Driver's Notebook: An Exclusive Spin in Supercar Valley
June 4, 2002
The secret to this entirely new level of supercar user-friendliness is weight, or more specifically, the lack thereof. Enzo Ferrari used to say he sold customers an engine, and threw the body in for free. Horace Pagani could well say the opposite. His fortune was founded on his ability to fabricate carbon fiber, and the Zonda is a masterpiece of the art. Every possible part, from the body shell to the window–wiper mounting to the tiny luggage compartments, is fashioned from the low-weight, high-strength material. The resulting car weighs in at just 2,756 pounds, over a thousand pounds lighter than the slightly more powerful Lamborghini Murciélago. On the road, the Zonda’s power-to-weight ratio (444 bhp per ton) makes you wonder why the six gears aren’t labeled “Cleared for Takeoff, V1, V2, V3, Rotation, Takeoff.”; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc(); "Paganini C12S")
The Zonda’s acceleration is astonishing. In 3.6 seconds, it will blast from zero to 60 mph. In less time than it takes you to read this sentence, the C12S can sprint from a standstill to over 100 mph. The car’s in-gear times have yet to be properly measured, but personal experience suggests the Zonda will match Lamborghini’s finest blow for blow. According to test–driver Loris Bicocchi, the Zonda should skewer the bull at the top end by at least 5 mph, topping out at a staggering 210 mph. Again, when it comes to corners, there’s simply no contest. Compared to the Murciélago, the Zonda feels like a giant go-cart. (Click image to enlarge)
Normally, this would be the point where Italian super car limitations would spoil the party. Either the car would break or compromised ergonomics would take their toll.
Sr. Pagani has continued his reinvention of the breed by eliminating these bugbears. The Zonda’s build quality lives up to the standards set by its Mercedes, AMG–prepared engine. The car’s fit and finish are fanatical. All the controls snick home with sensual satisfaction. From the perfectly even shut lines to the seat’s leather stitching, the Zonda is as meticulously crafted as a Patek Philippe watch. The engine bay is pure Zen: nothing extra, nothing wasted, every gleaming component in perfect harmony with the whole.
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