Do you find current late-model cars have a buffer between you and a visceral driving experience? Does driver input matter to you more than faster-than-humanly-possible tech? Then we have the hypercar for you courtesy of the folks from Capricorn. (And it’s designed by Zagato too!)
Zagato has designed some of the more aggressive and avant-garde vehicles among all Italian coachbuilders. Ever see a Fiat-Abarth 750 and 1000 Zagato? Or an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Zagato? They stretched the idea of aesthetics in the name of function, all the while creating something beautiful and desirable. Make no mistake—though often polarizing, Zagato has produced plenty of gorgeous designs along the way, including the Alfa Romeo Sprint Zagato.
Zagato may appear to have had its heyday in the past, but the company is still going strong and still designing automobiles. Capricorn 01 is the latest and greatest.
While the Capricorn 01’s design feels safer than Zagatos of the past, let’s focus on what makes this hypercar different. Engineering comes from Germans who can claim experience with Bugatti and F1 on their resumes. RWD power comes from America, creating a hybrid in the sense that enthusiasts have used until the Toyota Prius came to town. In that case, here’s what Capricorn does to modify a modern 5.0-liter Ford V8:
- Engine bored to 5.2 liters
- New crankshaft, rods, and pistons
- All-new intake, exhaust, and dry sump lubrication
- Supercharger
- Custom ECU
Horsepower is 887, with 737 lb-ft of torque . . . and it’s hooked up to a proper five-speed manual.
Glance inside and you’ll find an adjustable steering wheel and instrumentation that doesn’t follow modern convention. Contrast that with the switchgear, which almost feels like a modern concession as it is machined from solid titanium and aluminum. The leather and Alcantara seats are fixed, so if you need to find a more comfortable position, there’s nothing to worry about—the steering wheel, pedals, and even the shifter move to properly cradle the driver.
The cost of entry for one of the 19 planned to be built is a cool $3.3 million. Yeah, that’s a hypercar price too, but which hypercar offers so many Luddite features? Additionally, Car and Driver reports that Capricorn plans to expand its manufacturing facility to be near the Nürburgring and expand production of future products to 100-200 cars per year.
