]
The Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster, just look at it! I doubt when Enid Blyton penned her well known kids books that she had a 678bhp Italian supercar in mind. But, such is the outrageous nature of the Zonda, that it could very well have been dreamed up by one of her audience.
The Zonda has always had a bit of fantasy about it, almost as if it is a child’s creation that found its way into a grown up’s world. Crazy curves and massive power make it all look a bit ungainly it has to be said. But somehow, a bit like Serena Williams, it all just works and the Zonda has etched its name into the history books as one of the most effective hypercars ever made.
Which brings us to the Cinque Roadster. As the name suggests just five examples have been thrown to the kiddies with the promise that they could do whatever they wanted to the already brilliant Zonda.
Some red crayon got spalshed about, you know, to make it go faster. Raw carbon fibre gets a pretty good airing. Just because it looks cool. And it has all been finished off with a lairy paint job and massive fat wheels.
In adult, that means the extra pace is courtesy of over 500kW and a plain greedy 780Nm supplied by the AMG enhanced Mercedes-Benz 7.3-litre V12. The carbon fibre helps reduce weight, and the 335mm rear wheels are there to give the driver at least some chance of taming the wild beast lurking behind.
No surprise, then, that all five models have already been sold. Global Financial Crises don’t exist in a child’s world.
I love Top Gear, even if that pink and purple striped top of James May’s needs to be retired. This week was another very fine episode.
James May tested the Pagani Zonda F Roadster on the Top Gear test track. His premiere appearance in such a test, and it was grand television indeed. The big news, though, was seeing the Bugatti Veyron setting a time for the Power Lap board. Despite annihilating the Zonda in a straight out drag, and despite lighting up the inside front wheel on the last corner (see below)…
Avid viewers will remember Harry Enfield‘s debut guest appearance (Series 1, Episode 1) where he set a 2 minute plus lap time. He returned this week to put that right.
There was a challenge, too, and the lads had to drive from Basel to Blackpool on one tank of fuel. Once at Blackpool the winner of the challenge would get to turn on the Blackpool Christmas lights. Jeremy Clarkson made it, amazingly, in a Jaguar V6 diesel. James May was not so fortunate, with his Subaru Legacy diesel going the distance, but he was too slow and missed the illumination ceremony. That leaves Hammond, who won the race, behind the wheel of a 3-cylinder Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion.