The Ford Capri Is Back, but Not as You Know It
Not content with rattling Mustang fans by bringing out the Mach-E, Ford is electrifying another classic nameplate for Europe: The Capri.
Born in 1969, five years after the Mustang took America by storm, the original Capri was also a two-door, four-seater coupe for the masses, and a huge sales success on the Old Continent.
It was “The car you always promised yourself,” claimed the launch advertising campaign, but will the same be true of the 2024 Capri?
Ford states that the new electric model is “the car the iconic sports coupe was destined to become,” but that seems to be more of a resignation to regulations than an ambition.
The Capri is built on the same MEB platform as the Explorer and VW’s ID. 5. It’s expected to sit above the Explorer in the range, but below the Mach-E, suggesting a price above £40,000 in the U.K. ($51,200).
Power comes from either a rear motor offering 286-hp or a twin-motor all-wheel drive setup with 340 horses. Battery packs are 77 kWh and 79 kWh respectively, giving a potential maximum range of 368 miles. It can fast charge at 185 kW to juice up from 10 to 80 percent capacity in 28 minutes.
As for performance, the new Capri can easily outrun its predecessor, with the single-motor version reaching 62 mph from rest in 6.4 seconds and the twin-motor car cutting that back to 5.3.
Design-wise it’s definitely more European in styling than the Explorer or Mach-E, looking not unlike a Polestar 2, while the interior is very similar to the Explorer. There are some nods to its classic forebear in the lighting design, but the main connection between past and future comes in vibrant paint hues such as Vivid Yellow and Blue My Mind.
Ford has come up with an acronym to summarize the new Capri. C is for Cool, A for Athletic, P stands for Past meets future, R is Rebellious to its core, and I indicates the car’s Intelligent technologies.
The new Capri is supposed to “continue the story of the iconic cult classic,” says Ford. No doubt it’s a capable, practical family car, but when it comes to the name, perhaps some things are best left alone.
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Another improper use of a old name. Blazer, Mach E Mustang and the coming Camaro 4 door EV model.
They need to do a better job on naming cars.
Even if they have to use an old name use something related. The Blazer should have been a name from a car or wagon like a Nomad. A Blazer is a truck.
Capri is a car a sporty coupe. It was even wrong to use it on that little two seater that failed.
The name is not going to save the car. A good car will show itself no matter the name but a bad car or wrong car can destroy a name.
Just look a the Cutlass mess. They named 3-4 cars Cutlass all at one time. Only the RWD one did well.
The FWD Cutlass Ciera was a very popular car for a long time too, surpassing the RWD Cutlass in popularity by the mid 80’s,
Back in the day, a journalist created a multicar Cutlass lineup, ending with a Cutlass 98.
C Cheap, A Afraid, P Pointless, R Retro, I Ignorance.
The truth is they save money by reusing names they own. Also they save time. It is a lazy way out. Each name must be tested and checked for meanings and registered legally. It adds up I get it but please use better choices.
Well said.
Ford nailed the looks. If they put the old Fiesta power train with the manual in this my mom would buy this without a second thought. A few years ago the dealers were calling her begging for a trade in, but all they had to offer was the lumpy looking Ecosport which was already discontinued.
Ford used the Capri name on 50s Lincolns, early 60s Consul Capris in the UK , mid 60s Mercury Comets here and then later the Mercury Mustang clones. Although I’ll kind of forgive them for that because the extra cost with the Regan tariff killed…the classic 69- 86 Capri here mid run. I prefer the Mk II over the Mk I but I’ve never driven an Mk III with them not being brought here to the states. Those are to me – The Capri. Bringing back the name on this version is way too wrong. And like many I don’t understand the thinking. Sure they were very popular in Europe and most manufactured in Germany so trying to benefit from that…but being an suv? In English how about Capacious for a larger cabin or even Capriole for a touch of off road puddle jumper. Or in German ? Why can’t these people browse through a dictionary for cryin’ out loud! The Capri Mk IV would be better. A low cost alternative to the BMW M2 but in the same mold sounds good. The sexy European returns?..just wishful thinking. (ps) tell Sajeev to make sure he mentions the Capri RS 2600 when he does the article on Kranefuss.
Might as well add the RS3100 too.
Not purchasing this electric stuff. Ever. Call it any formerly admired name. Still not. I am at a point in my life where I could buy any new car I want less than $130k. None interest me. I’m focused on cars from 1979-2010. In the future, I’ll be the old guy dragging a rusty gas can looking for a gallon.
Not sure what that is but it’s no Capri. Oh well park it next to the fake Mustang Marky Mark.
Raf- Strap the last 100 gallons of 87 on donkeys and head up into the Rockies . – ‘ Stop! or you will be fired upon! ‘ – ‘You’ll never take me alive coppers ! ‘
If you use the final American formula for a Capri, this is what you get,. This is a Mach E with a different grill.
Not “CAPRI”, but “CRAPI”…
Yuk. More e-junk from ford. As if the e-tang wasn’t bad enough. Ford, please quit re-imagining classics.
We had a 1970 4-banger capri back in the 70s and it was a nice, fun, fast little car (ours was manual). I would have preferred the 6-cyl but you gets what you get. Other than a heater that simply could not even defrost the back window EVER in a Canadian winter, it was a very nice car.
But this new *thing*. Sadly, what I’ve now come to expect from ford. (no, I won’t capitalize the name – they don’t deserve it).
Ya ..your right…still have my V6…got it around 1986
Still better than any gm junk.
Oh please, no.
What will my 73 RS2600 wannabe say?
I hate the wheels!
I had a 71 2 liter 4 cylinder 4 speed manual German built Capri for 2 years before it got totaled by someone not paying attention to traffic around him. I then got a 76 Capri II with the 2.8 V6 and 4 speed manual. The hatch back was wonderful for those cross country runs young peop0le did than. Easy to sleep in the back, great sunroof and great performance for its time. I wish I’d never sold it. Supposing they put a Coyote V8 engine and 6 speed manual in this new looker, I’d be interested. But with the electric watch engine, nope.
I agree with most of the others. This is the wrong name for yet another SUV. If you are going to re-use car names, use them on cars. If using Mustang on an SUV wasn’t bad enough, they put Maverick on a pickup truck for Heaven’s sake. Now this? At least I heard that Buick will be re-using the Electra name on an electric vehicle, and I’m happy with that. Is Ford saving the Galaxie name for something special? I guess we won’t have to worry about them using Pinto again. I think that name is safe. LOL.