Capricorn unveils 01 Zagato: a hand-crafted masterpiece with 887 hp
The 01 Zagato is one of the highly driver-focused creations of the German Capricorn Group. They have been involved in developing engine components for automobile models, such as Bugatti's Veyron, and in the manufacture of aerodynamically designed car bodies.
The coachbuilder collaborated with well-known companies, creating elegant lines in the Capricorn 01 Zagato and also incorporating an American V8 engine paired with a five-speed manual transmission.
The history of craftsmanship runs deeper in Capricorn; They have been involved in building special vehicles from the Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato to the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale. They are also involved in supplying their lightweight components in the motorsport arena, as do teams such as Porsche in LMP1, Peugeot Sports in Le Mans and Dakar, and Mercedes and Lotus, among a few others not mentioned.
Appearance and performance
Regarding its exterior appearance, Zagato was involved in the design of the body, giving it a sleek appearance, while the engineering work was carried out by Capricorn. This enabled them to create something focused on driver engagement.
The double-bubble roof, sculpted fenders and almond-shaped headlights give it a distinct Zagato look, while the side profile brings a bit of a Ford GT look, the wraparound glass with just one wiper brings Koenigsegg ambition, and the slim LED taillights match Rimac's simplicity.
In the body you'll find Ford's supercharged V8, a 5.0-liter engine. And that's before Capricorn did some engineering work to increase the displacement to 5.2 litres. They added a blower, reprogrammed their ECU, added a new crankshaft, new rods, and piston, and had the intake, exhaust, and dry sump greased all done to increase performance.
It's rear-wheel drive and uses a five-speed manual transmission, delivering 887 horsepower and 737 pound-feet of torque. The total engine revolutions reach 9000 rpm.
The rear subframes and center tub are all made of carbon fibre, a design inspired by the LMP1 prototype endurance race cars. The entire vehicle weighs less than 2,645 pounds thanks to its carbon fiber body. This gives the Zagato 01 an impressive 0-60mph time of less than 3.0 seconds, and a top speed of 223mph.
It has an electric power-assisted steering setup. This helps the driver maneuver well at low speeds, and separate himself at higher speeds. Another plus is that it's available with 21-inch wheels, either alloy or carbon fibre, which hides the Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes.
To create downforce with the absence of large wings, Capricorn opts to create one across the floor of the car, aided by a front splitter and rear diffuser. It also gets a set of gullwing doors to provide plenty of supercar looks.
Replica classic interior design
The interior is designed by Capricorn with a central analogue cluster located behind the leather-wrapped steering wheel, dominated by a central rev counter. There's no infotainment system, but a small display is included for the rear camera that retracts whenever needed.
You'll also find switchgear made of titanium and aluminum and seats covered in leather with Alcantara accents. The seats are in a fixed position and are equipped with a four-point safety belt as well as a steering wheel column and adjustable pedals. The gear lever can move 3.1 inches forward and backward; This helps the driver find a suitable driving position.
Uniqueness and production
Production focuses on 19 units, each handcrafted in Germany. It is expected to be sold in the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, the Middle East and Canada at a starting price of $3.15 million (2.95 million euros).
Capricorn's plan is to expand its facilities at the Nürburgring by 2026 to be able to increase production capacity, allowing it to handle the production of up to 100 to 200 hypercars and supercars per year.