Pagani Zonda R
is go!
750bhp track car set for production; 'C9' introduction
delayed
With six deposits received already and a further four awaiting
final confirmation, Pagani has confirmed that its wild, track-only
Zonda R will go into production. Just ten examples of this
1.2million euro, 750bhp FXX-rival will be built, with delivery of
the first car scheduled for March 2008.
This latest announcement is an indication of the dramatic rise in
interest that Pagani is enjoying at the moment. Company founder
Horacio Pagani recently claimed that if he were to build 100 Zonda
F coupes (rather than limiting the run to just 25) he could sell
them all.
This pent-up demand is now reflected in the values of existing
cars, according to Horacio, with good used examples of the C12 and
C12S now fetching around 400,000 euros (a C12 was 250,000 euros
new) and coupe Fs changing hands for 150,000-200,000 euros above
list.
The biggest problem for Pagani has always been its inability to
meet the demand for its cars, mainly because the current factory
simply doesnt have the capacity to build them fast enough. But
help is just around the corner, as Pagani has recently managed to
secure a new complex within a kilometre of its existing unit.
Three times bigger than the current facility, this will enable
production to increase dramatically, from the current 16 cars a
year to around 60 once the Zondas replacement, known internally as
the C9, comes on stream. However, the introduction of that car has
been put back a year, to 2009, due to the Zonda R getting the go
ahead.
Even when the C9 does arrive, though, dont expect to see a flood
of Paganis coming to the UK. Unlike the Zonda, the C9 will be
homologated for sale in all key markets, including, for the first
time, the USA and Japan, and 50 per cent of the additional output
is expected to go to these new territories.
Paganis new factory will also allow the company to increase its
maintenance activities, something which Horacio deems essential for
the future value of his creations now that there are so many out
there (82 Zondas have been built to date).
Horacio has also been busy with a number of other design projects
recently, including a watch, a radical hi-fi system (due to be
launched in September) and a boat along the lines of a Wally
Tender. All these new products will be enthused with Horacios
unique take on combining art with engineering, just as weve seen
with his cars.
