Pagani’s Last Zonda: the Revolucion
The Zonda was an amazing machine, and it revealed to the world the genius of Horatio Pagani. Unveiled in 1999, the first version, the C12, used a V12 sourced from Mercedes-Benz pushing 389 HP and a 5-speed manual gearbox. As the years went by, a lot of upgrades went into the Zonda to help it stay competitive, culminating with the Tricolore. Using the same engine now tuned by AMG, it develops 669 HP, and uses a 6-speed sequential gearbox which shift gears in 100 milliseconds.
Last year, Pagani announced that the very last version, the Zonda Revolucion, would begin production. It is based on the Zonda Cinque, so it is therefore not legal for the street - but there are no racing series where it can compete, so it is an expensive track day toy. But what a toy!
The Revolucion still uses the 6.0 liter V12, with a generous amount of power added by the mad scientists at AMG. The result? 800 horsepower and 550 lb/ft of torque! Bolted to a six-speed sequential gearbox that now shifts in 20 (!) milliseconds, the car, which weighs only 1070 kg, can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.7 seconds. The chassis is made of carbotanium, a material developed by Pagani by weaving titanium and carbon fiber. The body panels are made of pure carbon fiber, to save weight. The Revolucion will also use carbon-ceramic brakes, track-oriented suspension and a Drag Reduction System (known as DRS) inspired by Formula 1. This device can increase downforce or reduce drag, and is adjustable at the touch of a button on the steering wheel.
Sold for nearly $3 million dollars, only 5 examples of the Revolucion have been built, and they have already been sold. The last one built (the blue model shown in the pictures here) will be displayed in Geneva during the next week.
It is a last goodbye to the Zonda, and another page turned in the Great Book of Supercars.