Driver's Notebook: An Exclusive Spin in Supercar Valley

Robert Farago

06/04/2002

In the hills high above Italy’s “Supercar Valley,” the tarmac leading from Modena to Zocca twists and turns like an amphetamine-crazed snake. During the heat of the day, the mountain pass is almost clear, but the severity of the bends makes even a single other car a major hindrance to a driver. Stuck behind an ancient truck or a rusting Fiat, you’ve got no more than 1,000 yards to make your move, and most of the time, less. If you don’t want to spend your day sucking smoke, you must be bold, decisive and fast. Very, very fast.

If you’re gripping the leather-clad steering wheel of the Pagani Zonda C12S, this is not a problem. Shift into second, nudge the wheel to the left, press the loud pedal, and go. The 7.3-liter, V-12 Mercedes AMG engine bellows, roars, yowls, then screams, unleashing a tsunami of seamless shove. Time and distance instantly and violently meld into a single entity. Less than two seconds later, the slower vehicle flashes by the passenger window as if pulled backward by a rubber band. Turn the Zonda’s wheel to the right, and you’re back on your side of the road, with room to spare.

Well, almost. As the brutal acceleration indicates, the Zonda is a fully paid-up member of the supercar club, and as such, it’s impossibly, ridiculously wide. At nearly 7 feet across, the car fills a standard lane of traffic. Luckily, the Zonda’s handling is so precise and predictable that maintaining lane discipline is easy—even at speeds that defy both law and logic. But in Italy, even trucks prefer the racing line. Driving a $350,000 car on a cliffside road that is only sporadically punctuated by pre-dented guardrails, with no run-off area whatsoever, provides an instant lesson in the meaning of the word “vigilance.”

And also “fun.” Take one sharp corner in the Zonda at speed, and you’re hooked. The steering and suspension are so direct and perfectly judged you wonder where the machine ends and your nervous system begins. A serious speed merchant can exploit the sweet-handling chassis to slide the massive machine around a bend. Mere mortals can enjoy the Zonda’s talents simply by keeping everything smooth and steady. Fast in, fast out. Get into a rhythm and you’ll soon know you’re in the world’s fastest car—that is, the car you can drive faster, and with more confidence, than any other. And if you somehow manage to overcook it, Mercedes’ ASR (Automatic Skid Reduction) waits patiently to help you out.
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.”

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.
Sr. Pagani has also paid close attention to the interface between man and machine. Twin periscopes on the dash deliver enough cold air to banish the usual roasting effects of a supercar’s greenhouse-like cockpit. The made-to-measure carbon fiber seats provide the ideal balance of comfort and support. The Zonda’s suspension is endlessly communicative, yet compliant enough for long journeys. You’re surrounded by sumptuous leather, polished aluminum and glassy-smooth carbon fiber. The cabin’s only failing is the radio, a fiddly little Japanese unit that cleverly disguises the “on” button, and somehow manages to make FM sound like AM. Buyers are advised to replace it with something more serious, or yank it out and let the mighty Mercedes engine provide the soundtrack.

In short, the Pagani Zonda is easy to drive and built to last. If it wasn’t wider than a moving van and lower than a grasshopper’s ankles, this car could even be considered as a viable, everyday alternative to a Porsche Turbo. Which is, of course, a bit silly. Even a glance at the enormous Group C Racer–style body is enough to tell you this mad, bad machine belongs in the wide garage of an enthusiast, rather than hogging two spaces in a public parking lot. In two years’ time, American collectors will get their chance. Whether they can see past the manufacturer’s lack of racing pedigree and the car’s enigmatic styling remains to be seen. If they do, they will own one of the finest driving machines ever made. (Click image to enlarge)

Meanwhile, you might be interested to know that a “zonda” is a dry, winter wind that descends from the Andes’ eastern slopes. It usually precedes the pampero, a severe windstorm with rain, thunder and lightning. Given the ferocity of the Zonda automobile and the company’s initial success, the traditional supercar establishment had better watch out. The Pagani Pampero must surely be on its way.
Sculpting Dreams In Carbon Fiber
If you visit Modena Design’s headquarters in Castelfranco Emilia, don’t miss the battered toy cars proudly displayed in a glass case. They are Horacio Pagani’s first attempts at car design, when the baker’s son was just a boy. Growing up in South America, Pagani had few opportunities to realize this early passion for automobile design. When he began his professional life, his efforts were restricted to creating trailers and caravans. Still, Pagani gained valuable experience with lightweight materials. So when the jobless Argentinean presented himself to Lamborghini, he had more to offer than raw enthusiasm.

Pagani gradually parlayed a small job in the Sant’Agata factory into a more responsible position, leading Lamborghini’s early experiments with carbon fiber. His work culminated in the experimental Countach Evoluzione, the world’s first composite chassis sports car. When Lamborghini pulled the plug on Pagani’s baby, the designer saw his chance. He bought Italy’s first carbon fiber autoclave and founded Modena Design, creating specialized parts for Ferrari, Dallara, Aprilia and, of course, Lamborghini. (Click image to enlarge)

Drawing on Modena Design’s commercial success, Pagani returned to his boyhood ambitions, and the Zonda slowly took shape. Pagani personally designed every single part, from the alloy suspension arms to the brushed aluminium toggle switches. The latest Italian supercar made its international debut at the Geneva Auto Show in spring 2000. Glowing press reports gradually spread the word to the car-collecting elite, creating enough demand for some 25 cars per year. Sr. Pagani’s life is now spent refining the Zonda’s performance and style, and designing his next exquisite toy.
Pagani Zonda C12S
-ENGINE: 7,291cc dohc V-12,
longitudinal, mid-mounted, RWD
-POWER: 555 hp at 5,900 rpm
-TORQUE: 553 ft lbs at 4,050 rpm
-ZERO-TO-60 TIME: 3.6 seconds
-TOP SPEED: 210 mph (est.)
-TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual
-LENGTH: 173.7 inches
-CURB WEIGHT: 2,756 pounds
-PRICE: $350,000 (est.)
Available Spring 2004

(Click image to enlarge)