Carrozzeria Zagato is a century-old body design and custom manufacturer located in Milan, Italy, founded by Ugo Zagato in 1919. The brand is famous for introducing lightweight technology from the aviation field and aerodynamic principles into automobile manufacturing. Its iconic design elements include "Double Bubble" roofs, tubular steel frame structures, and ultra-sculptural body lines. Zagato focuses on producing small-batch racing cars, limited-edition sports cars, and exclusive custom models for top automotive brands such as Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Maserati.
Founder Ugo Zagato designed fighter jets and airships for the Italian Air Force during World War I. After the war, he applied his aviation experience to automobiles, pioneering the craft of combining high-rigidity tubular frames with ultra-light aluminum bodies. In the 1930s, the company deepened its cooperation with Alfa Romeo, creating classic racing cars such as the 6C 1500 and 8C 2300. After the war, under the leadership of the second-generation head Elio Zagato (whom Enzo Ferrari called "Zagatino"), the company launched masterpieces such as the Giulietta SZ and the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato.
Zagato experienced a transition from early aviation manufacturing and the golden age of body customization to close cooperation with major automotive companies after the war. It rebuilt its factory and resumed body manufacturing in 1946 after the end of World War II. Even when mass production became the mainstream in the second half of the 20th century, Zagato still adhered to its independent identity of handcrafted customization and extremely low-volume production.
Zagato does not mass-produce complete vehicles but instead cooperates with automotive manufacturers to build exclusive models. To date, the brand has designed over 440 different models for more than 45 automotive brands, covering the full spectrum including two-door sports cars, convertible versions, shooting brakes, and high-performance racing versions. In recent years, Zagato has expanded its focus to two major directions:
Commissioned Customization / Modified Cooperative Models: Examples include the Alfa Romeo 8C DoppiaCoda Zagato built on the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione platform, the Bovensiepen Zagato designed based on the BMW M4 convertible, and the AGTZ Twin Tail, which was mass-produced and delivered in 2025 (a modified shell based on the Alpine A110 S, equipped with removable long-tail and short-tail aerodynamic kits).
Proprietary Brand Supercar: The first proprietary brand hypercar, developed jointly with the German Capricorn Group—the Capricorn 01 Zagato—is globally limited to 19 units and was planned to be handcrafted in Germany in the first half of 2026.
Zagato does not pursue scaled sales volume, defining its commercial value with "limited edition" and "handcrafted" principles. Its historical works continue to command premiums in the luxury auction market, with the DB4 GT Zagato repeatedly setting auction records. Recent projects continue the sky-high pricing model: the Capricorn 01 Zagato has a selling price of 2.95 million euros, with only 19 units available globally. Custom models such as the AGTZ Twin Tail and the Bovensiepen Zagato are sold to high-net-worth collectors worldwide, with production volumes not exceeding double digits.
In recent years, Zagato has also gradually extended from a single automotive design studio to a cross-disciplinary design brand, collaborating with Chopard to launch the Lab One Concept watch, which pays tribute to the brand's century-plus design heritage with its "tubular structure" and ultra-lightweight design.
Lightweight structures and aerodynamics have remained Zagato's unchanging core pillars for over a century. Founder Ugo applied tubular frame structures and high-rigidity aluminum and carbon fiber body combinations from aviation manufacturing to racing car production, significantly reducing weight and enhancing handling sensitivity. This classic structure was extended to the all-carbon fiber chassis of the Capricorn 01 Zagato, with the vehicle's dry weight controlled within 1,200 kilograms.
At the design level, the "Double Bubble" roof is its signature design element, preserving aesthetic impact while meeting headroom and airflow requirements for GT racing cars. In recent years, the team has focused on modular, diverse body styles. The replaceable tail wing solution represented by the AGTZ Twin Tail allows free switching between GT cruising and extreme track settings, strengthening the breadth of product applicability.
Zagato completes design and prototype development at its Milan, Italy headquarters, while manufacturing relies on global high-end engineering partners. The Capricorn 01 Zagato is handcrafted in Germany by the German Capricorn Group, based on its manufacturing base spanning six countries in Europe (covering carbon fiber, engine, and transmission components) in Germany. The engineering implementation of the AGTZ Twin Tail is handled by Italian partner La Squadra.
The sales network covers high-end markets in Europe and the Americas. The Capricorn 01 Zagato is sold in limited quantities targeting markets in Europe, Japan, Mexico, Canada, and the Middle East. The AGTZ Twin Tail is imported into the European collector market via high-end dealer channels in Poland. Through its cooperative network of "Made in Germany, designed in Italy, and global distribution," the brand continues its asset-light, high-premium operating model.
Zagato has clearly shifted its strategic focus from purely external design services to two incremental tracks: proprietary brand vehicle manufacturing and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Starting with the Capricorn 01 Zagato, limited to 19 units, the brand aims to build an exclusive high-end collector series belonging to Zagato. At the same time, it continues to cooperate with automakers such as Porsche, Alpine, and BMW to launch highly personalized custom models with cultural significance. A century of history endows Zagato with the ability to move freely between retro aesthetics and contemporary engineering. In the future, it will further consolidate its irreplaceable position in the fields of extreme scarcity, handcrafted customization, and driving spirit.
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