German automotive materials specialist Capricorn introduced its new 01 Zagato hypercar in the United States this week, showcasing a running prototype in Beverly Hills ahead of planned production in 2026. The lightweight, analog-focused supercar represents Capricorn’s first production vehicle to carry its own name after decades supplying components and engineering expertise to some of the automotive industry’s most recognizable racing and road car programs.
Displayed during a Cars and Coffee event at Marshall Goldman Beverly Hills, the 01 Zagato enters a hypercar market increasingly dominated by hybrid-electric drivetrains and all-wheel-drive systems. Capricorn instead focused on a traditional driver-oriented formula built around lightweight construction, a manual transmission, and rear-wheel drive.
The car rides on a carbon-fiber monocoque inspired by the Porsche 919 Le Mans racecar and pairs it with a supercharged 5.2-liter Ford Performance V8 producing 888 horsepower. Power is delivered through a gated five-speed dogleg manual transmission with a reverse lockout, while the engine revs to 9,000 rpm. Capricorn modified the engine extensively in-house with upgraded intake, rotating components, supercharger systems, and ECU tuning.
Despite its hypercar performance ambitions, the 01 Zagato was engineered with usability and maintenance in mind. Capricorn selected the Ford-based powertrain partly for its reliability and serviceability compared with more complex hypercar drivetrains. The company believes buyers increasingly value reduced ownership complexity alongside performance.
Designed by Italian coachbuilder Zagato, the low-slung coupe combines modern aerodynamic surfaces with styling cues reminiscent of classic performance cars. The compact proportions distinguish it from many larger modern hypercars, while the cabin emphasizes simplicity through exposed carbon fiber, aluminum, and titanium surfaces. Seats are mounted directly to the chassis, while adjustable pedals, steering components, and a movable shifter accommodate taller drivers.
Capricorn’s Nürburgring racing background heavily influenced the vehicle’s engineering. The car uses an inboard pushrod suspension system developed with Bilstein and weighs just 2,650 pounds dry. A Capristo exhaust system amplifies the car’s mechanical character with aggressive engine sound and supercharger noise.
Although performance remains central to the project, Capricorn also included practical features such as a front luggage compartment capable of holding 120 liters and a four-axle lift system to help avoid scraping the carbon-fiber bodywork.
Production of the 01 Zagato will be limited to 19 examples, honoring Zagato’s founding date of April 19, 1919. Capricorn also plans to introduce a spider variant with production capped at 91 units. Pricing starts at 2.95 million euros before customization options.
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