Great Review in The Robb Report
nsx1164
05-29-2002, 02:43 PM
Great review in the Special Supercar Issue (insert with the Robb Report "Best of the Best" June 2002 issue). They have a 4 page article -- "An Exclusive Spin in Supercar Valley" and test a blue C12S.
Very favorable reviews...
compared to the new Lambo Murcielago...
"the car weighs in at just 2756 lbs, over a thousand pounds lighter than the slightly more powerful Lamborghini Murcielago. On the road, the Zonda's power-to-weight ratio (444 bhp per ton)..."
"The Zonda's acceleration is astonishing. In 3.6 seconds, it will blast from 0 to 60 mph. In less time than it takes you to read this sentence, the C12S can sprint from a standstill to over 100 mph. The car's in-gear times have yet to be properly measured, but personal experience suggests the Zonda will match Lamborghini's finest blow-for-blow. According to test driver Loris Bicocchi, the Zonda should skewer the bull at the top end by at least 5 mph, topping out at a staggering 210 mph. Again, when it comes to corners, there's simply no contest. Compared to the Murcielago, the Zonda feels like a giant go-cart."
on a downside... "the cabin's only failing is the radio, a fiddly little Japanese unit that cleverly disguises the 'on' button and somehow manages to make FM sound like AM. Buyers are advised to replace it with something more serious, or yank it out and let the mighty Mercedes engine provide the soundtrack"
Coming soon...
"In two years' time, American collectors will get their chance. Whether they can see past the manufacturer's lack of racing pedigree and the car's enigmatic styling remains to be seen. If they do, they will own one of the finest driving machines ever made."
Trivia: a zonda is a dry, winter wind that descends from the Andes' eastern slopes. It usually precedes the pampero, a severe thunderstorm with rain, thunder and lightning. Given the ferocity of the Zonda automobile and the company's initial success, the traditional supercar establishment had better watch out. The Pagani Pampero must surely be on its way.
Very favorable reviews...
compared to the new Lambo Murcielago...
"the car weighs in at just 2756 lbs, over a thousand pounds lighter than the slightly more powerful Lamborghini Murcielago. On the road, the Zonda's power-to-weight ratio (444 bhp per ton)..."
"The Zonda's acceleration is astonishing. In 3.6 seconds, it will blast from 0 to 60 mph. In less time than it takes you to read this sentence, the C12S can sprint from a standstill to over 100 mph. The car's in-gear times have yet to be properly measured, but personal experience suggests the Zonda will match Lamborghini's finest blow-for-blow. According to test driver Loris Bicocchi, the Zonda should skewer the bull at the top end by at least 5 mph, topping out at a staggering 210 mph. Again, when it comes to corners, there's simply no contest. Compared to the Murcielago, the Zonda feels like a giant go-cart."
on a downside... "the cabin's only failing is the radio, a fiddly little Japanese unit that cleverly disguises the 'on' button and somehow manages to make FM sound like AM. Buyers are advised to replace it with something more serious, or yank it out and let the mighty Mercedes engine provide the soundtrack"
Coming soon...
"In two years' time, American collectors will get their chance. Whether they can see past the manufacturer's lack of racing pedigree and the car's enigmatic styling remains to be seen. If they do, they will own one of the finest driving machines ever made."
Trivia: a zonda is a dry, winter wind that descends from the Andes' eastern slopes. It usually precedes the pampero, a severe thunderstorm with rain, thunder and lightning. Given the ferocity of the Zonda automobile and the company's initial success, the traditional supercar establishment had better watch out. The Pagani Pampero must surely be on its way.
nsx1164
05-29-2002, 02:46 PM
breaking this into two posts...
"Take one sharp corner in the Zonda at speed, and you're hooked. The steering and suspension are so direct and perfectly judged you wonder where the machine ends and your nervous system begins. A serious speed merchant can exploit the sweet-handling chassis to slide the massive machine around a bend. Mere mortals can enjoy the Zonda's talents simply by keeping everything smooth and steady. Fast in, fast out. Get into a rhythm and you'll soon know you're in the world's fastest car -- that is, the car you can drive faster, and with more confidence, than any other."
Wow...
"Take one sharp corner in the Zonda at speed, and you're hooked. The steering and suspension are so direct and perfectly judged you wonder where the machine ends and your nervous system begins. A serious speed merchant can exploit the sweet-handling chassis to slide the massive machine around a bend. Mere mortals can enjoy the Zonda's talents simply by keeping everything smooth and steady. Fast in, fast out. Get into a rhythm and you'll soon know you're in the world's fastest car -- that is, the car you can drive faster, and with more confidence, than any other."
