Wednesday 5th June 2013

Pagani Zonda Revolucion: last Zonda ever?

The hypercar that refuses to die, the Zonda gets yet another run-out edition

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Yep, you read that right, another Pagani Zonda has been launched, discussion of middle lane hoggers delaying our attention somewhat. Anyway, clearly not content with building its Huayra replacement, Horacio Pagani has again been tweaking his original hypercar and created the Zonda Revolucion.

A Zonda then, just with more of everything

So what's new this time? Well, like the 760RS which was the last final Zonda (after the Cinque Roadster, don't forget), the Revolucion is a development of the Zonda R. This means a carbo-titanium monocoque and an Xtrac sequential gearbox made from magnesium, contributing to a kerbweight of just 1,070kg.

Pagani has also managed extract some extra power from the 6.0-litre naturally aspirated V12. It's now pushing out 800hp and 539lb ft, up 50hp and 14lb ft respectively. For reference, the R hit 62mph in 2.7 seconds and 217mph all-out, figures the new car should improve on. Suffice to say the Revolucion will be pretty damn fast then.

There's a host of tweaks elsewhere too, just in case it appeared this was another rebadged cash cow for Pagani. A recalibrated ABS and traction control system now has 12 (!) settings, new carbon-ceramic discs are 15 per cent lighter and more resistant to fade, plus there's a DRS system on the rear wing. Clearly this will be of great use when 747hp per tonne is insufficient power for an overtake...

More carbon, more aero, more Zonda

This latest Pagani should therefore dispatch most rivals at a track day, if it passes any noise tests. Which is useful, as the Revolucion is another Zonda that can't be used on the road and will be the preserve of very wealthy aficionados, potentially with their own circuits.

It all serves to make the Zonda story resemble the career of a forgotten popstar, launching comeback after comeback until only the very dedicated remain with any interest. The original C12 was a shock in 1999, and the Zonda S turned the hypercar sector on its head in 2002 with that 7.3-litre AMG V12. The Roadster intensified everything and then the F just sweetened the recipe further in 2005. The F Clubsport could have remained the pinnacle of roadgoing Zonda development and few would have complained. But then the R arrived (followed by the 760 RS) as customers requested it, not because Horacio Pagani wanted it. And now we have another in the Revolucion, with some more power and a £2.2 million price.

For a far more accessible £895,000, this lovely Zonda F Clubsport looks astonishing value as it can be driven on both road and track. So perhaps enough already.

[Marc p]

This won't be the last Zonda, you know it, I know it, we all know it

[LaurasOtherHalf]

The more aero they stick on that car the worse it looks.

Is the reason all these extra "last ever ever" zondas are never street legal due to the fact the engine can't pass immissions tests anymore?

[Veeayt]

I think it's a very good thing that Horatio keeps them running. A great reminder of what analogue supercar originally was. Ford launched GT40 almost 30 years since the original appeared, and that was a good thing, isn't it?

[CBR JGWRR]

Veeayt said:

I think it's a very good thing that Horatio keeps them running. A great reminder of what analogue supercar originally was. Ford launched GT40 almost 30 years since the original appeared, and that was a good thing, isn't it?

That's not strictly true, there were a few GT40 road cars in the 60's and the last decades GT was more a homage than replica of the GT40.

For one, Clarkson could fit in the new GT...

[Dagnut]

I reckon I'd have this over the the the Ferrari or the P1ImjustatunedMp412C

[Krikkit]

Love it. Absolutely bat-st mental not-finished-yet run-out hypercar.

Whoever waves the cheque in front of Horatio's face to make them keep churning these out you are heroes.

[X5TUU]

I'm sorry but at £2.2m that's just extracting urine or taking the potential buyer "up the caingorns" well and truly ... Considering that's what ... 3 used Veyron's lol

[Veeayt]

CBR JGWRR said:

That's not strictly true, there were a few GT40 road cars in the 60's and the last decades GT was more a homage than replica of the GT40.

For one, Clarkson could fit in the new GT...

But you have to agree that the original C12 and this beast share little in common apart from the name, if not at all.

[Mastodon2]

A cool car, but I'm so bored of these "last ever Zonda" things, it's starting to look more and more like Pagani know the Hyuara is not the car to replace the Zonda.

[anonymous-user]

Pros: The last ever.

Cons: Until the next one.

[greggy50]

Sub 6:30 ring time?

[Carnnoisseur]

Personally, if I had to choose, it would be the Clubsport mentioned in the article, or the Huayra. I couldn't be restricted to track only usage.

Zonda F Clubsport



Huayra

[450Nick]

Ok so they really need to stop calling these 'last ever' models. It appears that Pagani is a custom car builder and really there will be no 'last ever', it needs to be reported with a different slant; that Pagani will build you whatever you want if you have the cash. For that reason, he may still be building custom cars based on the old Zonda model in 10 years if people keep asking for them, and that's fine (and awesome) but stop saying its a last ever model when it clearly isn't!

[ph123]

Mastodon2 said:

A cool car, but I'm so bored of these "last ever Zonda" things, it's starting to look more and more like Pagani know the Hyuara is not the car to replace the Zonda.

The 'last ever Zonda' story is something put out by the media.
There was only ever going to be 15 Zonda R (10) and Revolucion (5) because that's how many Merc AMG race engines there were left.
Agreed, the Huayra was never going to 'replace' the Zonda.
But in order to satisfy world markets, Pagani needed to produce a 'world' homolateable car. Different animal. Well less so actually ...

[matlee]

I'm not much of a stats fanboy but.....1070kg!!!

Like i said im not much into stats and dont know what other light weight cars weigh but im bloody impressed with that.

[soad]

article said:

6.0-litre naturally aspirated V12. It's now pushing out 800hp.

Sounds fantastic! Great how they continue making it faster and faster.

[Repent]

Ridiculously light... and pretty much perfection for me .

If you had all the monies though, whats to stop you painting up a roadlegal Zonda in the same ilk, and then swapping the plates over to take the Revolucion out for a spin!? Surely in 9/10 countries these are likely to go the local constabulary wont have a clue either way? Its clearly more suited to track anyway, but taking it to the road would be a blast!

[TNH]

Just me thats bored of the Zonda then?

Surely if you have that much money to spend you wouldnt want a 13 year old design?

[Amirhussain]

[McSam]

Amirhussain said:

Sleep through this, I challenge you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPd0ATqvoJM

Then imagine this lovely creation going about ten seconds a lap faster..


Though I have to say, PH, I've seen more photos elsewhere: http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/pagani-...