Editing Pagani Zonda

''This page is for the original Pagani Zonda. For later variants, please consult [[Pagani Zonda/Variants|this disambiguation page]].''

{{Infobox Vehicle
|article = {{PAGENAME}}
|image = [[File:TG 2002 S1E1 - Zonda Sideways.jpg|300px]]A Zonda powerslides around the [[Top Gear Test Track]]
|manu = Pagani
|model = Zonda
|origin = Italian
|drivetrain = MR
|adj = super
|type = car
|litre = 7
|decl = 0
|design = V
|cyl = 12
|bhp = 550
|acc = 3.7
|mph = 208
|kph = 334
|year1 = 1999
|year2 = 2006
|debut = Fifth Gear/Series 1/Episode 5|debshort=Fifth Gear: Series 1, Episode 5
|year3 = 2002
|final = RTL Autowereld#RTL_Wannahaves|finshort=RTL Wannahaves: Episode 10
|year4 = 2009
}}

The '''Pagani Zonda''' was a V12-powered supercar produced by [[Pagani]] from [[1999]] until [[2006]], with later variants remaining in production as made-to-order limited editions as recently as [[2022]]. It was the first supercar produced by the company and took 10 years to develop.

==Background==
What would become the Zonda first entered development in 1988<ref>[https://forums.autosport.com/topic/95779-fangio-pagani-zonda-what-was-the-story/ Autosport Forums - Fangio & Pagani Zonda - what was the story?]</ref> as the "C8 Project", and was developed closely with Argentine racing legend Juan-Manuel Fangio, who allegedly allowed Pagani the usage of his name if it was powered by a Mercedes-Benz engine. In 1991, the first concept drawings were drawn up, incorporating a then-unheard of active aero system<ref>[https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-shows/geneva-auto-show/a26795353/pagani-zonda-20th-anniversary-active-aero/ Road & Track - Pagani Zonda 20th Anniversary.]</ref> in the rear wings, which didn't survive to the production car. The first prototypes were subsequently modelled in 1992<ref>[https://www.auxchateauxdusudouest.com/paganiautomobili.php Aux Chateaux du Sud-Ouest - Pagani Automobili.]</ref> before being wind-tested the year after. The car continued development for another 5 years thereafter and eventually became the '''Zonda''' following Fangio's death in 1995.

==Media appearances==
Though the car had been in production since 1999, it wouldn't be until 2002 when the Zonda would finally make its first televised appearances.

===Fifth Gear===
The very first programme the Pagani Zonda appeared in was [[Fifth Gear/Series 1/Episode 5|the fifth episode]] of ''[[Fifth Gear]]'', which aired on the 6th of May, 2002. Host [[Tiff Needell]] found the Zonda very favourable to drive, and thought it topped even the [[Lamborghini Murciélago]] he had driven in the show's first episode a month earlier.

===Top Gear===
Inevitably, the car would wind up against the Murciélago once again, this time around for [[Top Gear (2002 TV series)/Series 1/Episode 1|the first episode]] of ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]''. [[Jeremy Clarkson]] would be tasked with thrashing both supercars around the Dunsfold airfield, before racing against the Zonda in a drag race, which his Murciélago lost. The cars were then handed to [[The Stig]], where the Zonda beat the Lamborghini by over 6 seconds on an artificially-wet track.

Its lap time was defeated in a shock upset by the motorcycle-engined [[Westfield XTR2]] just two episodes later, but mid-way through [[Top Gear (2002 TV series)/Series 2|Series 2]], lap times set by track-oriented cars were removed from the board, reinstating the Zonda as the fastest car around the track. This record would stand for around a further 5 months before it was beaten by its old rival the Murciélago in [[Top Gear (2002 TV series)/Series 3/Episode 4|Series 3, Episode 4]].

===Clarkson Home Videos===
The original Zonda made regular appearances in Jeremy Clarkson's subsequent home video releases.

===RTL Wannahaves===
The final time a base-model Zonda appeared in an automotive journalism programme was briefly in episode 10 of [[RTL Autowereld#RTL_Wannhaves|RTL Wannahaves]], for a segment filmed in [[Monaco]] where it is approached by host Susanne Dijksterhuis.

==Honours==
{{Start box}}
{{Succession box
|predecessor=''None''
|position={{PLChampion}}
|series=[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)/Series 1/Episode 1|Series 1, Episode 1]]<br>1:23.0
|successor=''[[Westfield XTR2]]''<br>1:22.6
|carname=Pagani Zonda
}}
{{Succession box
|predecessor=''[[Radical SR3]]''<br>1:19.1
|position={{PLChampion}}
|series=[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)/Series 2/Episode 5|Series 2, Episode 5]]<br>1:23.8
|successor=''[[Lamborghini Murciélago]]''<br>1:23.7
|carname=Pagani Zonda
}}
{{End box}}

==References==

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