Zonda’s latest toupee-troubler

One of the world’s most recognisable supercar profiles, which also happen to be super exclusive, Pagani’s Zonda, has had its fair share of rare incarnations over the last decade, but do they get rarer than the Cinque Roadster? We don’t think they do…By Kyle Kock

As its name suggests, the Zonda Cinque is/was only available in a limited run of five models, instantly making it one of the most desirable exotics around but just when you thought it doesn’t get much better than that, the firm has decided to release a convertible version as well.

The Cinque Roadster pretty much looks the same as its coupé sibling, with the obvious omission of a roof (stored in the bonnet) but engineering wizardry of the carbon-titanium monocoque chassis means that the roadster actually weighs the same 1 210 kg as the Cinque coupé, with comparable rigidity – which not often the case with topless version of automobiles.

There’s also a longer front spoiler, a flat undertray and redesigned rear diffuser and spoiler – enough to create the same downforce of 750 kg at a smidgen under 300 km/h that Pagani claims for the coupé variant… The scoop above the cockpit now visible to passengers feeds air to the Mercedes-Benz AMG-sourced 7,3-litre V12 that produces 500 kW and 780 N.m of torque- which howls through a quartet of ceramic-coated titanium exhaust tailpipes.

Mated with a Cima six-speed sequential transmission, the V12 powerplant sees the Zonda Cinque Roadster rush 100 km/h in 3,4 seconds and 200 km/h in 9,6 seconds, though compared to the Cinque coupé, Pagani has conservatively pegged the Roadster’s top speed at just over 320 km/h.

With the complete expense probably working out to the other side of R15 million, you also get a suspension system in titanium and magnesium, giant 380 mm Brembo brakes in all four corners, APP monolithic alloy/magnesium wheels (measuring 19 inches in front and 20 inches at the rear) wrapped in Pirelli rubber and exclusive leather/carbon fibre racing seats … Oh and traction control and ABS if you run out of talent …