Pagani approves factory plans for upcoming C9

The Pagani Zonda is already one of the most dramatically styled and exclusive supercars in recent production but the man behind the car, Horacio Pagani, has more ambitious plans for a new model set to enter production next year. Unlike the Zonda, which was only offered to a few select markets, the new car - internally coded the C9 – is billed as a global model.

To accommodate the expected demand for the car, especially from North America, Pagani will build a brand new state-of-the-art factory near its current Modena site to boost production. The current Zonda is built in a painstakingly slow process, which sees only 16 cars produced annually.

While the same careful craftsmanship will be applied for the C9, EVO reports that the new factory will be three times bigger than Pagani’s current facility, allowing it to build up to 60 cars per year.

Production of the Zonda, meanwhile, is expected to end within the next 12 months because its AMG-prepped 7.3L V12 will no longer be available. Engineers are currently testing four prototypes for the C9, which is expected to be powered by a V8 engine also sourced from Mercedes-Benz.

The car’s styling will be very similar to the Zonda but its overall proportions will be smaller. Expect to see it in full production trim at next year’s Geneva Motor Show in March.