2008 Pagani Zonda Roadster F

The Roadster F bears last initial of the late F1 champion (and Pagani Zonda design contributor) Juan Manuel Fangio to reflect its enhanced performance versus the stock Roadster. Pagani first unveiled the convertible in 2006 and borrows the same weight reduction techniques as the Zonda F coupe: a modified front end and spoiler, new venting, and a hydroformed intake chamber all contribute to its weight of 1.36 US tons. More and improved headlamps are also present. For the Roadster F, Pagani achieved a unique feat in maintaining chassis stiffness near that of the coupe without adding weight: by using clever design instead of simply bulking up the window sills, the ex-Lamborghini automaker avoided adding 77 pounds to the car's weight. Only 25 examples of the car will be made over its history.

Just as rare is the supercar's performance: surprisingly, the Roadster F's engine is even more powerful than that of the F coupe. Without affecting the 7.3-liter displacement, Pagani has stepped up the raw power from 602 hp to 650 at a slightly higher 6200 rpm. Torque also surges further from 560 pound-feet to 575. Like the hardtop, acceleration gained from the extra power over the slower car is a modest tenth of a second, reaching 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, but the overall power boost is enough to muster 214 mph -- even with the top down.

The Roadster F's six-speed manual transmission is identical to that of the S. However, Pagani gives the option of Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes that bring the car to a stop quicker than nearly any metal discs: a Zonda Roadster F cruising at 125 mph reaches a full stop in 4.4 seconds. Carbon-ceramic brakes also typically last longer under hard braking and don't require warm-up time to provide full stopping power.

Design and trim

Beyond the performance enhancements, the Zonda Roadster F's design is a near-mirror of the original Roadster. The interior continues to be draped in carbon, leather, and satin-touch aluminum that recalls both the present and the past: jet-turbine air conditioning vents stand alongside leather door handles and a one-of-a-kind glove compartment that uses a belt buckle in place of a latch.

Slightly larger 19- and 20-inch magnesium wheels at the front and back replace the standard 18-inch alloys of the Zonda Roadster.

As with the other open-air Zonda, the Roadster F is only available in one trim level with a multi-CD premium audio system and satellite navigation as standard. However, the carbon-ceramic brakes are optional for drivers who demand superior stopping power.