Ford Capri, it’s not over (electric version)!

The iconic Ford Capri coupe from the 1970s-80s is back in Europe, but with a 100% electric SUV body style, sharing its underpinnings with Volkswagen ID models.

I don’t know about you, but as for me, the Ford Capri was (and still is) one of the legendary models of my childhood. This “little” Ford Mustang was an authentic front-engine rear-wheel-drive car, with an endless bonnet that could house a majestic V6. Needless to say, this setup had a prime spot in my collection of die-cast cars in the 1980s. The European career of the Ford Capri sadly ended in 1986, but the coupe persisted for a few more years in Australia and South Africa.

Nearly four decades later, Ford aims to revive this legendary name, as if to contradict Hervé Vilard and his famous “Capri, c’est fini !” (“Capri, it’s over!”) from 1965. Indeed, a week after unveiling the Ford Explorer 100% electric, the American automaker plans to launch a second electric SUV model named… Capri. This news is likely to excite fans of the model like myself, especially since the architecture will bear no obvious relation. The Capri SUV is expected to be based on Volkswagen Group’s proven MEB platform, but with a more “coupe-like” style than the Explorer, which it will also resemble in its main features.

A 300 hp front drive?

For now, only a teaser hints at a model with a more inclined roofline and a distinctive lighting signature. Initially, it might rely solely on front-wheel drive, with a 300 hp electric motor capable of covering approximately 500 km according to WLTP standards.

However, and perhaps the main commonality between the 1970s Capri and the future Ford Capri, assembly will be carried out at the Cologne plant, with market launch scheduled for summer 2024.

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