Capri to make its comeback in days: Ford teases the return of its iconic nameplate
The Ford Capri, an icon of the 1970s, is set to make an electrified return – and it will be confirmed in just a matter of days.
The US brand is relaunching the famous nameplate for its new electric sporty EV as it adds to its growing arsenal of all-new battery-powered cars featuring some of the company’s classic model names.
And Ford has been cheekily teasing the vehicle’s unveiling with a sneaky ad campaign with various references to the Capri’s comeback scheduled in less than a fortnight.
Here’s when it is due to be unveiled, the type of motor fans can expect and how much it will likely cost.
Capri Fun: Ford has been teasing the arrival of its reborn Capri for an electric era, less than a fortnight before it’s due to be unveiled in full.
This is what the headlight cluster will look like…
The Capri is considered one of the icons of Ford’s past.
It was dubbed the ‘working man’s Porsche’ during its height of popularity
At its height of popularity, the Capri was dubbed the ‘working man’s Porsche’.
And the name is set to make a sensational comeback next month when Ford unwraps a Capri for an electric era.
Last March, it was confirmed that the legendary nameplate would be returning from a 40-year hiatus.
But instead of a sleek coupe, it will be used for an SUV powered entirely by batteries.
And it has now been revealed that the giant car company will officially showcase the model on 10 July, meaning Fast Ford lovers won’t have to wait much longer to see it.
But that hasn’t stopped the brand’s marketing team from teasing petrol and battery-heads with a vintage-looking advert for a makeshift business called ‘Comeback Cars’ that’s appearing in a number of print magazines this week…
Ford enticed readers of car magazines this week with a vintage-looking advert.
Readers who contacted the WhatsApp provided in the ad were sent two images of the new Capri – including this shot of the brake lights
Ford last March confirmed it will relaunch the Capri as a new electric ‘Sport Crossover’
The advert states: ‘We bring back icons to their legendary status, rewired for a new era.
‘With 55 years of knowledge, our team has restored 1,986 classic coupes.
‘We promise to return your car fast, back from its glory, EV-ery time.’
Eagle-eyed fans will notice the two references to the original Capri in the ad.
Farewell Ford Fiesta! Last model is built in Germany marking the end of the road for Britain’s favourite car after 47 years and 4.8m sales – as it makes way for a new electric replacement
Firstly, the ’55 years of knowledge’ remark is a nod to the 1969 Mk1 Capri arriving on the scene, while the ‘1986’ reference marks the end of production of the Mk3 variant.
There’s also the obvious ‘EV’ery’ wording signalling the type of power the next Capri will use.
The ad also encourages readers to message the company’s WhatsApp group for more information.
After a brief exchange with a virtual chatbot, it shares two images featuring a headlight cluster and a close-up shot of the brake lights to the rear of the new EV.
The chatbot signs off with the message: ‘Now, you know all I can give you. Almost.
The legend returns on July 10.’
Ford Capri EV: What we know so far
While the new Capri will use the age-old moniker, rather than a petrol-guzzling coupe, it will be re-launched as an electric sports crossover capable of reaching 0-to-62mph in around 6.5 seconds with zero emissions.
Boasting up to an excess of 330 horsepower, it will be built on a Volkswagen-borrowed rear-wheel drive platform as part of a deal between the two car giants struck a couple of years ago,
While it will take the Capri into a bold new world, the car will still boast some of the classic’s original features, including a four-headlight arrangement.
Capri to make a comeback: Ford sold almost 1.9million of the coupes across its 17-year production.
It will officially return on 10 July – but look very different to the one we all know and love…
These are the 9 EVs Ford plans to sell in Europe this year.
The Capri nameplate will take the role of ‘Sport Crossover’ in this line-up
Ford will kit it out with its latest tech, which will likely include a huge high-definition touchscreen, wireless phone charging and massaging seats.
A Ford spokesman revealed that while they don’t want to speculate on future cars, Ford is ‘on a mission to make electric iconic’.
The arrival of Capri will follow closely in the tyre tracks of the new Explorer SUV – the company’s first EV model built on a VW platform that also uses one of its existing nameplates dating back to the early 1990s.
This is Money test drove the new Ford Explorer EV[1] earlier this month.
The Capri is likely to share many of its underpinning with the Ford Explorer EV.
