By Khris Bharath
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October 10, 2025
Zagato’s First Hypercar: The Limited-Run Manual Only Capr...
Back in late September, we reported on the first teaser for Capricorn Group’s debut road car, a project that promised to merge race-bred engineering with coachbuilt exclusivity. The veil has now lifted on the Capricorn 01 Zagato, and this production-spec coupe limited to just 19 examples, delivers exactly what that mysterious teaser hinted at: a 900-horsepower, manual-only hypercar engineered with LMP1 DNA and race-bred hardware, now wrapped in classic Zagato style. This is a clean-sheet collaboration that could mark the start of a new lineage for the century-old Italian coach-building design house and German engineering.
Founded in 1933, Capricorn has long been a quiet force behind Formula 1 cars, Le Mans race cars, and even aerospace programs. The company has built its reputation supplying carbon-fiber monocoques, engine components, and precision pistons to top-level teams. The 01 Zagato is the culmination of that technical expertise, a statement of what happens when a supplier with racing DNA decides to build a road car on its own terms.
At the heart of the 01 Zagato sits a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 developed in-house, producing more than 900 horsepower and 737 pound-feet of torque. Power goes to the rear wheels through a five-speed dogleg manual gearbox from CIMA, a deliberate choice that prioritizes engagement over excess. Capricorn’s engineers argue that fewer gears mean greater control and a more direct relationship between throttle and torque delivery, especially when you’re pushing the car to the limit on the race track. 62 mph comes up in under 3.0 seconds, and top speed is limited to 223 mph.
“The Capricorn 01 Zagato produces more than 900 PS, so it has significant horsepower, but the key factor is that this is married with an ultra-lightweight engineering approach. As a result, the Capricorn 01 Zagato is a ‘pure, analog driver's hypercar.’ It is not about chasing ever-escalating extreme horsepower numbers or, indeed, bragging rights. Instead, we have focused on achieving a perfect power-to-weight ratio and delivering an engaging, uncompromising driving experience. The car is designed for the joy of driving, not for setting records,” - Capricorn Founder and CEO Robertino Wild.
The chassis follows pure motorsport logic. Drawing directly from motorsports engineering, Capricorn constructed the 01 around a full carbon-fiber structure, including the monocoque, subframes, crash members, and all exterior panels. With a dry weight under 2,650 pounds, it’s lighter than most modern hypercars, delivering a power-to-weight ratio (0.35 hp/lb) that sits in the same league as the Gordon Murray T.50 (0.30 hp/lb) or Pagani Huayra R (0.37 hp/lb).
The suspension features a pushrod double-wishbone setup with Bilstein dampers, which can be toggled between Comfort, Sport, and Track modes via the three-spoke steering wheel. Steering feedback, often diluted in modern performance cars, is preserved through a bespoke electric-assist system that disconnects at speed, leaving a direct, mechanical connection between the driver and the front wheels. Braking performance comes courtesy of Brembo carbon-ceramic discs and six-piston calipers. Capricorn’s own 21-inch wheels, available in lightweight alloy or full carbon fiber, highlight the company’s vertical integration, which extends from chassis engineering to component manufacturing.
Visually, the car bears Zagato’s unmistakable touch, with signature design details like the double bubble roof. Founded in Milan in 1919, Zagato remains one of the world’s few remaining independent coachbuilders. Its portfolio includes icons like the Aston Martin V12 Zagato, Alfa Romeo TZ, and Ferrari 575 GTZ. The Capricorn 01, Zagato’s first-ever hypercar, continues that legacy with a clean, aerodynamic form that strikes a balance between aggression and elegance.
“Until now, though, Zagato has never designed a hypercar. I am delighted that the first hypercar ever to feature a Zagato-designed body has been created in partnership with my dear friend Robertino Wild and his highly experienced technical team at Capricorn. And I am also proud that by combining Italian design flair with German engineering discipline and holding steadfast to the vision that Robertino and I share on what a true driver’s car should be – we have brought a unique and highly collectible proposition to the market.” - Zagato President, Andrea Michele Zagato.
The overall design aesthetic isn’t just timeless, but one that is functional and built around airflow and weight optimization. A perfect example of this is the gull-wing doors, which don’t just add visual drama, but when shut are shaped in a way to feed air into the engine. Airflow management and a substantial diffuser negate the need for a comprehensive aero package and wing to achieve the necessary downforce.
It is also worth recalling that earlier this year, in May, we covered two of Zagato’s most distinctive modern builds, the BMW 4-Series Cabriolet-based Bovensiepen and the one-off Alfa Romeo 8C DoppiaCoda revealed at Villa d’Este, along with the AGTZ Twin-Tail #2 that joined Christian von Koenigsegg’s personal collection, reaffirming Zagato’s relevance in the modern coachbuilding era.
As for the 01 Zagato, each car of the 19 cars will be tailored individually, and owners can specify any body color or opt for a fully exposed carbon finish, even down to a custom weave pattern. The sporty yet luxurious cockpit can be trimmed in Connolly leather or Alcantara, accented by titanium, aluminum, or carbon-fiber details. In an age of digital cockpits, you get old-school analog gauges with a central tachometer and switches and buttons that will offer tactility. Also, the level of customization on offer resonates with Zagato’s historic coachbuilding lineage, now executed with Capricorn’s precision manufacturing techniques.
Pricing starts at €2.95 million (~$3.4 million) before taxes. Sales will be handled exclusively by Belgium’s Louyet Group, a luxury automotive retailer with deep ties to Rolls-Royce, McLaren, and Pininfarina. Louyet’s new Capricorn business unit is already securing contracts with established clients across Europe.
The 01 Zagato is homologated for Europe, the U.K., Switzerland, Japan, Mexico, Canada, and the Middle East, though notably not the U.S., meaning collectors there will need to import under the Show or Display exemption. Each car includes a two-year warranty and four-year service plan, with maintenance handled exclusively at Capricorn’s Düsseldorf facility. Nearly all parts are produced in-house, ensuring long-term component availability and quality control rarely seen in boutique manufacturing.
Production begins in early 2026, coinciding with the expansion of Capricorn’s Nürburgring complex to 18,000 square meters. The company plans to build future projects in runs of up to 200 cars per year and has hinted at also taking bespoke commissions for private clients and limited-series collaborations with other OEMs.
For Capricorn, this collaboration represents the start of a new chapter, a redefinition of what a hypercar can be when it’s engineered by people who build the parts that Formula 1 teams trust. As for Zagato, which has now made way into the world of hypercars, this is another reminder that its century-old design philosophy still has the power to shape the future of performance, one hand-built car at a time.
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Images: Zagato, Capricorn Group
