The Pagani C9 - will get its very own AMG V12
Pagani has announced that the Pagani C9 – the Zonda replacement – will get a custom AMG V12 and not the V12 from the Mercedes SL65 Black. Didn’t we know that?
It’s been a while since we heard anything about the Pagani C9. In fact the last thing we reported – which, surprisingly, hasn’t been widely picked up – is that the Pagani C9 will be delayed until 2012 because Pagani are having trouble sorting out the handling on the C9.
What also hasn’t been widely commented on is the failure of the Pagani C9 to make a public appearance. Back in January Horacio Pagani told us the C9 would be ready to show in September 2010. After our report in June that Pagani were struggling with the handling on the C9 we’re not surprised it hasn’t made an appearance. But no one seems to be asking why. Quite odd.
Still, even if it is a bit later than planned, the Pagani C9 is hugely important for Pagani, as it marks Pagani’s entry in to the potentially very lucrative North American market. The Zonda isn’t road legal in the States which does limit sales for Pagani. True, there are a handful of Zondas knocking around on US roads, but they are all probably registered in Mexico or Canada and just ‘Visiting’ the US.
With so much at stake – and nothing new to report on the C9 – it looks like Pagani are clutching at straws for a few headlines to keep interest in the C9 bubbling along. So we have a non-story from Pagani wanting to put the record staright about the engine in the C9. Pagani says:
Due to recent articles posted in the press about the future Pagani C9, PaganiAutomobili and Mercedes-AMG GmbH would like to make the following statement.
The engine of the Pagani C9 is not a derivative of the AMG V12 engine developed for the SL65 Black Series, nor is the AMG V12 engine in the SL65 Black Series derived from the engine AMG is currently developing for the Pagani C9.
The cars are very different in their character and conception and the engine will reflect this in its technical characteristics and behavior.
The engine in the Pagani C9 has been developed specifically for that applicationby Mercedes-AMG GmbH.
First we’ve heard. Every story we’ve written on the Pagani C9 – and there’ve been a few – has said it would get a custom-made AMG V12.
Still, it gives Pagani a few headlines on the C9. Which is doubtless the point.
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