No car has ever quite looked like the Zonda C12, and in a world of cookie-cutter supercars, that’s high compliment. From the quad headlights to the jet-cockpit greenhouse, the Zonda presents a flowing form evocative of the swift Argentine wind of Horatio Pagani’s homeland, the viento zonda. Curvaceous, organic forms dominate throughout, terminating at the meshed-in rear panel from which sprouts the signature quad-tipped exhaust. A mid-mounted V12 provided by Mercedes resides underneath the distinctive carbon fiber bodywork. The 394 horsepower produced by the 6-liter engine is enough to haul the relatively light Zonda up to 60 mph in a quick 4.2 seconds, while the well-balanced chassis provides a cat-like agility that belies the usually heavy feel of most supercars. While its performance is as legendary as its good looks, what it’s the original thinking and stunning performance that really sets the Zonda C12 apart.
