Name: Pagani Zonda C12 Launched: March 1999, Geneʋa Auto Show Specs: 6.0-liter V12, 394 horsepower / 420 Pound-Feet

Most of you are excited about Pagani’s latest, the absolutely gorgeous, stupidly expensive, 800 horsepower (596 kilowatts) Huyara Roadster BC. Because, apparently, it is. And while we’d expect you to claim Pagani’s $3.5 million on Instagram, do so with some context. This year marks 20 years since Pagani retired its first car, the C12. And that’s the latest topic in our new series, Supercar Sunday.

OG

Horacio Pagani founded Pagani Autoмolii in 1992. During its first year, the Modena, Italy-based company began building a ʋehicle known internally as “Project C8.” To the general public, Pagani would call its first car the “Fangio F1,” inspired by Argentine Formula One champion Juan Manuel Fangio. But after Fangio’s death in 1995, Pagani changed the ʋehicle’s name to the Zonda C12.

With Mercedes-Benz and Pagani agreeing to an engine partnership in 1994, with Pagani using German V12 engines, the company was on the fast track to production. And in 1999, the first complete Pagani supercar was revealed to the public.

The Zonda C12 debuted at the 1999 Geneʋa Auto Show.

Eschewing the lightweight all-aluminum construction of its time, Pagani made extensive use of carbon materials. That’s kind of his MO. But it’s in the details where the Zonda C12 really stands out; Leather, mesh luggage straps and zippers dot the vehicle’s exterior surfaces in a whimsical pattern.

“The shape had to be sensual, the wheel arches had to be reminiscent of a woman’s figure, the rear part hugged the hips,” notes CEO Horacio Pagani. “Inside, the chairs will be shaped like an inert pyramid to wrap around the shoulders, giving a sense of power to the man and protection to the woman. A complex search for simple ideas. In short: Zonda.”

But let’s not forget the noise of the V12 engine. At launch, the Mercedes-sourced 6.0-liter V12 produced 394 (293 kW) and 420 pound-feet (570 Newton-meters). That’s a long way from the 800 horsepower Pagani on offer today. But with the high-speed manual transmission and thanks in part to its lightweight design (which tips the scales at 2,755 pounds), the C12 can hit 60 miles per hour (96 kilometers per hour) in about 4.2 seconds, with a top speed of approximately 185 mph (297 kmh).

New perspective

The success of the Zonda C12 at launch has led to a series of – wait for it – examples with 6.0-litre V12 engines. That’s it. True, variants like the Zonda S and 7.3 launched soon after, with more power and improved styling, but the original C12 stood out from its successor counterparts due to its status as original.

Zonda C12 is a breakthrough of CEO Horacio Pagani. It cemented Pagani Autoмolii as a serious contender in the supercar ranks and did so in style. Compared to other supercars of the time – direct competitors like the Lamıorghini Diablo and more superior options like the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR – the Zonda C12 made an impact that you can feel today. now.