Wow...
Adam
06-28-2002, 02:00 PM
Is there any way I could get a hold of this?
nsx1164
07-06-2002, 09:57 PM
An Exclusive Spin in Supercar Valley
There's room at the top for Pagani's C12S
by Robert Farago
In the high hills above Italy's "Supercar Valley" the tarmac leading from Modena to Zocca twists and turns like an amphetamine-crazed snake. During the heat of the day, the mountain pass is almost clear, but the severity of the bends makes even a single other car a major hindrance to a driver. Stuck behind an ancient truck or a rusting Fiat, you've got no more than 1,000 yards to make your move, and most of the time, less. If you don't want to spend your day sucking smoke, you must be bold, decisive and fast. Very, very fast.
If you're gripping the leather-clad steering wheel of the Pagani Zonda C12S, this is not a problem. Shift into second, nudge the wheel to the left, press the loud pedal, and go. The 7.3 liter, V-12 Mercedes AMG engine bellows, roars, yowls, then screams, unleashing a tsunami of seamless shove. Time and distance instantly and violently meld into a single entity. Less than two seconds later, the slower vehicle flashes by the passenger window as if pulled backwards by a rubber band. Turn the Zonda's wheel to the right, and you're back on your side of the road, with room to spare.
Well, almost. As the brutal acceleration indicates, the Zonda is a fully paid-up member of the supercar club, and as such, its impossibly, ridiculously wide. At nearly 7 feet across, the car fills a standard lane of traffic. Luckily, the Zonda's handling is so precise and predictable that maintaining lane discipline is easy -- even at speeds that defy both law and logic. But in Italy, even trucks prefer the racing line. Driving a $350,000 car on a cliffside road that is only sporadically punctuated by pre-dented guardrails, with no run-off area whatsoever, provides an instant lesson in the meaning of the word "vigilance".
And also "fun". Take one sharp corner in the Zonda at speed, and you're hooked. The steering and suspension are so direct and perfectly judged you wonder where the machine ends and your nervous system begins. A serious speed merchant can exploit the sweet-handling chassis to slide the massive machine around a bend. Mere mortals can enjoy the Zonda's talents simply by keeping everything smooth and steady. Fast in, fast out. Get into a rhythm and you's soon know you're in the world's fastest car -- that is, the car you can drive faster, and with more confidence, than any other. And if you somehow manage to overcook it, Merceds' ASR (Automatic Skid Reduction) waits patiently to help you out.
The secret to this entirely new level of supercar user-friendliness is weight, or more specifically, the lack thereof. Enzo Ferrari used to say he sold customers an engine, and threw the body in for free. Horacio Pagani could well say the opposite. His fortunte was founded on his ability to fabricate carbon fiber, and the Zonda is a masterpiece of the art. Every possible part, from the body shell to the window-wiper mounting to the tiny luggage compartments, is fashioned from the low-weight, high-strength material. The resulting car weighs in at just 2,756 pounds, over a thousand pounds lighter than the slightly more powerful Lamborghini Murcielago. On the road, the Zonda's power-to-weight ration (444 bhp per ton) makes you wonder why the six gears aren't labelled "Cleared for Takeoff, V1, V2, V3, Rotation, Takeoff."
The Zonda's acceleration is astonishing. In 3.6 seconds, it will blast from zero to 60 mph. In less time than it takes you to read this sentence, the C12S can sprint from a standstill to over 100 mph. The car's in-gear times have yet to be properly measured, but personal experience suggests the Zonda will match Lamborghini's finest blow for blow. According to test driver Loris Bicocchi, the Zonda should skewer the bull at the top end by at least 5 mph, topping out at a staggering 210 mph. Again, when it comes to corners, there's simply no contest. Compared to the Murcielago, the Zonda feels like a giant go-cart.
Normally, this would be the point where Italian supercar limitations would spoil the party. Either the car would break or compromised ergonomics would take their toll. Sr. Pagani has continued his reinvention of the breed by eliminating these bugbears. The Zonda's build quality lives up to the standards set by its Mercedes, AMG-prepared engine. The car's fit and finish are fanatical. All the controls snick home with sensual satisfaction. From the perfectly even shut lines to the seat's leather stitching, the Zonda is as meticulously crafted as a Patek Philippe watch. The engine bay is pure Zen: nothing extra, nothing wasted, every gleaming component in perfect harmony with the whole.
