The Capricorn 01 Zagato – A Rebellion Against the Digital Era of Supercars
In an era when hypercars are more computer than car, when touchscreens replace tactile buttons and sound is filtered through artificial exhaust speakers, the Capricorn 01 Zagato stands as a radical act of defiance. Built by Capricorn Group, a German engineering powerhouse long hidden in the shadows of motorsport and hypercar manufacturing, this creation is not about statistics or electronic wizardry. It’s a celebration of raw mechanics, tactile feedback, and emotional driving—everything modern performance machines seem to have forgotten. The 01 Zagato brings together three worlds: German engineering discipline, Italian design romance, and American V8 brutality. This is not a car for algorithms or autopilot; it’s a car for the human soul. It’s fitted with analog gauges, a five-speed dogleg manual gearbox, and a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 that roars with 888 horsepower. It’s rare, expensive, and exclusive—only 19 will exist—but its importance goes far beyond its numbers. The Capricorn 01 Zagato is not just a supercar. It’s a manifesto written in carbon fiber and forged steel, declaring that passion still has a place in a world of silent EVs and sterile automation.
The Makers Behind the Myth – Capricorn Group Steps Into the Light
Before creating the 01 Zagato, Capricorn Group was one of the automotive industry’s best-kept secrets. This German engineering firm has spent decades perfecting the science of performance for others. Their fingerprints are found in the Bugatti Veyron, Chiron, Bolide, and Mistral. They’ve shaped the active rear wings on Porsche 911 GT3 RS models, developed components for the McLaren P1, and supplied the beating hearts of Le Mans endurance racers. Capricorn’s deep expertise in materials science, aerodynamics, and engine design made them a trusted partner for the world’s most elite manufacturers. But after years of helping others make history, Capricorn’s founder, Robertino Wild, decided it was time for the company to tell its own story. The 01 Zagato is that story come to life—a car that channels Capricorn’s decades of behind-the-scenes mastery into a vehicle that captures emotion as much as precision. It is a showcase not just of what Capricorn can build, but of what modern supercars have lost: a sense of authenticity.
Power and Purity – The 5.2-Liter Supercharged Ford Heart
At the center of the Capricorn 01 Zagato lies a heart that beats with old-school fury. Its foundation is a 5.0-liter Ford V8, but Capricorn has transformed it beyond recognition. Bored out to 5.2 liters, supercharged, and rebuilt with forged internal components, it delivers an astonishing 887 horsepower and 737 pound-feet of torque. Everything inside the engine—crankshaft, pistons, rods, and lubrication systems—has been designed from scratch. Capricorn even created its own ECU software and a bespoke dry-sump oiling system to ensure maximum efficiency at extreme RPMs. This engine revs to a wild 9,000 rpm, and every ounce of its power is sent to the rear wheels through a five-speed dogleg manual transmission. There’s no automatic option, no paddles, no hybrid assistance—just pure, mechanical connection. The gearbox’s open-gate layout makes each shift a deliberate and rewarding act. Despite being focused on analog simplicity, the car’s performance is ferocious: 0–62 mph in under 3 seconds and a top speed of 224 mph. It’s a thrilling reminder that true driving engagement isn’t about electronic perfection—it’s about imperfection you can feel.
A Body Sculpted by Emotion – Zagato’s Carbon Masterpiece
For over a century, Zagato has been synonymous with art in motion. From Aston Martin’s DB4 GTZ to Alfa Romeo’s TZ3 Stradale, the Italian coachbuilder has crafted designs that transcend time. With the Capricorn 01, Zagato returns to its roots—handmade beauty shaped for performance. Every inch of the car’s body is made from carbon fiber, not only for lightness but also for visual drama. Its shape is sleek, almost understated at first glance, but filled with purpose once examined closely. The signature double-bubble roof, a Zagato hallmark since the 1950s, crowns the design, improving aerodynamics while celebrating its lineage. The low-slung stance, curving haunches, and taut lines evoke the endurance racers of the 1960s, yet the 01 feels unmistakably modern. There’s no need for massive wings or wild splitters. Instead, the design uses hidden aerodynamic channels beneath the car to manage airflow efficiently. The result is elegant aggression—a look that’s powerful yet restrained. Zagato’s artistry ensures the 01 won’t just age gracefully; it will stand as a timeless symbol of when beauty and function still shared the same language.
Interior of Intention – A Cockpit for the Driver, Not a Computer
Open the gullwing doors and step inside the Capricorn 01 Zagato, and you enter a world free from digital interference. There are no glowing touchscreens or AI-driven assistants waiting to interpret your inputs. Instead, there are three analog gauges, a brown leather-wrapped steering wheel with just two buttons, and a row of titanium and aluminum switches machined from solid metal. Every surface tells a story of craftsmanship. Connolly leather seats—fixed in position for optimal balance—are paired with an adjustable pedal box and steering column, allowing the car to adapt to the driver rather than the other way around. The gear lever, another mechanical masterpiece, can slide forward and backward by 3.1 inches to fine-tune reach. The cabin is lined with exposed carbon fiber, accented by Alcantara touches, creating an atmosphere of purposeful minimalism. This interior doesn’t try to impress with technology; it connects through authenticity. Everything you touch has weight and intention. Everything you see has purpose. It’s not comfort that defines this cabin—it’s control. Capricorn built it for people who believe that driving should always be an act, not an algorithm.
