Picture a hypercar that shrugs off four-figure horsepower chases, automated drivelines, and screen-saturated cockpits in favor of raw mechanical communion. Meet the Capricorn 01 Zagato, a Dusseldorf-engineered, Zagato-styled mid-engine coupe that arrives like a manifesto for driving purists. With 888 horsepower from a supercharged Ford V-8, a dogleg five-speed manual, and a featherweight carbon chassis, Capricorn’s debut creation—limited to 19 units at €2.95 million each—challenges the status quo of electronically nannied exotica.
From F1 Suppliers to Hypercar Makers
Capricorn Automotive, based in Germany’s engineering heartland, has quietly supplied lightweight structures and precision components to Lotus F1 teams, Porsche Le Mans prototypes, and aerospace giants. Now, CEO Robertino Wild turns that expertise inward. “We had no wish to become involved in the current market trend for extremely high horsepower outputs,” Wild explains, “which are inevitably coupled with high weight due to electronic components.”
Partnering with Zagato—coachbuilders of Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagatos and Alfa TZ2s—the Capricorn 01 debuts as Zagato’s first pure mid-engine design under chief designer Norihiko Harada. Unveiled at Retromobile 2026, it’s homologated for Europe, UK, Switzerland, Japan, Mexico, Canada, and the Middle East, with U.S. interest via show permits. Production ramps at Capricorn’s expanded Nürburgring-adjacent facility, aiming for 100-200 cars annually long-term.
Capricorn 01 Zagato
LMP1 DNA in a Road Car Chassis
The 01 Zagato’s party piece is its full carbon-fiber monocoque—not just the tub, but integrated front/rear subframes and crash structures. Chief Technical Officer Arndt Hartelt calls it “like a modern LMP1 sports car,” stiffer and lighter than aluminum-bolted rivals. At a claimed 2654 pounds (1200kg), it undercuts a Mazda Miata RF Club by just 200 pounds while packing supercar savagery.
Multilink suspension bolts directly to carbon, using pushrod actuated Bilstein EVO R coil-overs front/rear with anti-roll bars. Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes (grabbed by six-piston fronts) hide behind bespoke 21-inch forged aluminum or carbon wheels. Hartelt emphasizes balance: “It’s much stiffer and lighter… for controllable power delivery with stable handling.”
Underbody aero—diffusers, floor shaping, subtle rear spoiler—generates consistent downforce without draggy wings. “We wanted a constant ratio between downforce front to rear,” Hartelt notes, “no nervous car for non-professionals.”
Capricorn 01 Zagato
Ford V-8 Heart, Capricorn Soul
Midships lives a supercharged 5.2-liter Ford Predator V-8, crate-sourced from Mustang GTD roots but reborn through Capricorn wizardry: flat-plane crank, custom rods/pistons, bespoke supercharger, dry-sump oiling, intake, cooling, exhaust, and proprietary ECU. Output: 888+ hp and 737 lb-ft, redlining at 9000 rpm (final homologation pending).
Drive goes rearward via Italian CIMA five-speed dogleg manual—no DCT here. “You as a driver are the focus,” Hartelt affirms. “You decide what you do, and you notice it, you feel it. It’s a car about all the senses.” ABS and traction control exist minimally; electronic power steering limits assist to 30 mph for high-speed purity.
The power-to-weight math stuns: 35 percent better than Lamborghini Temerario’s 907-hp/3450-lb setup. Expect sub-3.0-second 0-60 mph and 224-mph top speed, all RWD fury.
Cockpit: Senses Over Screens
Fixed Schroth four-point harness Recaros integrate into the carbon cell, with adjustable cushioning. Adjustable pedal box, steering column, and 3.2-inch shifter travel tailor fit. Analog cluster centers a large tach flanked by speedo and vitals (fuel, oil temp/pressure). No audio system; titanium/aluminum switchgear, Connolly leather seats, Alcantara accents prioritize tactility.
Three modes—Comfort, Sport, Track—tune via steering-mounted controller. Wild sums it: “An analog car… controllable power delivery.”
Exclusivity and the Road Ahead
Just 19 coupes honor Zagato’s 1919 founding, priced at €2.95 million (~$3.5M) plus tax/shipping. Hartelt hints at U.S. one-third allocation via imports. A follow-up model preps now, sharing the platform but evolving shape.
The Capricorn 01 Zagato isn’t fastest or flashiest—it’s a purist’s riposte to algorithmic excess. In a world of 2000-hp hybrids, its Ford heart, manual purity, and sensory focus rekindle what hypercars once promised: unfiltered connection between man and machine. Capricorn doesn’t chase headlines; it crafts legends. The 01 Zagato ensures the brand starts with a masterpiece.
