Pagani was founded by Argentinean-born Italian Horacio Pagani and his first creation under his self-titled brand was the Zonda supercar. The stunning original was considered near perfect by most until Pagani released an updated Zonda ‘F’ with more even power and grip levels. Surely the Zonda F was the most that could be squeezed out of the platform? But Horacio Pagani didn’t exactly see things that way and the Zonda F ‘Clubsport’ was born, an even higher performance version of the already extreme Zonda F and one of the fastest production cars ever created.

The Zonda F Clubsport represents the last hurrah for the Zonda line-up as Pagani is set to replace the model with a new supercar dubbed the ‘C9′ coming next year. As the final iteration of the first Pagani model, the Clubsport holds a special place in automotive history and was intended to be something special, something that would cement the Zonda name forever in the history books.

Seeing a Zonda F Clubsport in the flesh is a strange experience. The cabin sits so far forward that it looks more like a jet-fighter than a car, and its low-slung stature and wide stance combine to give it a very aggressive appearance and great presence.

The attention to detail in all Paganis is first-rate and as expected is a constant theme throughout the Zonda F Clubsport. The sophistication of the red-leather interior and the imposing lines of the exterior leave onlookers stunned as you drive past. Despite this, the new model is almost indistinguishable from the lesser Zonda F bar a tiny ‘Clubsport’ badge at the rear.

Stepping inside, you’re immediately faced with the sheer opulence and richness of materials that only an Italian thoroughbred can provide. After years of boring executive-style interiors from many rival supercar brands, it’s good to see Pagani put the ‘x’ back into exotic. Every panel, instrument, dial and stitch is perfectly matched and of incredible quality. The red-leather looks like a throwback to the roadsters of the 1930s and everything about the interior projects a hand-wrought, bespoke quality.

The driving position is near-perfect and the interior cosseting, making the car feel smaller than it actually is. Visibility is much better than expected, although driving through traffic can still be a little unnerving. Starting the engine is just as theatrical as the appearance of the exterior. Simply press a button at the top of the gearstick and a roar that seems loud enough to wake the entire town fills the air.

The Pagani Zonda F Clubsport, despite its 650hp, its 780Nm of torque, its acceleration from 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds and its maximum speed of over 215mph, is far from being a punishing race car. The clutch feel is progressive and isn’t the violent action as you flip up and down its six cogs that you would find in many other performance cars of this caliber.

One of the most rewarding aspects of driving a Zonda is the chance to engage the exclusive 7.3L AMG-sourced V12. Exploiting the sledgehammer powerplant is downright brutal in the lower-revs and the thrust of the engine is felt right through to the upper limits of the rev-range. The way you feel in the Clubsport after burying the throttle is difficult to describe. With a flick of the foot, your body is sucked into the seat and your stomach is hurled far into your back. The wicked acceleration, the flood of horsepower and the reeling in of the horizon are all over in seconds. It’s an experience that leaves you a little shaken but always wanting more.

With great horsepower must come great stopping power and the Zonda F Clubsport doesn’t disappoint in this aspect either. An optional carbon-ceramic Brembo system ensures stunning deceleration once you get past the initial hard feel of the brake pedal.

The beauty of the Zonda F Clubsport is its ability to carve up a winding road, which is just as impressive, if not more so, as its ability to cover straight stretches of road in the shortest time possible. Where it shines the most is its effortless ability to glide in and out of corners with unnerving speed. The suspension transcribes with needle-like precision every imperfection and nuance in the tarmac, yet the springs aren’t so harsh as to make the ride overly uncomfortable or jarring. Expertly tuned shocks complement the springs to reveal a firm suspension set-up with almost non-existent body-roll.

The Clubsport’s actions are communicative with the driver and it feels as though the car is never struggling against you. The steering is progressive and provides plenty of feedback. It also has a slight heft to it, giving you confidence when pushing the car at speed. Grip and handling are phenomenal, and even when you are certain you are traveling too fast for a corner the car manages to keep its line without any fuss. The rear is fun to play around with and the sensation of oversteer is gentle and predictable, giving you some room to play without biting back too severely.

Amazingly, the entire mass of the car is contained within 1,230kg. This is mostly due to its carbon-fiber bodywork and chassis construction. With all of its 650hp, the Zonda F Clubsport weighs less than a Porsche Cayman. This light weight makes the Zonda easy to dance around a curve as the load-transfers from rapid steering adjustments barely build enough momentum to get you into trouble.

The power to weight ratio of 1.89kg/hp equals that of the Bugatti Veyron, which in comparison features a 16-cylinder quad-turbo engine with a 1001hp output. The cumbersome Veyron is burdened with an additional 700kg and it shows when compared to the Zonda F - where the Veyron is faster in a straight line, the Zonda absolutely decimates it in the corners. About 54% of the Zonda’s mass is positioned over the rear axle and the huge tires ensure exceptional grip, although traction control and a differential keep any loss of grip in check.

While the looks aren’t to everyone’s taste, as a driving machine the Zonda F Clubsport is nigh on perfection. Supple steering, phenomenal grip, and that brutal AMG V12 come together to make this one of the quickest cars we’ve ever had the pleasure of driving. While few people in the world will ever get the chance to look at this thing in the flesh, let alone drive it, anyone that does get that opportunity will find themselves addicted to a driving experience like no other.

