Pagani Zonda F Lustier Performance

Pagani has built a reputation for producing exquisitely built exotic cars that are extremely fast on any road. The new Pagani Zonda F combines sheer power with great handling, and builds on the development of the Zonda. Inspired by Juan Manuel Fangio, the brilliant racing driver, Horacio Pagani has always striven for perfection.

The performance of the Pagani Zonda F exotic car is outstanding: a top speed of 214 mph, the 0-60 mph rush in around 3.5 seconds, and 120 mph in well under 12 seconds. A very, very fast car.

Just to prove it, the Zonda F has lapped the infamous Nurburgring in 7 minutes 22 seconds. That is the fastest lap time by a production car apart from a couple of very nimble sports-racing road cars. The Zonda F has also been driven round the Top Gear track in the UK faster than any other car at 1 minute 18.4 seconds, beating the Maserati MC12 (1 minute 18.9), and the Ferrari Enzo, (1 minute 19.0)!

F for Fangio

It is not surprising that the F of the Pagani Zonda F exotic car stands for Fangio, probably the most brilliant racing driver ever. This new car moves Pagani up a level with more power and less weight.

Although visually very similar to the Zonda, and powered by the same basic engine, the new car has an AMG Mercedes-Benz 7.3 liter engine tuned to 602 bhp up about 50 bhp over the Zonda 7.3 S. If you want more power, there is the option of a 650 bhp engine.

Pagani Zonda F differs in many subtle ways from the other Zondas. It is a little lower, and has a larger full-width rear wing to generate more downforce at speed. The tires and wheels are also larger to give more cornering power, and about 110 lb (50 kg)has been shaved off the weight. So the Zonda F is the high-performance Zonda, which might find its way onto the race tracks, possibly in the FIA GT Championship. There are various options for those wanting minimum weight and more power

Air intakes each side of the coach roof

The lines of Pagani Zonda F is barely changed, with that wide, low air intake running across the full width of the short, sloping nose, and those tiny headlamps sitting on the front fenders like blisters. The coach roof is deliberately narrow almost in the way light aircraft have narrow blister tops and short. Each side there are a pair of air intakes for the engine, while there is also a low intake in each side of the car.

At the rear, the four exhaust pipes are grouped together in a circular outlet in the traditional Pagani manner, and almost all of the rest of the tail is one large air outlet to get the heat way. On top is the large wing.

Sumptuous cockpit right for an exotic car

Inside, there is a compact cockpit, with seats and controls that seem ideally placed. Of course, the interior can be tailored to suit individual customers. But the style is Pagani: a small instrument binnacle, machined from an aluminum casting, sits in front of the wheel, there is an aluminum center console, and the ventilation outlets have aluminum bezels.

The steering wheel itself, made by Nardi, is an object of perfection. The wheel has aluminum spokes, in the traditional manner, and a wooden rim with a flat section across the bottom. The part of the rim which you hold is shaped to fit your hands, and is trimmed in leather. Beautifully made in the Pagani style.

Very strong carbon fiber hull

As with all Zondas and several other exotic cars, the basis of the car is the carbon fiber hull. The hull comprises the cockpit and bulkheads to which steel tubular sub-frames are attached for the steering and front suspension at the front, and the suspension and power train at the rear.

Although carbon fiber is expensive, it is the ideal material for low volume production because the molds on which the hull is produced are cheap to produce compared with those for steel or aluminum pressings. The hull is made from 130 parts produced from pre-impregnated Seal carbon fiber provided by Saati, which has worked with Pagani for 20 years.

Carbon fiber produces a stiffer and lighter structure than metal, and the passenger compartment is immensely strong, providing protection for the driver and passenger. There is also an integral roll-over bar, which consists of a steel hoop as well as a carbon fiber molding. The front sub-frame is designed to absorb impact in a crash.

Superb AMG V-12 tailored for Pagani

AMG has modified the V-12, 48-valve engine mapping to increase power, and the intake and exhaust manifolds are beautifully hydroformed to shape to ensure smooth shapes with equal length pipes. Hydro forming is a technique where tubes can be formed to remarkable shapes using hydraulic pressure. The manifolds are one of the areas where the Pagani attention to detail is most evident.

In this form, the AMG engine develops 602 bhp at 6,150 rpm, with masses of torque at almost any speed. Peak torque of 560 lb ft (760 Nm) is produced at 4,000 rpm, but there is 480 lb ft available from 2,000 rpm right up to 6,500 rpm. That's a lot of torque, and remember, this is a very light car, thanks to the carbon fiber tub. Just to put that in perspective, the Ferrari F40, considered a really exotic car in its day, produced only 423 lb ft torque max.

Ideal weight distribution, racing-type suspension

The engine drives through a six-speed manual gearbox to the rear wheels, and the weight distribution is close to the ideal at 46% front and 54% rear. As on all the Zonda cars, the suspension is via rocker arms to almost horizontal spring/damper units. The Ohlins dampers are adjustable.

The arms of the double wishbone suspension are aluminum, and anti-roll bars are also used. The front suspension is designed to reduce dive under braking, and the rear suspension is designed to reduce squat under acceleration. Owing to the high g forces during braking and acceleration with such a powerful car, the reduction in pitching resulting from the anti-squat and anti-dive geometry improves the ride.

There is the option of carbon ceramic brakes, which give better performance and less weight, and these are 15 inches diameter front and rear. The standard discs are 15 inch diameter front, and 14 inch diameter rear, and in both cases there are six-pot front, and four-pot rear calipers. The brake system is supplied by Brembo.

At the front, the 19 inch wheels are shod with 255/35 Pirelli Pilot Sport 2 tires, and at the rear, there are 20 inch wheels with 335/30 tires.

Pagani has already proven that it can produce super high-performance exotic cars, and Pagani Zonda F may not seem to be hugely different, but represents a further advance for this individualistic company. The car weighs in at 2,710 lb (1,230 kg), which gives a stunning power-to-weight ratio of 490 bhp per tonne. Very much in the top league of exotic cars that power-to-weight ratio goes up to 530 bhp per tonne if you opt for the 650 bhp engine. Wow what an exotic car!