capricorn 01 Zagato: New hypercar features BILSTEIN EVO R Motorsport suspension
The capricorn 01 Zagato combines German precision with Italian verve: designed by the legendary Zagato design studio and developed by technology company capricorn, this hypercar combines state-of-the-art lightweight construction with a stunning design and controllable performance. A BILSTEIN EVO R motorsport suspension translates its 900 hp into superior driving dynamics.
The team behind the capricorn 01 Zagato: Robertino Wild, founder and CEO of capricorn, and Andrea Zagato, president of Zagato. Their vision: to create a true art-piece. Not for the museum. Not for a garage. But for the road. The goal was an ultra-light performance vehicle that could be safely mastered by both racing drivers and experienced road drivers, on public roads as well as on the racetrack.
The result is a vehicle whose visual form arises directly from its technical structure. Limited to 19 units, the capricorn 01 Zagato combines the core competencies of both companies: capricorn’s lightweight expertise and the clear, function-driven design approach of one of Italy’s oldest coachbuilders.
Form follows function
Large air ducts, clear, dynamic lines and the timeless basic shape not only create a style-defining design. They also meet the requirements for aerodynamics, cooling and lightweight construction. The body and the entire structure are made entirely of carbon fibre in accordance with LMP1 standards from motorsport, resulting in a dry weight of less than 1,200 kilograms.
The vehicle layout has been deliberately kept classic: mid-engined, rear-wheel drive and a cockpit designed consistently with the driver in mind define a driving experience that is not overlaid by electronics, but remains mechanically clear. The 5.2-litre V8 with mechanical supercharger has been completely redesigned in-house by capricorn – including the crankshaft, forged parts, lubrication, supercharger, cooling and its own ECU.
The Capricorn 01 Zagato combines 900 hp with a BILSTEIN motorsport suspension.
The engine in the capricorn 01 Zagato delivers over 900 hp, around 1,000 Nm and revs up to 9,000 rpm. Combined with its lightweight structure, the capricorn 01 Zagato accelerates to 100 km/h in under three seconds and reaches 360 km/h max. The characteristics remain deliberately accessible: the aim was not extreme peak performance, but controllable power delivery with stable handling.
The key to this: the right suspension. capricorn relied on BILSTEIN’s shock absorber expertise.
The capricorn 01 Zagato features a double wishbone pushrod system on both axles with BILSTEIN EVO R Motorsport shock absorbers, tuned for optimum feedback and maximum agility. The suspension system in the German-Italian hypercar offers three driving modes (Comfort, Sport & Track), which can be selected manually via the steering wheel controller.
Optimised on the BILSTEIN 7-post test rig
The entire system was tuned on the BILSTEIN 7-post test rig at the BILSTEIN Competence Centre directly at the Nürburgring. The particularly powerful vertical test rig allows aerodynamic loads, road vibrations and natural frequencies to be simulated in a reproducible manner.
This enabled the BILSTEIN EVO R suspension to be configured so that it integrates perfectly into the vehicle’s concept. The combination of rear-wheel drive, maximum engine power, mid-engine layout, uncompromising lightweight construction and BILSTEIN motorsport technology gives the capricorn 01 Zagato its characteristic clear driving feel: The capricorn 01 Zagato not only offers maximum performance in terms of driving dynamics, but above all predictable, precise and stable handling.
The capricorn 01 Zagato thus sets a new benchmark for analogue, high-precision driving in an increasingly digital hypercar world.
