Ford To Reprise the Iconic 70s Capri, the Car You Always Promised Yourself
A car from Automologist MAC’s childhood is back…in an electric version.
Ford are set to reprise the Iconic 70’s Capri, the car you always promised yourself.
Reports circulating in Europe suggest that Ford have already made the decision to revive the Capri nameplate next year (2024). Unlike its rather loved namesake from yesteryear this new incarnation will not be the fire breathing gas guzzler of yore but a 300hp EV Crossover with a respectable 0-100kph of 6.2 seconds. The new beastie will feature some of the classic cars styling such as the four-headlight arrangement, but will be kitted out with all of the most recent tech.
According to Ford the relaunch is an attempt to make Electric and follows on the heals another of Fords legendary names, the Mustang Mach-E, which has established a fan base in Europe. Next up will they be launching an EV version of the legendary Transit Van, you bet they are planning it.
Back in the day the Capri was marketed as the working mans Porsche, or, the car you always promised yourself, so when you learn that the drive train is essentially the VW ID.5 and the new Ford EV factory is no longer in Halewood, Mersey Side (where the Capri used to be made) but in Germany. Perhaps now we are getting a little bit of Porsche technology.
The original Capri was launched in 1969 and sold for a modest GBP890, which is about GBP14,000 in todays money. Designed as a ‘sort-of’ Mustang after Ford US decided that the Mustang sold over the pond in Americaland was not suitable for Europe. In a way the designed the Ford Colt. The new Capri will be a lot more, about GBP40,000 in fact but for that you will get a 300hp monster, which is a lot more than the rather wheezy 57hp in the original version.
From the start it was a run-away success with 400,000 sold in the first two years of production; in 1970-71 25% of all Fords sold in Europe were Capris! By the time production came to an end in 1986 almost 1.9 million sold over its life span when production stopped in 1986. Growing up my neighbour had one of the MK1 versions, it was cool. We all wanted to ride in it even if the backseats were cramped an uncomfortable.
