Pagani Zonda R presentation at Ascari (Málaga) Part I

Last weekend the Highmotor team had a unique experience thanks to the exclusive presentation of the imposing Pagani Zonda R at Ascari’s private circuit in Málaga.

But at this presentation, perhaps the most striking thing was not just the unveiling of a vehicle of which only 10 units will be built and which will be sold at 1.4 million euros each, but the presence of the creator of a legend like Horacio Pagani, who clarified many doubts not only about this model, but about the future of a brand as exclusive as Pagani.

Without further ado, let’s move on to what is truly interesting: the day we were able to experience at Ascari. As soon as we arrived at the circuit, there was the necessary access control, where we had to present our credentials to a truly friendly gentleman who did not keep us very long, since, imagine, we were in the car with the sound of a truly thunderous model going round and round a 5.5 km circuit in the background.

Once this formality was complete, we went straight through the circuit complex towards the paddock car park, where as soon as we entered we were greeted by, among other vehicles, an impressive BMW X6 M Hamman accompanied by others such as a magnificent Aston Martin Vanquish.

After parking our vehicle, and as soon as we got out, we came across Horacio Pagani, who was about to give a short talk that surely left no one indifferent, thanks, among other things, to statements such as “our Zonda R is simply a laboratory where we test new elements that will later be fitted to the C9” or “the record set at the Nürburgring by our Zonda R was unintentional, since we were very short on time and were precisely not looking for it; in fact, not even the driver realised what he had achieved, so next time we will surely manage to take the 6:47 down by 10 or 15 seconds“. Quite something.

As you can see, the talk covered a lot of ground, for example revealing that the company will unveil both the name and the production model of its new Pagani in March, specifically at the Geneva Motor Show. Among the most notable details of the conference was Pagani’s attempt to build a vehicle that is very easy to drive, since, according to Horacio himself, “our customers are not Schumacher“.

As for the mechanics the future C9 will use, we must mention the new ME158, a V12 engine developed specifically by AMG for this model, whose peculiarities include a power increase that will place it above 700 horsepower, as well as a reduction in consumption and emissions that would put this V12 on the level of a standard V8, something truly surprising, especially for future C9 owners.

Apparently, according to Horacio Pagani himself, the company has no fewer than 4 prototypes and a mule on the road, which have covered more than 500,000 km, although it is expected that before its presentation at the Geneva Motor Show it could reach 700,000 km, so that, before its homologation in the United States, it can try to surpass the million kilometre mark. As for homologation, Pagani intends to exceed the one imposed in California, which is the toughest in the United States and certainly more demanding than Euro V, so they will sell just one model, that is, the same model will be marketed in Europe and the United States.

Once the talk was over, it was time to ask Mr Pagani questions, and one of the obvious ones concerned the company’s intentions regarding the development and implementation of some kind of hybrid system in its models in the future, to which Horacio Pagani was emphatic: “no“. He later explained that it is not that Pagani does not believe in such systems, but that for now they are focusing on weight reduction and more efficient engines, so much so that the new C9 will weigh almost 800 kg less than, for example, a Veyron and will homologate a combined consumption close to 12 litres/100 km.

As for the company in general, it is worth noting that all the vehicles manufactured by Pagani have customers despite their high price; indeed, for example, in 2009, the year in which the crisis practically wiped out the sector, Pagani increased its sales by 45%, while this year they plan to raise them by a similar percentage. As a curiosity, it is worth highlighting the comment that there are customers who have 2 or even up to 4 models of the brand in their garage.

Now, with the questions and comments over, we headed out to the track, where a good number of vehicles were waiting for us, among them the one that got us moving, the Pagani Zonda R, although you will have to wait until tomorrow to learn all the sensations this model is capable of transmitting not to the driver, but to the passenger.

Link | Part II
Photos | SM Jiménez