Pagani (company)

History

Horacio Pagani, who formerly managed Lamborghini's composites, founded Pagani Composite Research in 1988. This new company worked with Lamborghini on numerous projects, including the restyling of the 25th Anniversary Countach, the Lamborghini LM002, the P140 design concept, and the Diablo. In the late 1980s, Pagani began designing his own car, then referred to as the "C8 Project". Pagani planned to rename the C8 the "Fangio F1" to honour his friend, the five-time Argentinian Formula One champion Juan Manuel Fangio.

In 1991 Pagani established Modena Design to meet the increasing demand for his design, engineering, and prototyping services. In 1992, he began construction of a Fangio F1 prototype, and by 1993, the car was being tested at the Dallara wind tunnel with positive results. In 1994, Mercedes-Benz agreed to supply Pagani with V12 engines. The cost of these cars are at a total of 2.3 million dollars.

The final car was named the Zonda C12, the first of the Zonda line (the Fangio F1 name was dropped out of respect for Fangio, who died in 1995). It was first presented at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show.

In 2005, Pagani announced that it planned to triple its production output within the next three years, and to enter the US market in 2007.

On 30 June 2010, Pagani claimed a new record for production-based cars using the Pagani Zonda R and completing the Nürburgring in 6:47, beating the Ferrari 599XX.

Relationship with Daimler

While it is an independent company, Pagani has a working relationship with Daimler AG, most notably with its Mercedes-AMG subsidiary. This is partly due to the fact that Fangio had suggested that Pagani approach Mercedes. The Zonda used increasingly advanced versions of the Mercedes-Benz M120 V12 engine; the initial version displaced 6.0L, but later Zondas used a 7.3L engine, later reverting to a race-tuned version of the original 6.0L version for the model-ending Zonda R and its two other variants (Zonda R Evolución and Zonda Revolución). Moreover, Pagani also worked with Daimler in the development of the Chrysler supercar, the 2004 ME 412, when Chrysler was under the Daimler-Chrysler umbrella. Finally, the Mercedes-Benz M158 engine for the Pagani Huayra is a bespoke engine produced just for Pagani. Mercedes-Benz revised its M275 engine in order to reduce turbo lag and improve response. This resulted in new exhaust headers, new pistons, a new intake manifold, as well as new turbochargers.

Pagani Zonda

Pagani's first model, the Zonda, is propelled by mid-mounted V-12 DOHC engines manufactured by Mercedes-Benz's AMG division. The car's design was inspired by jet fighters and the famous Sauber-Mercedes Silver Arrow Group C cars, and features several unique design elements, including its circular four pipe exhaust.

The Zonda production run will end with 15 track-only Zonda R models of which 5 will be Revolucion models.

Zonda Cinque

Pagani announced a car named "Zonda Cinque" which was introduced as a 2009 model. The Cinque is based on the track-only Zonda R, but will feature a new 678 horsepower Mercedes-Benz V12, active aerodynamics, and a newly developed "carbon-titanium fibre," which is stronger and lighter than typical carbon fibre. Only 5 were produced, all of which were already spoken for.

Pagani announced in July 2009 that they will also be producing a Zonda Cinque Roadster, of which only 5 will be produced. The Roadster uses the same Mercedes-Benz V12 engine as the coupe version, but has been made lighter and stronger to keep the car structurally rigid. Both the coupe and the roadster will do 0-100kmh in 3.4 seconds, 0-200kmh in 9.6 seconds and a top speed of 349kmh (217 mph). The carbo-ceramic brakes provided by Brembo will get the Cinque from 100-0kmh in 2.1 seconds and 200-0kmh in 4.3 seconds. The maximum side acceleration is 1.45g with road tyres and at 300kmh the car produces 750 kg of downforce, the most of any other road-going Zonda.

Zonda Tricolore

At the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, Pagani announced the exclusive Zonda Tricolore, a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Frecce Tricolori, the Italian Air Force's aerobatic squadron. Originally intended to be limited to a single car, eventually 3 were produced. The Tricolore is based on a top specification Zonda Cinque, built on a carbon titanium chassis with sequential transmission and titanium exhausts. The 7.3 litre Mercedes AMG V12 in the back pumps out 670 hp (500 kW), which translates to 217 mph (349 km/h) all out and 0-62 mph in 3.2 seconds.

Bespoke

Pagani Huayra

The Pagani Huayra was officially debuted online with many pictures in a press release on January 25, 2011. The official world debut was at the Geneva Auto Salon 2011 in March. It is the successor to the Pagani Zonda. It is named Huayra after the Incan god of wind. Pagani expects to build no more than 40 each year and each will sell for £1,000,000. The engine is a M158 twin-turbo 6.0 Litre V12 from Mercedes' AMG division producing 720 horsepower (537 kW) and 1,000 N·m (740 lb·ft) of torque. The Huayra's main body is made from carbotanium; a composition of carbon fiber and titanium, thus it is reasonably lightweight. The Huayra has been redesigned from the ground up, but shares many visual qualities with the outgoing Zonda. The top speed has gone up from the 220 mph (350 km/h) (set by the Zonda F Roadster) to 235 mph (378 km/h), and the 0–100 km/h time is 3.2 seconds. When the car was driven round the Top Gear test track by The Stig it set a lap time of 1:13.8, making it the fastest road car round the track.

Official technical data