Sr. Pagani has also paid close attention to the interface between man and machine. Twin periscopes on the dash deliver enough cold air to banish the usual roasting effects of a supercar's greenhouse-like cockpit. The made-to-measure carbon fiber seats provide the ideal balance of comfort and support. The Zonda's suspension is endlessly communicative, yet compliant enough for long journeys. You're surrounded by sumptuous leather, polished aluminum and glassy-smooth carbon fiber. The cabin's only failing is the radio, a fiddly little Japanese unit that cleverly disguises the "on" button, and somehow manages to make FM sound like AM. Buyers are advised to replace it with something more serious, or yank it out and let the mighty Mercedes engine provide the soundtrack.
In short, the Pagani Zonda is easy to drive and built to last. If it wasn't wider than a moving van and lower than a grasshopper's ankles, this car could even be considered as a viable, everyday alternative to a Porsche Turbo. Which is, of course, a bit silly. Even a glance at the enormous Group C Racer-style body is enough to tell you this mad, bad machine belongs in the wide garage of an enthusiast, rather than hogging two spaces in a public parking lot. In two years' time, American collectors will get their chance. Whether they see past the manufacturers' lack of racing pedigree and the car's enigmatic styling remains to be seen. If they do, they will own one of the finest driving machines ever made.
Meanwhile, you might want to know that a "zonda" is a dry, winter wind that descends from the Andes' eastern slopes. It usually precedes the pampero, a severe windstorm with rain, thunder and lightning. Given the ferocity of the Zonda automobile and the company's initial success, the traditional supercar establishment had better watch out. The Pagani Pampero must surely be on its way.
There's room at the top for Pagani's C12S
by Robert Farago
In the high hills above Italy's "Supercar Valley" the tarmac leading from Modena to Zocca twists and turns like an amphetamine-crazed snake. During the heat of the day, the mountain pass is almost clear, but the severity of the bends makes even a single other car a major hindrance to a driver. Stuck behind an ancient truck or a rusting Fiat, you've got no more than 1,000 yards to make your move, and most of the time, less. If you don't want to spend your day sucking smoke, you must be bold, decisive and fast. Very, very fast.
If you're gripping the leather-clad steering wheel of the Pagani Zonda C12S, this is not a problem. Shift into second, nudge the wheel to the left, press the loud pedal, and go. The 7.3 liter, V-12 Mercedes AMG engine bellows, roars, yowls, then screams, unleashing a tsunami of seamless shove. Time and distance instantly and violently meld into a single entity. Less than two seconds later, the slower vehicle flashes by the passenger window as if pulled backwards by a rubber band. Turn the Zonda's wheel to the right, and you're back on your side of the road, with room to spare.
Well, almost. As the brutal acceleration indicates, the Zonda is a fully paid-up member of the supercar club, and as such, its impossibly, ridiculously wide. At nearly 7 feet across, the car fills a standard lane of traffic. Luckily, the Zonda's handling is so precise and predictable that maintaining lane discipline is easy -- even at speeds that defy both law and logic. But in Italy, even trucks prefer the racing line. Driving a $350,000 car on a cliffside road that is only sporadically punctuated by pre-dented guardrails, with no run-off area whatsoever, provides an instant lesson in the meaning of the word "vigilance".
And also "fun". Take one sharp corner in the Zonda at speed, and you're hooked. The steering and suspension are so direct and perfectly judged you wonder where the machine ends and your nervous system begins. A serious speed merchant can exploit the sweet-handling chassis to slide the massive machine around a bend. Mere mortals can enjoy the Zonda's talents simply by keeping everything smooth and steady. Fast in, fast out. Get into a rhythm and you's soon know you're in the world's fastest car -- that is, the car you can drive faster, and with more confidence, than any other. And if you somehow manage to overcook it, Merceds' ASR (Automatic Skid Reduction) waits patiently to help you out.
The secret to this entirely new level of supercar user-friendliness is weight, or more specifically, the lack thereof. Enzo Ferrari used to say he sold customers an engine, and threw the body in for free. Horacio Pagani could well say the opposite. His fortunte was founded on his ability to fabricate carbon fiber, and the Zonda is a masterpiece of the art. Every possible part, from the body shell to the window-wiper mounting to the tiny luggage compartments, is fashioned from the low-weight, high-strength material. The resulting car weighs in at just 2,756 pounds, over a thousand pounds lighter than the slightly more powerful Lamborghini Murcielago. On the road, the Zonda's power-to-weight ration (444 bhp per ton) makes you wonder why the six gears aren't labelled "Cleared for Takeoff, V1, V2, V3, Rotation, Takeoff."
