The Pagani Zonda’s legacy is one of unparalleled style and performance, having made a lasting impact on the automotive world since its debut in 1999.
Originally supposed to be named the “Fangio F1” after five-time World Driver’s Championship winner Juan Manuel Fangio, the Zonda took on its actual name from a term used to refer to “a hot South American wind, especially in Argentina.”
The Zonda debuted at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show in its C12 variant, powered by a 6.0L Mercedes-Benz V12 engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.
Over the 20 years the Zonda has been in production, Pagani released several model variants, including the Zonda Cinque, which Horacio Pagani, the company’s founder, meant to be the last iteration of the Zonda.
While the Zonda has been a dream and a bedroom poster for most, several high-profile individuals have been known to own one, with seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton being perhaps the most famous of the lot.
As the legendary supercar celebrates its 25th anniversary, a group of students from the Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) in Turin took on the remarkable, yet ambitious challenge of reimagining the Zonda for a new era.