1999 Pagani Zonda C12-S

The real difference between the C12 and C12-S is under the engine cover. The C12-S getting a warmed up Mercedes V12. Pagani, eager to make the C12 a real supercar, asked AMG to supply several M120 V12 7.0 engines with more power. Tuned by Mercedes-AMG, the engine had 542 hp and was mated to a new 6-speed manual. It definitely helped in terms of performance, with the Zonda C12-S accelerating to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds and can reach 100 mph in just 7.5 seconds and complete the quarter mile in 11.3 seconds at 131 mph.

C12 S 7.0-litre version of the DOHC V12, pumped out a strong 550 horsepower and equally impressive 553 lb/ft of torque. The engine is similar to the ones using in SL73 AMG and CLK-GTR, being tuned to somewhere between them. Compare with McLaren F1’s V12, the AMG mega engine is less revvy – it delivers maximum power at just 5,550 rpm – and less responsive to throttle action. However, the extra cubic inches give it tremendous torque, pulling the car strongly from 1,000 rpm at top gear.

Like the best sorted supercars, Zonda’s shape is the outcome of wind tunnel testing. Deep chin spoiler, rear wing and rear diffuser contribute to 500 kg of downforce at 185 mph, and it is distributed to match weight distribution too. The vehicle had lateral acceleration on the skidpad at 1.18 g and the car is 10 kilograms lighter than the normal Zonda C12. It had a top speed of 220 mph and carries a price tag of $350,000. Only 15 7.0 L C12 S vehicles were ever produced.

Specs & Performance