Even in a world overflowing with limited-production supercars and hypercars boasting astonishing numbers and intricate design, there’s always space for another to make its mark.

Enter the 01 Zagato, an “ultra-driver-focused” creation conceived by Germany’s Capricorn Group and shaped by the storied Italian design house. It stays refreshingly pure, pairing a non-electrified V8 with a manual gearbox.

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While this is the first model to wear the Capricorn badge, the company’s background in performance engineering runs deep. Its lightweight components have proven their durability across some of the toughest motorsport arenas, supporting teams such as Porsche in LMP1, Peugeot Sport in Le Mans and Dakar, Mercedes, Lotus, and Caterham in Formula 1, and Volkswagen in WRC.

Capricorn Founder and CEO Robertino Wild is also a close friend with Zagato President Andrea Michele Zagato, resulting in a project that combines “German engineering discipline with Italian design flair”. Their goal was to create a road-legal hypercar that is “meant to be driven, felt, and remembered”.

Function Meets Heritage

The exterior carries signature Zagato touches such as the double-bubble roof, almond-shaped headlights, and sculpted fenders. Yet its side profile hints at Ford GT inspiration, the wraparound glass with a single wiper brings a Koenigsegg-like silhouette, and the slim LED tail lamps subtly recall Rimac’s minimalism.

Unlike rivals that rely on active aerodynamics, the 01 Zagato relies on its intakes and outlets to provide “usable levels of downforce” in a constant and predictable way. The goal was to make it accessible to regular and skilled drivers and not just those with racing experience.

Capricorn

Making The Cabin Timeless

The interior was designed by Capricorn itself. The centerpiece is the analog instruments behind the round steering wheel, with the rev counter in the middle. There is no infotainment display, ensuring that the design will remain relevant for years to come. In fact, there is a small screen for the rearview camera but it stays hidden when not in use.

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The switchgear is machined from solid titanium and aluminum, combined with loads of exposed carbon fiber, Alcantara, and Connolly leather upholstery. The seats are fixed, but their cushioning is adjustable as with the steering column, pedal box, and manual gear lever, allowing each driver to find their preferred position.

According to the company, the interior can accommodate people of all shapes and sizes, with an 110-liter frunk for their luggage.

Analog Driving Experience

Under the carbon bodywork there is an LMP1-style monocoque chassis, which is also made of carbon fiber, as are the front and rear subframes. The suspension comprises double wishbones and pushrod Bilstein dampers with three selectable driving modes (Comfort, Sport, and Track) and a four-wheel lift system.

There is also a bespoke electric power-assisted steering that switches off at higher speeds for a direct and mechanical feel. The 21-inch wheels can be made of lightweight alloy or carbon fiber, hiding carbon ceramic brakes by Brembo.

Capricorn

And that leads us to the powertrain, which goes against the trend of electrification. The mid-mounted supercharged 5.2-liter V8 is based on a Ford engine that has been further developed by Capricorn with various bespoke components and custom tuning.

As a result, the mill produces over 888 hp (662 kW / 900 PS) and 1,000 Nm (737.6 lb-ft) of torque, for a vehicle with a dry weight of under 1,200 kg (2,646 lbs).

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All that power is transmitted to rear wheels exclusively via a five-speed dog-leg manual gearbox, staying true to the analogue character of the hypercar. Capricorn says that the 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint will be completed in less than 3 seconds and the top speed will reach 360 km/h (224 mph).

The 01 Is Just The Beginning

The company will only make 19 examples of the 01 Zagato, handbuilt in Germany and offered to customers in the EU, UK, Switzerland, Japan, Mexico, Canada, and the Middle East. Each will be priced at €2.95 million ($3.15 million) before taxes, putting it right against exotics from Pagani, Koenigsegg, and Gordon Murray Automotive.

Capricorn plans to expand its Nurburgring facilities in 2026, increasing the production capacity. This will allow them to handle future projects in batches of 100-200 vehicles per year, opening the door to more supercars and hypercars.

“This project is not a one-off – it is the beginning of a new lineage of Capricorn-branded high-end cars”, Wild said. “And in addition, we are also open to taking on limited-series contracts for other OEMs and building fully bespoke hypercars for private clients.”

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