Starting with the engines, Novitec has taken the 1.3 liter JTD turbo-diesel to 83 hp / 61 kW from its stock 70 hp / 51.5 kW, reducing its 0-100 km/h sprint time to 11.9 seconds and raising its top speed to 165 km/h. All this is possible through a plug-and-play control module available for just Euro 335.

The 1.4 liter 16-valve petrol engine receives a supercharger, boosting its output to 131 hp / 96.4 kW while torque increases from 131 Nm to 172 Nm. The nimble little engine can propel the Fiat 500 from 0 to 100 km/h in just 8.8 seconds while its top speed is 198 km/h.

Novitec also offers a stainless steel exhaust with either one or two exhaust tips, a front apron with spoiler and additional air dams and 16 or 17 inch multi-spoke wheels (up to 215/35 R 17 for front and rear) with matching suspension modifications. There are two option in regards to the suspension, either sport springs in combination with the production shock absorbers or a height-adjustable coil-over sport suspension set which can lower the car from 30 mm to 80mm.

The Italian carmaker also released several pictures of the Mi.To’s interior dressed in a black leather “suit”. Alfa’s MINI rival will go on sale in Europe this July powered by a turbocharged range of petrol and diesel engines spanning 90-155 Hp, with more powerful versions set to follow later on.

Power-wise, AC Schnitzer kits boost the 135i’s output from 306 to 360Hp, the 120d’s from 177 to 200Hp and the 123d’s from 204 to 240Hp. The engine upgrades can be complemented with a sport suspension or for those who want the full works, a height adjustable racing suspension.

Visually, AC Schnitzer has enhanced the 1-Series Cabriolet with the addition of a bodykit that includes front and rear spoilers, sport exterior mirrors as well as with new alloy wheels which are available in a variety of designs (17 to 19-inch). Inside, the AC Schnitzer treatment includes a carbon fiber trim, a sport steering wheel and various aluminum accessories.

The Alfa Romeo Brera S will be limited to just 500 units. Pricing and specifications will be revealed at its launch on May 19 2008 but Alfa Romeo has let slip that the car will feature exterior and interior enhancements besides the Prodrive suspension. The two existing petrol engines (185 bhp 2.2 liter four-cylinder and 260 bhp 3.2 liter V6) in standard specifications will be powering the new Brera.

According to Prodrive Project Leader, Peter Cambridge, the collaboration has “built on the existing model’s capabilities to deliver outstanding driver feedback and handling.”

But sometimes the Laupheim-based technicians move off the beaten tracks and devote themselves to something completely unexpected – in this case the Fiat 500. The HAMANN-technicians started with a lot of joy and enthusiasm for the cool little retro sports car and developed the extensive HAMANN sportivo–tuning programme. Striking 17-inch rims and a lively flag pattern optically emphasize the racy character of this little Italian. The strong sound of the HAMANN-sport exhaust system for the 1,4 litre petrol car also underlines this acoustically. A performance optimization for the diesel model, progressive chassis springs and a newly-developed braking system round out the racy appearance and provide a speedy joyride.

The design wheel HM sportivo I stands for trendy mobile appearance and perfect handling. The matt black varnish rim in one piece has a diamond-polished outer edge and is offered in the size 7.0 x 17. HAMANN recommends matching tyres in the sizes 195/40 ZR17 or 215/34 ZR 17 by its technology partner Hankook. A complete wheel-set can be obtained from 1,420 €. The HAMANN-set for lowering chassis leads to a further improvement in handling the car and ensures that the vehicle centre which is made up from four progressively spun springs is lowered by 30mm.

The sport exhaust system which was especially devised for the 1,4 litre petrol car renders a thrilling sonorous sound. The system includes a muffler (from 390 € onwards) with two round end pipes made of high-grade steel (70 mm diameter), a pre-muffler with metal catalyst and a sport fan manifold. All components can also be obtained individually. Also for this model, HAMANN developed a stable sport braking system for improved deceleration values. The set consists of two perforated and ventilated brake discs (diameter 280 x 28mm) at the front axle in connection with red 4-piston fixed yokes and steal flex brake lines. The back axle can be upgraded with brake discs measuring 240 mm in diameter.

The increased performance by HAMANN costs 699 € for the 1,3 Multijet 16V Fiat 500 diesel model. After re-programming the integrated control unit, the motor renders up to 90 hp / 66 kW at 4,000 r.p.m. (series: 75 hp / 55 KW) and a maximum torque of 230 Nm at 1,750 r.p.m. (series: 145 Nm at 1,500 r.p.m.).

The aluminium pedal set including footrest and a car mat set with an embroidered HAMANN sportive logo accentuate the interior and perfect the Fiat 500 programme in a stylish way.

I was quite surprised to learn about their wide aspect of services:
- the largest selection of cars by Volkswagen in Atlanta, Georgia
- huge selection of used cars for their Atlanta area customers
- assistance when applying for auto loan

If by any chance you find yourself near Marietta, make sure you drop by Marietta Volkswagen dealer also. They are Number One in both sales and customer satisfaction. Check them out for test drive.

I am going there too!