one of a kind, the return of a legend: Pagani Zonda Unico

it’s been more than a decade since it was officially discontinued, but the Pagani Zonda is far from dead. Every few years, Pagani resurrects the one-of-a-kind Zonda for a select few special customers. And in 2025, the immortal hypercar that first appeared 26 years ago is back in the world once again in a new one-off model called the Unico.

design inspired by the Kunlun Mountains

the Unico, which means “one and only” in Italian, was built for just one customer. an Asian customer requested a design inspired by China’s Kunlun Mountains, and Pagani created an entirely new form of art based on the chassis of an existing Zonda. it’s full of aerodynamic extremes and beautiful details, including a huge air scoop across the roof, a double rear wing, and a massive vertical fin through the center of the body.

blue carbon fiber and craftsmanship

the body of the Zonda Unico is made of full carbon fiber with a brilliant blue hue, and exposed carbon patterns throughout add an artistic touch. from the windshield frame to the headlamp housings to the side mirrors, every part is finely polished to resemble a sculpture. the blue accents extend to the wheels, brake calipers, and quad exhaust tips for a complete sense of unity.

heart: 760-horsepower naturally aspirated V12 engine

pagani has yet to announce the official specifications of the Zonda Unico, but experts believe the car will be based on the existing ‘Zonda 760’ series. at its heart will be a 7.3-liter naturally aspirated V12 enginesupplied by Mercedes-AMG, which is expected to produce a massive 760 horsepowerat peak output. alongside this powerful heart, many fans are hoping to see a ‘gated manual transmission’, which is said to be the pinnacle of analog sensibility.

the realm of emotion: what is a gated manual transmission?

a gated manual transmission is one in which the shift lever moves within an exposed metal slot (the gate). The mechanical feel and sound of the gears engaging with an ‘iron-click’ provides an analog sensibility that no dual-clutch transmission in the digital age can replicate. they’re tricky to make and have all but disappeared from modern production cars, but hypercar brands like Pagani still love them as an art form that maximizes driving pleasure.

why has the Zonda become an immortalized icon?

interestingly, Pagani’s successor, the Wraith, hasn’t received the same fervent ‘one-off’ requests as the Zonda. despite more advanced technology and higher production volumes, the emotion of the Zonda’s pure naturally aspirated V12 engine and the timeless design of its iconic design seem to be irreplaceable. the arrival of the Zonda Unico proves once again that the Pagani Zonda is more than just a car, it is a work of art to own and an enduring legend.