Teamspeed.com - Prepare to Drool : Pagani's Zonda R-rated swansong debuts

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While the closest that most of us will ever get to driving one of Horatio Pagani's creations will be via a Playstation or xBox controller, that doesn't mean we didn't nearly puddle ourselves at the mere sight of the new Zonda R. As we somehow missed out on an invitation when the car debuted in Vienna a few weeks ago, we are nonetheless happy to bring you these first official photos.

Although the Zonda R's sexy self is a sendoff for the current model range, the exoticmaker reports that the car is in fact 90% new. Built using a spendy carbon-fiber/titanium mix (reportedly an industry first) and being at once longer, wider and lower than the Zonda F, the R figures to have real presence to go along with its 739-horsepower 6.0-liter V12 engine. Zonda says the supercar was inspired by Group C racers, and street legality was not a consideration.

Thanks in part to its light weight (1,070 kilograms, or about 2,360 pounds) and Pagani's first-ever paddleshift gearbox, the rear-drive R will launch to 60 mph in three seconds dead and run up to a 233 mph top speed, provided Sir has paid the help to make sure the adjustable aero bits are properly tweaked.

A total of 16 Zonda Rs are planned, with 15 being offered to the public (the 'extra' model will stay in company hands) at a tidy €1.4M – about $1.8 million Yankee bucks. That's a shedload of cash to be sure, but given that the carbon-titanium work alone is said to have cost more than four times that of the Zonda F, it might actually be a small bargain.

Press Release:
A Pagani Zonda is never shy of a drive at the racetrack, a fact that was undermined numerous times in the past with records for production vehicles at the NurburgringNordschleife. With the input of its avid track focused customers, the Pagani team has created the Zonda R using bespoke engineering solutions to meet the performance demands for a trackday version of the highly popular Zonda F.
The central monocoque is made of a Carbon-Titanium composite, increasing rigidity while reducing significantly the weight. Bolted directly to the chassis is the Mercedes AMG 6.0 litre race derived V12 engine, with 750 hp and 710 Nm of torque. A direct throttle actuation via mechanical cable ensures immediate throttle response.

The Xtrac Magnesium cased dog ring gearbox combined with tha Automac Engineering AMT system performs gearshifts in 20ms, triggered by the drivers input on the paddles behind the steering wheel. A 12-way Bosch Motorsport traction control and ABS system allows the driver to fully adjust the settings while driving the Zonda R.

At the pits, each driver will be able to find a suitable setup thanks to a fully adjustable suspension and wing configuration. The effectiveness of the rear is matched by a complex new front bonnet, a masterpiece realised with the help of models by Ennegi, as well as the closed underbody and rear diffusor. Aerodynamic setups rage from a high downforce setting of 1.500kg to a 350kmh top speed setting. Aspa forged AvionAl suspension components as well as machined structural ErgAl parts holding the engine and gearbox have been designed to reduce the weight of the overall car, Poggipolini Titanium screws are used on the whole car. These measures lead to a dry weight of 1.070 kg.

The interior has been designed to offer a perfect environment for the driver. The controls are limited to the indispensable, but the quality finish reflects the usual demanding Pagani standards. The bespoke Toora seats are FIA homologated and comply to latest HANS standards, five-point safety belts and a CrMo roll-cage assure the occupants' safety. The lucky owners of the Zonda R will experience a level of performance on the track, that is simply not possible on the road. A power-to-weight ratio of 701 hp-per-ton will catapult them from 0 to 60 mph in less than 2,7 seconds, the Brembo carbon ceramic brakes ensure the car comes to a standstill even quicker.

The Zonda R is built in a limited production run and sold at a price of 1.460.000 Euro plus taxes, a performance machine, a track toy, a collectors item, a masterpiece signed by Horacio Pagani.