Light, fast and you can't have it: Pagani rolls out Zonda Cinque

June 5, 2008


Pagani Zonda Cinque

The speed demons/art connoisseurs at Italian dream maker Pagani are at it again, and their latest offering can be summed up in two words: fast and light.

Thanks to carbon-titanium fiber used in construction, the racing-inspired Zonda Cinque weighs just 2,668 pounds--44 pounds lighter than the Pagani F. Power comes from a 678-hp Mercedes-Benz AMG engine, which is paired with a six-speed sequential gearbox. Put it all together and the Cinque is capable of a top speed of 217 mph.

The exterior is distinguished by a long spoiler in the front and a newly-designed rear wing. The cockpit has carbon-fiber racing seats with leather covers and a carbon-fiber steering wheel with paddle shifters. There's also a shifter in the center tunnel.

The Zonda Cinque rides on Pirelli 255/35-19 tires in the front and 335/30-20 in the rear. The wheels are forged aluminum and magnesium.

To stop this monster, Pagani employs Brembo brakes with six-piston calibers up front and four-piston calipers in the back, which combine to bring the Zonda Cinque from 62 mph to a halt in 2.1 seconds.

The Zonda Cinque follows the jaw-dropping Zonda F and Zonda R, which were shown at the Geneva motor show this year and are already sold out, though they aren't in production.

The first Zonda was launched in 1999, weighing 30- to 50-percent less than comparable offerings. Since then the cars have attracted a considerable following, with second-hand F coupes and roadsters going for more double their original stickers.

The Zonda Cinque is likely to fuel that trend even further--its price tag is $1.6 million and Pagani is building only five copies, which are already sold.

By Greg Migliore