There's a history to the Zonda R and it all starts with Horacio Pagani. He used to be the head of Lamborghini’s composites department and in 1988, broke off and founded his own company, Pagani Composite Research. He continued to work with Lamborghini on many projects, including the LM002, P140, and Diablo. By then, he had started tinkering with the idea of his own car as well, and it was code-named the C8 Project.
He wanted to name the car Fangio F1, as a holler back at his friend, Argentinian Formula One five-time winner, Juan Manuel Fangio. By 1991, Pagani had started Modena Design to be able to make the car himself. Finally, in 1999, Pagani made his first car, the Zonda C12, named because Fangio had passed in 1995.
Several high-performance variants of the C12 came out, one of them, the Zonda R. This is what we know about this supercar, and why it’s a big name in the list of Pagani enthusiasts all over the world.
10 The Zonda R Was The First Track-Focused Beast For Pagani
The very first Zonda, the C12, was born in 1999 and after that, this Italian automaker never looked back. The Zonda R was unveiled in 2007 after the introduction of several high-octane Zonda variants since its debut in 1999.
It was dubbed as Horacio Pagani’s tour de force for its outstanding performance and achievements. With the Zonda R, Pagani took the plunge into the track-only segment and made a very strong statement indeed with powerful numbers.
9 The Zonda R Carries A Ferocious V12 Engine
Pagani Automobili took the covers off the Zonda R during the 2007 Geneva Motor Show and it remains one of the most thrilling supercars ever made. Armed with a reverberating V12 engine and flawless aerodynamics this speedster achieves a 0-60 MPH acceleration time in just 2.5 seconds.
The naturally-aspirated 6.0-liter V12 engine is borrowed from the racing trim of the Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR and it returns a maximum of 740 horses and 524 lb-ft of torque, looking and costing a million bucks.
8 The Tailored Zonda R Has Bespoke Stuff
The Zonda R got Pagani’s bespoke suspension, powertrain, bodywork, and a state-of-the-art chassis with a carbon-titanium monocoque. The carbon-titanium, known as carbotanium, is a fusion of the two, to get the finest out of both the chemical elements.
Most of the other underpinnings were also exclusively designed and developed for the R. Since it was a track-focused car, Pagani wanted to make sure that it went all the way with the Zonda R, to give it the best advantage on the track.
7 It’s An Ultimate Performance Car
From day one the Zonda R was created to rule the tracks and look great while doing so. The car’s framework, interior cabin, and even the engine bay area were made with uttermost precision. It has four projector headlamps placed beside its front that look imposing.
Many diffusers and spoilers all around it turn into a mean machine. Also, it’s got an adjustable wing at the back for maximum speed and quad tailpipes that are a set of ceramic-coated Inconel 625 headers.
6 The Zonda R Still Holds The Record As The Fastest
For lightning-quick gear duties, Zonda R’s engine is married to a six-speed sequential transaxle that comprises a multi-disk racing clutch along with a lightweight magnesium casing. The engine breathes through a roof-mounted F1-derived carbon fiber intake channel.
This arrangement results in an impressive power-to-weight ratio that lets the Zonda R effectively compete against rivals. The Zonda R became the fastest non-series, production-based, gasoline-powered car to complete the Nürburgring at a time of 6:47:00 in July 2010 and still holds the title.
5 The Superior Tech Powering It
The Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR 6.0-liter V12 engine in the Zonda R is naturally aspirated. Several performance tweaks make sure that despite high output, the Zonda R retains excellent heat management.
The air-intake is F1-derived and comes roof-mounted. The exhaust is also bespoke leading to excellent breathing that gets the Zonda R top speeds of over 230 MPH, making it quite the killer on the track.
4 The Zonda R Was A Limited Edition Run
Only 10 Zonda R were made by Pagani between 2009 and 2011, and came with a stunning woven carbon fiber bodywork with three-colored accents all through. In 2012, Pagani unveiled the Zonda R Evolution and a lot of the style and inspiration came from the Zonda 760RS.
There was a power upgrade as well, to 740 horses, and the bodywork came with better aerodynamics. It also wore a bigger air splitter in the front and a pair of smaller ones in the rear. Five of these were supposed to be made but only one was truly completed.
3 From Zonda R To The Zonda Revolución
The ultimate version of the Zonda R was the Zonda Revolución and it was revealed during the annual Pagani gathering called Vanish Point, in 2013. With a central monocoque of carbon-titanium, the Zonda Revolución weighed just 1,070 kg (2,359 lb).
The engine was now a 6.0-liter Mercedes-Benz M120 engine, a better version of the Zonda R. Performance numbers was bettered, 791 horses and 538 lb-ft of torque, giving the Zonda Revolución a power-to-weight ratio of 0.33 horsepower per pound. Gear changes took just 20 milliseconds.
2 The Zonda R Was Illegal In The US
The Pagani Zonda R was illegal in the US because the much-respected supercar did not have a passenger airbag toggle switch. So basically, it did not pass the mandatory security requirements in the US.
Another issue was that its difficult to build a multi-million dollar car just to be able to crash test it and check its NHTSA or IIHS ratings. So the Zonda remained out of the US, and similar issues cropped up with the Huayra as well.
1 The US Fans Can Get One In Auctions
A 2010 Pagani Zonda R sold for $1.08 million, and it was the first Zonda to be offered in the US, explaining the near double price tag. Another 2010 Pagani Zonda R Evolution also went up on sale at RM Sotheby’s, but at a much pricier $6.5 million, given the rarity of the car and its track prowess.
Considering the Zonda R competes with models like Ferrari FXX and the Maserati MC12 Corse, the pedigree has to be impeccable. And it proves itself, repeatedly, in performance, power, and speed.
Sources: Motor1, RMSothebys, RobbReport