Capricorn 01 Zagato Aims to be a Hypercar That Remembers How to Play

The Zoute Grand Prix in Belgium last week included the debut of a new hypercar. It has lines reminiscent of vintage endurance racers. Capricorn refers to it as the 01 Zagato, their first full construction from the ground up. Only 19 will be produced, and each will be hand-assembled in a workshop near the Nürburgring. At roughly $3.4 million each, these won’t be littering driveways anytime soon.

Every key component is made of carbon fiber, including the center tub that carries the driver, the front and rear subframes, as well as the crash structures and outside panels. They used their years of experience with Le Mans prototypes to twist the material into a spine that blends stiffness with light weight. Dry, it weighs just about 2,645 pounds, which is little more than a hot hatch disguised. Up front, a 110-liter trunk easily accommodates weekend baggage. Brembo ceramic brakes clamp down firmly, while Bilstein dampers and pushrod suspension absorb the road in three modes: comfort for cruising, sport for sweeping, and track for the edge. Steering begins electronic at parking speeds but transitions to 100% mechanical once you get underway, feeding back every bump and camber adjustment.


Engineers completely upgraded the 5.2 liter V8 engine supplied by Ford. They bored it out, forged new internals, installed a bespoke ECU, and added a supercharger. It can crank over 9,000 rpm without breaking a sweat, producing over 888 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque. The rear wheels take it all, with no all-wheel drive to spoil the fun. The numbers look like this: 0-62 mph in 2.9 seconds, flat out to 224 mph. But those are just numbers; the true lure is the five-speed manual with an open gate and a dog-leg layout.



Zagato’s hand is visible in every curve of their first true hypercar, following decades of one-offs for Aston Martins and Alfas. Sharp headlamps point forward, balanced by a low-riding stance. Vents and ducts slice the flanks without clutter, and air is routed to cool the vitals. Gullwing doors lift upwards for access, and the double-bubble roof pays homage to classic design. There are no big wings on the back; downforce is generated discreetly from the floor, with a splitter up front and a diffuser at the back. The rear lights are a slim LED arc, which is basic and crisp. Ford GT in the haunches, Koenigsegg in the pillars—subtle but effective nods.



When you step inside, the cockpit greets you with brown leather on the wheel speckled with a few of mode shift dials. The three gauge clusters on the back of the wheel are neatly arranged: speed on one side, tachometer in the center, and fuel and temperature beside it. The seats are bolted in, with four-point harnesses and Alcantara stitching, while the pedals and column can be adjusted to achieve the desired reach. There’s even a little backup camera display hidden in the middle gauge.


Capricorn established its reputation by supplying parts to the true heavyweights: Bugatti’s outrageous Veyrons and Chirons, McLaren’s P1, the Porsche 918, and even the smart wing on the current GT3 RS. Along the process, they won 18 Formula One crowns and 14 Le Mans triumphs. Now, with the 01, they’re branching out on their own, demonstrating that they can put all the elements together to produce a flawless performance. Production will begin next year, but the total number of coupes will be limited to 19. The first customers will come from Europe, Japan, Mexico, Canada, and the Middle East, but only if they go through dealers such as the Louyet Group. The Americans will have to wait and see – it all comes down to figuring out the import restrictions; perhaps they will want a special exception to get it across the border.