Supercars a fast way to spend money

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

Two of the world's most exclusive supercars crossed paths in the dark in Greenlane the other night.

One, a $1.2 million Pagani Zonda roadster, was on display in a dealership and being made ready for a flight to Sydney, where it will go on show.

The other, a $1 million Porsche Carrera GT, had just arrived from Australia and was being trucked from Auckland airport to its temporary home in Grey Lynn. Both cars had been star attractions at the Melbourne motor show. The Zonda had also been at the Hamilton show.

The Italian Zonda was brought Downunder by importer Roger Phillips. The German Carrera GT is owned by car industry magnate Colin Giltrap.

Phillips said the Zonda had attracted much interest in both countries. "We brought it in on the premise that there were about five expressions of interest from this part of the world in buying the vehicle. "We expect the car to be sold within the next couple of months."

Pagani will make 24 Zonda coupes and roadsters this year. Last year it made 18.

The two-seater has a carbon fibre body sitting on a magnesium-alloy frame. It weighs 1280kg, uses a six-speed manual gearbox and is powered by a 7.3-litre Mercedes-Benz V12 engine producing 408kW (548bhp) at 5900rpm and 750Nm of torque at 4050rpm.

It has an estimated top speed of 350km/h and gets from zero to 100km/h in 3.7sec.

The Carrera GT is one of three bought by New Zealanders.

The Giltrap car will be here for a few weeks of presentations before being flown to Britain. It will return permanently later in the year.

The premium six-speed Porsche is powered by a 5.7-litre V10 engine producing 450kW (612bhp) at 8000rpm and 590Nm of torque at 5750rpm.

It has a top speed of 330km/h and sprints from zero to 100km/h in 3.9sec. It weighs 1380kg and, like the Zonda, makes extensive use of carbon fibre.