We tested the electric SUV in Slovenia earlier this month
The Explorer SUV – an electric family car – is smooth, handles all bumps with ease and motorway acceleration is very spritely with the dual motor hitting 0 to 62mph in 5.3 seconds
This is Money’s Motoring Reporter Freda Lewis-Stempel at the controls of the new Explorer EV
Capri will likely share the Explorer’s powertrains.
That means entry variant could have a 52kWh battery and 168bhp electric motor, while the top of the range version will be get a 335bhp dual-motor setup and 79kWh battery.
While prices for the Ford Explorer start from GBP45,875, the sportier Capri coupe-SUV will likely be closer to GBP50,000.
Ford confirmed in 2022 that it plans to launch seven new electric vehicles by 2024[2], which also includes battery-powered versions of its legendary Transit van.
The Ford Capri was launched in 1969. It survived through three generations of the sporty coupe.
Here is an advert for the original
Ford Capri: Stepping back in time
How does the old Ford Capri stack up to the new?
Ford Capri 1300 (1969-1973)
Cost: GBP890
Horsepower: 57hp
0-60mph: Over 11 secs
Headlights: Four
Drive: Rear wheel drive
The new electric sports crossover Ford Capri
Cost: GBP50,000 (approx)
Horsepower: 300hp (approx)
0-62mph: 6.4 secs (approx)
Headlights: Four
Drive: Rear wheel drive
When the Ford Capri was first shown to the public in January 1969 at the Brussels motor show, it was marketed as a cheap, fast and fun coupe.
Production for the car began two months earlier at the Halewood plant in Liverpool to ensure every UK dealer would have at least one Capri on its forecourt by the time sales started.
Prices for the Capri started from GBP890 in 1969, which equates to around GBP18,300 today using This is Money’s historic inflation calculator[3].
Overall, it was a hugely successful model for Ford selling a staggering 400,000 units in its first two years.
It also remained in production well into the eighties and across its 17-year production run Ford sold almost 1.9million units in total.
Designed by a team led by American automotive designer Philip T. Clark, the Ford Capri was originally intended to be named the Ford ‘Colt’ – a reference to the famous Ford Mustang.
Ford hoped that the Capri would mirror the American success of the Mustang and largely, it did.
The Capri gained popularity across Europe as one of the most affordable and popular sports cars.
Capris have since become a collector’s item, with values soaring in recent years.
Production of the Ford Capri ended with the Mk3 in 1986. After a 38-year hiatus, it’s coming back
The highest price ever paid for one at auction as recorded in June 2022, when an enthusiast paid GBP74,250 for the ‘Holy Grail’ of Capris[4] – a 1972 RS3100 prototype, which is a one-of-a-kind version of the
Last summer, a pair of Capris that featured in cult 1970s ITV show ‘The Professionals’[5] and were driven by characters Raymond Doyle (played by Martin Shaw) and William Andrew Philip Bodie (played by Lewis Collins) also sold for a whopping GBP186,000.
Celebrity fans of the Capri include TV chef Jamie Oliver and former One Direction member and now solo singer, Harry Styles.
Famous Fords: This pair of Carpis that featured on TV screens in hit TV show ‘The Professionals’ sold last year for GBP186,000 as a twin auction lot
The Professionals with Martin Shaw as Doyle (left) and Lewis Collins as Bodie (right) was on our screens across five series from 1977 to 1983
Jamie Oliver’s MK1 Ford Capri which was sold last year by a classic car specialist
Jamie Oliver’s Mk1 Capri was featured in the Channel 4 show Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast, and still has the window stickers to prove it. Pictured here with co-host Jimmy Doherty
This Ford Capri from 1980s show Minder was restored to its former glory in 2021 after catching fire on the way back from an MOT test. The 1977 white motor appeared on the opening titles of the comedy-drama
Goes in more than One Direction – and fast: Harry Styles is among the fans of the iconic Capri.
Pictured here in 2014
ELECTRIC CAR VIDEOS
References
- ^ This is Money test drove the new Ford Explorer EV (www.thisismoney.co.uk)
- ^ Ford confirmed in 2022 that it plans to launch seven new electric vehicles by 2024 (www.thisismoney.co.uk)
- ^ This is Money’s historic inflation calculator (www.thisismoney.co.uk)
- ^ enthusiast paid GBP74,250 for the ‘Holy Grail’ of Capris (www.thisismoney.co.uk)
- ^ pair of Capris that featured in cult 1970s ITV show ‘The Professionals’ (www.thisismoney.co.uk)