Aerodynamics Through Intelligence, Not Intensity
Where most hypercars rely on towering spoilers and shifting aero panels to generate downforce, the Capricorn 01 Zagato embraces a quieter kind of sophistication. The engineers behind it call this “predictable downforce distribution.” Rather than chasing enormous figures or active flaps, the car channels air through an intricate network of ducts, diffusers, and underfloor passages. The flat carbon underbody and dual diffusers at the front and rear generate constant, stable aerodynamic pressure, improving grip without introducing turbulence or drag. This approach results in a cleaner, more elegant form that doesn’t compromise stability. The body features subtle intakes and vents integrated into its design, all feeding the supercharged V8 and cooling systems efficiently. The lack of external wings gives the car a minimalist aesthetic, reminiscent of classic endurance racers that trusted engineering over spectacle. As Zagato’s designers put it, “The car does not need to rely on ostentatious aero packages to achieve balance.” This philosophy underscores the Capricorn 01’s mission: to return supercars to a time when performance came from understanding physics, not programming computers.
Lightweight Mastery – Motorsport DNA Reimagined for the Road
The Capricorn 01 Zagato’s performance is not just the result of power—it’s the consequence of weight discipline and racing pedigree. Beneath the sculpted carbon body lies a motorsport-grade carbon-fiber monocoque, flanked by front and rear subframes built to endure the punishment of track use. This structure weighs astonishingly little, helping the car achieve a dry weight of around 1,200 kilograms (2,645 pounds)—lighter than most modern supercars burdened by hybrid batteries and electronics. The suspension setup is straight out of an LMP1 race car: double wishbones, pushrod dampers, and Bilstein components tuned for razor-sharp feedback. Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes with six-piston calipers ensure relentless stopping power without fade. The steering remains hydraulically assisted, preserving the tactile communication that electronic systems often dilute. This configuration ensures that every movement of the wheel, every press of the brake, and every shift of the gearbox translates directly to the driver’s fingertips. Capricorn’s racing DNA is unmistakable here. It’s not about isolating the driver from the machine—it’s about binding them together in one seamless mechanical rhythm.
A Visual Symphony – Where Form, Function, and Feeling Collide
Viewed from any angle, the Capricorn 01 Zagato looks sculpted by air itself. Its long, low profile channels the spirit of classic endurance racers, while its modern proportions speak of contemporary precision. The nose is sharp, the headlights narrow, and the flanks carved with functional intakes that flow seamlessly into the bodywork. At the rear, the thin LED taillight strip stretches across the width, emphasizing the car’s stance. A transparent engine cover showcases the supercharged V8 beneath, framed by gold heat shielding—a visual nod to its motorsport roots. Even the wheels tell a story: 21-inch Capricorn-designed alloys, available in lightweight aluminum or full carbon fiber, designed to complement the car’s aerodynamics. Every component serves a dual purpose—performance and beauty. Zagato’s involvement ensures that even functional details are executed with elegance. It’s a car that captivates not through noise or spectacle, but through proportion, detail, and integrity. Like all great design, it rewards those who look closer, revealing layers of craftsmanship and intention in every surface.
A Love Letter to Driving – Rebellion in a Digital Age
In the modern world, supercars have become computers on wheels, chasing acceleration times that only matter on paper. The Capricorn 01 Zagato dares to be different. It rejects the idea that progress means detachment. It refuses to be another data-driven machine built for algorithms. Instead, it’s a statement of rebellion—a machine for purists who believe that driving is about feel, not figures. The five-speed gearbox forces you to engage. The analog dials demand your attention. The hydraulic steering and mechanical throttle response reconnect your body to the car in a way that electric and hybrid systems never could. Capricorn’s CEO Robertino Wild says it best: “The car is designed for the joy of driving, not for setting records.” That single sentence defines the car’s soul. It’s not here to beat lap times or claim bragging rights. It’s here to remind us why we fell in love with cars in the first place—because of the sound, the smell, the challenge, and the satisfaction of mastering something that’s alive.
Exclusivity with Purpose – 19 Examples of Automotive Purity
Only 19 units of the Capricorn 01 Zagato will ever exist—a number chosen to honor Zagato’s founding date of April 19, 1919. Each car will be hand-assembled by Capricorn’s technicians in Germany, with production beginning in the first half of 2026. The price tag sits at around $3.4 million, reflecting not only its craftsmanship but its philosophy. Unlike many hypercars that rely on limited numbers for exclusivity alone, the 01 Zagato’s rarity feels organic. It’s not a marketing gimmick—it’s a necessity born of the company’s meticulous approach. Each example will be individually tailored to its owner, from color combinations to interior materials, yet all will share the same purist DNA. The 01 will not be sold in the United States, but clients in Europe, Japan, Mexico, Canada, and the Middle East will have access to it. Capricorn also intends to expand its facilities near the Nürburgring, preparing for future bespoke models that maintain the same analog integrity while broadening the company’s production capacity. The 01 Zagato is both a debut and a declaration—a promise that analog driving still has a future.
The Final Word – When Passion Outweighs Progress
The Capricorn 01 Zagato is not a car designed to compete with Bugatti, Rimac, or Koenigsegg—it’s designed to stand apart from them. In a marketplace obsessed with 0–60 numbers and top-speed bragging rights, this car whispers something more profound: that driving can still be human. Every part of it—from the manual gearbox to the analog instruments—exists to make the driver an inseparable part of the machine. Its combination of German precision, Italian elegance, and American muscle creates a harmony that feels almost impossible in today’s over-digitized automotive world. It is both futuristic and nostalgic, both raw and refined. As the supercar landscape continues to shift toward silence and simulation, the Capricorn 01 Zagato will remain a mechanical symphony for those who refuse to forget what driving once meant. With its limited run, its breathtaking craftsmanship, and its fearless philosophy, it will forever stand as one of the last true analog masterpieces of the 21st century—a reminder that technology can enhance performance, but only passion can create legends.
