Pagani Zonda R: Italian Track Attack

Motoring Channel Staff - 10/September/2007

Modena, Italy — Exotic Italian sports cars are often on the top of everyone's "if money was no object" list, but Pagani has just set the bar even higher with the announcement of its new Zonda R.

Originally conceived at the start of 2007, the new car is almost ready to roll and is being built specifically for the race track. The Pagani Zonda R is lighter and faster than its erstwhile siblings, and according to Pagani the new model was designed from scratch, despite its visual similarities with other Zonda cars.

Though it looks similar to the standard V12-powered Pagani Zonda sports cars, the Zonda R features just 10% of the components that were used on the Zonda F models. 

It looks more like an Le Mans racecar than anything else, featuring a huge rear wing, numerous air ducts and inlets for engine and brake cooling, plus a low front lip spoiler and an extended rear diffuser.

A possible race-track rival for the highly lauded Ferrari FXX, the new Zonda R from Pagani will be powered by a 550kW+ engine (750hp) built by Mercedes performance division, AMG. 

With such huge reserves of power motivating a lightweight carbon fibre body shell, the new Pagani sports car is expected to rocket from zero to 100km/h in just under 4.0 seconds, and with a top speed of more than 320km/h.

Pagani says that the new sports car was developed with a sole purpose: to be the best car on the racetrack. No compromises have been made, with safety the only exception. If you feel the need for speed on a race track, this new model will do just fine.

But it won't come cheap. At present Pagani's plans are to build just a handful of these extra special exotic cars for individual customers, who will have to fork out roughly US$1.5 million (A$1.82 million).

As as well as the carbon body panels, many of which are new to incorporate new aerodynamic and cooling aids, the new car is wider by 50mm, thanks to an extended track and wider rolling stock. The car's actual wheelbase has also been extended by 47mm, while the overall length of the car from the front to the rear end has increased by a considerable 394mm.

With more than 550kW of power finding its way to the rear wheels, the longer, wider body is more than necessary to contain the uprated forces.

We'll have detailed news and information on the Pagani Zonda R real soon.

Related articles:
- Pagani Zonda Roadster F (2006)
- Pagani Zonda C12-S 7.3 (2002)
- Pagani Zonda C12 (2001)