Work is well under way on Pagani’s replacement for its incredible Zonda supercar. This development mule for a new model, codenamed ‘C9’ by the Modena company, was snapped by our spies in Italy. Although the prototype’s looks are similar to the current Zonda C12’s, underneath the skin its mechanical components are thought to be new. The C9 is expected to use an AMG V8 - possibly a version of the Mercedes-McLaren SLR’s 5.4-litre unit – instead of the current Zonda’s Mercedes V12. Pagani sources have told Autocar that the production C9 will have a totally fresh look; rumours suggest that its design will incorporate active aerodynamics and that it will be lighter than the outgoing model. The current Pagani Zonda C12 was launched in 1999 and has since gone through a number of ever-more-powerful incarnations; the latest is the 750bhp, track-based Zonda R.It’s not yet clear whether the finished C9, due on sale late next year, will still carry the Zonda name.
