Features

Now floor it in, say, second and you're soon checking that your own innards haven't been catapulted into exposure.

The actual explosion of torque isn't really new. Stronger, yes (especially at high revs) but the same kind of instant-on madness Pagani has visited on us before. What's new is the stuff that comes along with it - the sound effects after you've mashed the throttle and awakened that hysterically furious V12.

The Zonda S has a deep lion's-roar baritone. The F has gone all Formula 1 on us, a hard-edged ripping shriek, all the way to the red, and there's less flywheel and a snappier gearbox to speed the hectic upshifts.

Those 50 new horsepower in the F haven't come easily though, as when you're manoeuvring and dawdling there's now the tiniest low-rev jumpiness.

So AMG's V12 is sensational. But even that isn't as good as the chassis. You'd expect immense grip, but probably not the exquisite connectedness, road feel and confidence the Pagani provides. It simply magnetises itself into corners, and in the tightest ones you feel the limit at the front tyres.

But then there's the option of spooling in a little more power to make the rear tyres work, and even letting the traction control take the strain if you want. In fast corners you get that miraculous extra sureness and balance from the downforce.

You don't overstep the mark in a Zonda, because you don't need to. The mark is flashed up in DayGlo through your hands and backside.

The brakes are a match. Their power is shattering. More than that, it's all about feel and confidence again. You pull up straight and true even if it's bumpy. The suspension is amazingly compliant.

But let's think about this logically, get this totally straight in our heads. One quietly spoken Argentinean has set up shop in Modena and, with approximately 30 local artisans, built a car to challenge and in some ways beat a Porsche Carrera GT? Well yes, actually.

But, whatever else you do, don't go calling the Zonda F 'a racer for the road' because though its abilities are that good, its manners are a league-and-a-half better. It's absolutely on your side.

The £446,000 price tag, obviously, is somewhat preposterous, but be in no doubt that the lucky buyers of the Zonda F get what they pay for. This is a hurricane of a car, but we mortals can control it.

Paul Horrell

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Pagani Zonda C12 S - July 1, 2002