While we’ve been seeing various Pagani C9 mules over the past two years, most of those test cars were only sporting lightly modified Zonda body parts. Today we’ve just shot this latest generation of C9 prototype and it appears to be wearing a lot, or maybe all, of the production bodywork! Given the fake body panels camouflaging this prototype, Pagani is dead set on keeping the final design a secret from Lamborghini and Ferrari.

The Founder of Pagani Automobili S.p.A., Horacio Pagani, has confirmed that a model dubbed “C9″ will start production at the end of 2010 and replace the Zonda. In speaking to Argentina Auto Blog, Pagani said the C9 will be “a brand new car from concept, weight distribution, materials and dynamics.” He also stated it would have 3,770 new parts.

Spec-wise, he revealed that the C9 will sport a carbon-titanium chassis, forged aluminum alloy suspension parts and tires from Pirelli specifically engineered for the C9. We noticed this test car had absolutely enormous 335/30/ZR20 Pirelli Pzero Rosso tires in back and 255/35/ZR19 tires in front. Inside the wheels were equally enormous carbon ceramic brake rotors.

Under the engine cover you’ll find a Mercedes-Benz 6.0L, bi-turbo V12 rated around 700 horsepower and 740 lb-ft of torque. Pagani also confirmed the C9 will have very advanced active aerodynamics package, but would not elaborate further.

Watch for this supercar to debut at one of the European auto shows later this year, with a price tag near 900,000 euros.

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 much more ambitious plans for the future. Later this year the Zonda’s replacement, the internally coded C9, will enter production and this one will be sold in the U.S. for the first time, but after that Pagani is planning a second model.

Unlike the Zonda and its C9 replacement, this second Pagani will be powered by a V-8 engine. It will be a smaller and higher-volume model, meaning it will likely be cheaper than the Zonda and upcoming C9. Speaking with evo, Pagani has revealed that production numbers could be as high as 500 units per annum, although the earliest it would arrive will be around 2015. Pagani currently builds only about 16 cars per year, all of them hand-assembled.

In the meantime, the company is focusing its efforts on the new C9, which you can see spy shots of by clicking here. The car is due towards the end of the year and will come packing a 6.0-liter V-12 engine developed together with Mercedes-Benz and AMG. Peak output will stand at roughly 700 horsepower and 737 pound-feet of torque--slightly down on the Zonda R's 750 horsepower but more than enough to give Ferrari and Lamborghini a real scare.

The C9 is said to be a completely new car, from concept, weight distribution, materials and dynamics. In fact, it will feature more than 3,770 new parts among which are a carbon-titanium chassis, specially developed Pirelli tires and Bosch electronics. Pricing is expected to start at roughly $1.2 million.

and this one will be sold in the U.S. for the first time

Unadulterated, bombastic carbon-fiber insanity--the current Pagani Zonda and its several variants are the embodiment of what it is to be a supercar. But sadly, the car was never officially sold in the U.S. and only a handful have made their way here under special Show & Display rules.

That won’t be the case with the Zonda’s successor, the code-named C9, which has already been spied testing in prototype form on a number of occasions.

The C9 is said to be a completely new car, from concept, weight distribution, materials and dynamics. In fact, it will feature more than 3,770 new parts among which are a carbon-titanium chassis, specially developed Pirelli tires and Bosch electronics. It is also being designed with U.S. homologation fully in mind, which means the car will meet California’s latest 2013 emissions regulations as well as EPA and DOT standards--something the Zonda never did.

Power will come from a twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V-12 engine
built by AMG, and should top out at 690 horsepower and 737 pound-feet of torque.

The Pagani C9 supercar is expected to make its world debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show next March. Pricing is expected to start at roughly $1.2 million.