The Zonda's acceleration is astonishing. In 3.6 seconds, it will blast from zero to 60 mph. In less time than it takes you to read this sentence, the C12S can sprint from a standstill to over 100 mph. The car's in-gear times have yet to be properly measured, but personal experience suggests the Zonda will match Lamborghini's finest blow for blow. According to test driver Loris Bicocchi, the Zonda should skewer the bull at the top end by at least 5 mph, topping out at a staggering 210 mph. Again, when it comes to corners, there's simply no contest. Compared to the Murcielago, the Zonda feels like a giant go-cart.
Normally, this would be the point where Italian supercar limitations would spoil the party. Either the car would break or compromised ergonomics would take their toll. Sr. Pagani has continued his reinvention of the breed by eliminating these bugbears. The Zonda's build quality lives up to the standards set by its Mercedes, AMG-prepared engine. The car's fit and finish are fanatical. All the controls snick home with sensual satisfaction. From the perfectly even shut lines to the seat's leather stitching, the Zonda is as meticulously crafted as a Patek Philippe watch. The engine bay is pure Zen: nothing extra, nothing wasted, every gleaming component in perfect harmony with the whole.
Sr. Pagani has also paid close attention to the interface between man and machine. Twin periscopes on the dash deliver enough cold air to banish the usual roasting effects of a supercar's greenhouse-like cockpit. The made-to-measure carbon fiber seats provide the ideal balance of comfort and support. The Zonda's suspension is endlessly communicative, yet compliant enough for long journeys. You're surrounded by sumptuous leather, polished aluminum and glassy-smooth carbon fiber. The cabin's only failing is the radio, a fiddly little Japanese unit that cleverly disguises the "on" button, and somehow manages to make FM sound like AM. Buyers are advised to replace it with something more serious, or yank it out and let the mighty Mercedes engine provide the soundtrack.
In short, the Pagani Zonda is easy to drive and built to last. If it wasn't wider than a moving van and lower than a grasshopper's ankles, this car could even be considered as a viable, everyday alternative to a Porsche Turbo. Which is, of course, a bit silly. Even a glance at the enormous Group C Racer-style body is enough to tell you this mad, bad machine belongs in the wide garage of an enthusiast, rather than hogging two spaces in a public parking lot. In two years' time, American collectors will get their chance. Whether they see past the manufacturers' lack of racing pedigree and the car's enigmatic styling remains to be seen. If they do, they will own one of the finest driving machines ever made.
Meanwhile, you might want to know that a "zonda" is a dry, winter wind that descends from the Andes' eastern slopes. It usually precedes the pampero, a severe windstorm with rain, thunder and lightning. Given the ferocity of the Zonda automobile and the company's initial success, the traditional supercar establishment had better watch out. The Pagani Pampero must surely be on its way.
Adam
07-07-2002, 02:29 AM
:eek:
Excellent, I simply must use this in the upcoming gigantic update. How should I give you credit? do you want any?
Also, you found that somewhere right? That'd be a whole lot to type up...
Though I did on that R&T article...
Excellent, I simply must use this in the upcoming gigantic update. How should I give you credit? do you want any?
Also, you found that somewhere right? That'd be a whole lot to type up...
Though I did on that R&T article...
nsx1164
07-08-2002, 07:12 PM
Originally posted by Adam
Excellent, I simply must use this in the upcoming gigantic update. How should I give you credit? do you want any?
Credit not required... I do suggest that you acknowledge the source (magazine, publication, author). I took a LOT of pix of the blue C12S 7.3 when I visited Pagani.
Also, you found that somewhere right? That'd be a whole lot to type up... Though I did on that R&T article...
Found some portions online, typed the rest in myself... while I'm not the #1 fan, I definitely love this car, and still hope to own one someday.
Excellent, I simply must use this in the upcoming gigantic update. How should I give you credit? do you want any?
Credit not required... I do suggest that you acknowledge the source (magazine, publication, author). I took a LOT of pix of the blue C12S 7.3 when I visited Pagani.
Also, you found that somewhere right? That'd be a whole lot to type up... Though I did on that R&T article...
Found some portions online, typed the rest in myself... while I'm not the #1 fan, I definitely love this car, and still hope to own one someday.
nsx1164
07-17-2002, 10:57 AM
see it here ... my version (above) has some corrections
Driver's Notebook: An Exclusive Spin in Supercar Valley (http://www.robbreport.com/do_direct_article.asp?article_ID=14437)
Driver's Notebook: An Exclusive Spin in Supercar Valley (http://www.robbreport.com/do_direct_article.asp?article_ID=14437)
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