Perhaps we all have a Ford Capri memory. In Britain, the car holds an evocative grip on many petrolheads, rarely seen on our roads these days, though once a common fixture on driveways up and down the land. The “car you always promised yourself”, as Ford marketed it, made a big impact not only on TV, but also in real-world Britain of the seventies and eighties.
And now – after decades of rumours – Auto Express can reveal that it’s finally coming back. The iconic name, which adorned Ford coupes from 1969 to 1986, will be the next classic badge to be revived by the brand, following the successful launch of the Bronco in the US and the unveiling of the new all-electric Explorer in the UK.
A Ford spokesman told Auto Express, “We don’t comment on future products, but Ford is on a mission to make electric iconic.” That follows on from the company’s exterior design manager, Jordan Damkiw, telling us at the launch of the Explorer, “We’ll be expanding on other iconic names.”
Now sources have told us that Capri is set to become one of the pillars of Ford’s range alongside a revised Puma (also set to be fully electrified in the next couple of years), Kuga, Explorer, Mustang, Bronco, Raptor and, of course, Transit. This time, though, the Capri won’t be a coupe. Instead, it’ll be a coupe crossover and based on the same technology as the new Explorer.
That means it’ll sit on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB electric-car architecture as part of the deal between Ford and VW that has also seen the launch of the Explorer, as well as co-operation on the latest Ranger and Amarok pick-up trucks.
The Capri will look quite different to the Explorer, as previewed in our exclusive image. It’s expected to feature a sleeker front end and a nod to the Capri’s quad headlights from the eighties, with its LED driving lamps.
Inside, the Capri will use many of the same components as the electric Explorer, with high-quality, soft-touch materials used throughout, plenty of useful storage spaces and the same 15-inch portrait-style touchscreen that can slide upwards to reveal a secure locker behind it for valuables.
A flat floor will help the five-door Capri to be considerably more family-friendly than its ancestors, with plenty of space in the back for passengers, although the boot capacity won’t quite match the Explorer’s 450 litres.
And as with the original Capri, the new car will offer a range of powertrains, some more exciting than others. The headline grabber will have 335bhp, four-wheel drive and an 82kWh battery for a range of more than 300 miles.
The cheapest Capri, though, will likely get the same 168bhp rear-drive set-up as the entry-level Explorer, with a 55kWh battery for a range of around 220 miles. A less powerful but longer-range version with the 82kWh battery should offer 282bhp through the rear wheels, but with a range exceeding 330 miles. All models will feature fast-charging with speeds of up to 170kW and a 10-80 per cent charge taking as little as 25 minutes.
While the original Capri was always seen as an affordable coupe, there’s no word on prices for the reborn model. But we reckon it’ll be on par with the expected starting price of the Explorer, at around £40,000.
Screen stars that turned the Capri into an icon
Capri Mk1 – 1969-74
Launched as a Ford of Europe response to the popularity of the Mustang in the US, the Mk1 used the chassis of the Cortina saloon, cloaked in sleeker bodywork and available with V6 petrol power.
The Capri’s popularity on screen took a while to take off, with the original not quite hitting the heights of its successors. It did feature in TV drama The Protectors starring Robert Vaughn, though.
Capri Mk2 – 1974-78
Ford engineers refined the Mk2 to be more suitable for everyday use. As a result, the design became more conservative, but practical. In fact, it was the first Ford to feature a hatchback-style boot.
The second generation is probably best known for its starring role in the TV series Minder, but was also driven by movie legend John Wayne in his only British-made film, Brannigan.
Capri Mk3 – 1978-86
Introduced in 1978 with a design that would set the tone for Ford of Europe in the eighties, the Mk3 remained popular in the UK. Ultimately, hot hatches such as the Fiesta XR2 and Escort XR3 killed it off.
The Mk3 is most often associated with The Professionals, with characters Bodie and Doyle driving silver and gold 3.0S models, although Bodie also drove an upmarket Ghia edition.
Should the Capri make a comeback? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below…