That dealers are a vital link in the car-buying chain is a regrettable yet undeniable fact of life. But the day that they start designing cars is a dark one indeed for manufacturer and customer alike.

This faintly upsetting sight is the Zonda Cinque, a run-out version of the all-conquering kit car that has, in Pagani's own words, been 'born to satisfy the request of the Pagani dealer for Hong Kong'. If this sort of thing takes hold, they'll be demanding cocaine overdose kits for their 911 Turbos and emergency knickers for Lamborghinis.

The five Hong Kong businessmen who've coughed up a million Euros (before tax, of course) for the Zonda Cinque, so named because only five have been made, will get a novel sequential manual gearbox that works either off paddles or a conventional gear stick.

Another first is titanium-reinforced carbon fibre, which will be used in all future Paganis. It's strong, light and tacky when left unpainted.