1 of Italy's Finest: Zonda Replacement Spied!

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Not the final car, so don't be discouraged by the exterior.
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Here are great new pictures of the scorching Pagani Zonda replacement. We spotted the Italian supercar as it took a breather from testing.

As you can see, it is an evolution of the existing car, which is nearly nine years old. At the front, soft curves replace sharp creases, while a wider grille has been fitted to aid cooling and improve the looks.

These changes to the bodywork should also improve aerodynamics, with greater high-speed stability and refinement the main benefits.

The cabin structure and glass area have been carried over from the current car, and the interior has received only minor changes, keeping the same mix of hand-stitched soft leather and bespoke aluminium controls and trim. But the big news is at the rear. Look closely and you’ll spot two gaping air scoops on top of the rear wings, together with a single duct on the engine cover.

These additions hint at a new powerplant instead of the current 547bhp 7.3 V12 supplied by AMG, Mercedes’ tuning arm. Heading the shortlist to replace it is the supercharged 5.4-litre V8 unit from the McLaren SLR, which produces up to 680bhp in the 722 GT version.

Combine that with the Pagani’s lightweight carbon fibre construction, and performance is sure to be blistering. The 0-60mph sprint is likely to dip below three seconds, and top speed should be comfortably beyond 200mph.

Although no launch date has been set for the new Zonda, the first showroom-ready examples are due in dealerships early next year.
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http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/221775/next_zonda_packs_even_bigger_punch.html
 
Considering the last supercar I was actually excited about was the first Zonda, I've gone jittery with this news. These things define what a supercar should do for the driver in all senses better than any other car. Ridiculous looks, exclusivity, excessive luxury and numbing performance. It can only get better.
 
Not so thrilled about the move to V8. The Pagani could've been Paganini with a supercharged V12. :D

The new softer looks are absolutely stunning, though. It's a big improvement already.
 
It actually would please me more to have the Turbocharged V12 from the SL Black Series in here, but even then, that 6.2L unit is just ungodly awesome. I have oodles of respect for this car no matter what they put in it just because it is built with a passion from the factory. Its a damn shame I've never seen one in person.
 
9 years?! :eek: I had no idea! I thought it was less than 7 years old...

*goes off to check which issue of Automobile I first saw it in*

It looks stunning... it IS a big improvemnet.
 
It's an Italian exotic. It's a very capable car. Even in my time on GTPlanet, people kept b*tching online about how Gran Turismos 2 and 4 failed to get any true exotic cars, including the Pagani Zonda series. I think the Pagani Zonda series is the most underrated series of supercars probably ever. But noooo... they want their Ferraris and Lamborghinis. Pagani just got to be so downplayed that they've been underappreciated.

Really a shame for the Zonda to be replaced. It was a great car for as long as they've been around. Hopefully this car won't be as overlooked and underappreciated. Good luck to the former Lamborghini executive (Horacio Pagani, if I'm not mistaken) in making this Zonda replacement.
 
Pagani's getting up there. I'm surprised they've made it this far: that company didn't exist in the "Heyday" of the supercar, the 1980s. Horacio Pagani should be a celebrated figure in automobiledom.
 
Certainly exciting. I actually like the exterior.

As for GT3, perhaps the Zonda's top end was too low (about 143mph), or the brand was too obscure. I would be surprised to hear the same opinion nowadays.
 
That's a mule. I imagine the real car will be quite a lot prettier, and not an 'evolution' of the current car at all.
 
JCE
No 7.3L V12 makes me a sad panda.
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547hp<680hp

Although I do like the awesome roar of the AMG V12, at the end of the day, it comes down the raw horsepower, and id imagine the engine weighs a considerable amount less than the large V12
 
I freaging love this car, but i hope the new name won't be something like Zoyota, Zubaru, or Zitsubishi.
 
You know, the Zonda F is a really good car, even today. The original Zondas, even, could've been introduced yesterday, and no-one would care. it really is a good design, but I didn't expect Mercedes to continue offering that V12 forever, and this car probably arises from the fact that Mercedes has asked if they could pull the plug on the Zonda engine program.

I'll be watching this with great interest.
 
Jim Prower
You know, the Zonda F is a really good car, even today. The original Zondas, even, could've been introduced yesterday, and no-one would care. it really is a good design...
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Which is my problem with the above design, it looks more dated than the current one.
 
Giancarlo
I freaging love this car, but i hope the new name won't be something like Zoyota, Zubaru, or Zitsubishi.
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Maybe they can name the new one after a different wind like the Ostro or Maestro.
 
I heard it was going to be called the C9. Looks fantastic as it is anyway IMO.

👍

Cant wait
 
Yeah I was going to say, that entire body is just lifted from the convertible version available now, in no way is the exterior new apart from some minor pieces and the exhaust pipes sticking out wrong!

I hope it looks a lot more wild than this!

Robin
 
exigeracer
It's clearly a test mule running the functional aspects of the new car through the paces. The exterior of the car won't look remotely like this test car.
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Robin.
Yeah I was going to say, that entire body is just lifted from the convertible version available now, in no way is the exterior new apart from some minor pieces and the exhaust pipes sticking out wrong!

I hope it looks a lot more wild than this!

Robin
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+1
And being Pagani I don't think that whatever the final product looks like will be a disappointment. They're still a very young company, and with that said they'll strive to be different and bad-ass in every way I think.
 
Robin.
I hope it looks a lot more wild than this!
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I am certain we won't have to worry about that, being Pagani and all.

I'm wondering what they'll do with the engine, seeing that it will have been 10 years since anything other than the Zonda used it (I think). It's a big engine, but it's age is making me wonder how much power they can reliably get out of it without some heavy work I don't know if Pagani can do.
 
I guess I'll be looking forward to the new design and hopefully the car will be featured in Top Gear.
 
Another non-cohesive design of the modern era. Good thing it's not finished. There are so few designs these days that actually flow together. Since 2000, I have yet to really find one. Sure, there's details and half-cars that look really good, but find me one car that looks good from all angles that's been built after 2000. Where's the next 250 GTO? The next '67 Mustang? The next Miura? This design-by-comittee is really killing aesthetic common sense.
 
harrytuttle
Another non-cohesive design of the modern era. Good thing it's not finished. There are so few designs these days that actually flow together. Since 2000, I have yet to really find one. Sure, there's details and half-cars that look really good, but find me one car that looks good from all angles that's been built after 2000. Where's the next 250 GTO? The next '67 Mustang? The next Miura? This design-by-comittee is really killing aesthetic common sense.
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I don't know where you'll find it, but to me, it just seems to depend on personal preference.

Do you like the LP640? What about the 599GTB? Carrera GT?

I think there's a lot of cars that can flow just fine. But I do agree with you that it is hard to think of a car that can capture someone's eye like the Miura or 250 GTO. And to be honest, I (personally), think the Carrera GT is just one of the few that can after 2000.
 

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