FORD'S ICONIC CAPRI RETURNS - AND IT'S NOTHING LIKE BEFORE.
The Ford Capri - a wonderfully British attempt to make Brits (and also Saffers) all feel like they could afford a slice of the American Dream without selling their souls or, more accurately, their kidneys. Imagine an old-school Mustang, but one that prefers a cup of tea over a shot of bourbon. The Capri was essentially the car equivalent of James Bond ordering a Martini in a humble pub, shaken not stirred, naturally. The Capri's story starts in the late ‘60s, a time when bell-bottoms were in vogue and rock 'n' roll ruled the airwaves. Ford, with a twinkle in its eye and a calculator in hand, decided to gift Europe something special - a car that was sporty, affordable, and capable of making you feel like you were in a spy thriller, even if your actual mission was just to get to the local Spar before closing time. The Ford Capri promised everything: style, performance, and a dash of American swagger, all wrapped up in a package that even your mother-in-law wouldn’t complain about. The marketing tagline? “The car you always promised yourself.” Which sounds a bit like the car equivalent of finally buying those mirror sunnies you always wished you were cool enough to pull off. As the '70s rolled in, so did the Capri Mk I, Mk II, and Mk III, each iteration looking a bit sportier than the last, and so the Capri quickly became a favourite of the car enthusiast world, not because it was the fastest or the most luxurious, but because it was like that scrappy underdog in every sports movie—you just couldn’t help but root for it. Engines ranged from a bebe 1.3 litre to the much-loved 3.0 litre V6, with the latter making a noise that could be described as the “car equivalent of Barry White clearing his throat.” The Capri wasn't just a car; it was a cultural icon that starred in TV shows like ‘The Professionals’ and as a result, it also featured in numerous car chases.
As the '80s dawned, the Capri started to feel a bit like a rock band that had been on tour for too long. The Mk III, despite its rad new updates, struggled to keep up with the new range of hot hatches that were smaller, quicker and more affordable. The Capri was still beloved, but it was clear that its days were numbered and production finally ceased in 1986, leaving a Capri-shaped hole in the hearts of many. These days the Capri is a coveted classic, a car that says, “I may not be the fastest, but I’m the one you’ll remember.” Now nearly 40 years later the Capri nameplate has been resurrected, and as is typically the case when a manufacturer revives a classic and well-known nameplate, it’s NOTHING like the original car. The all-new Ford Capri is a fully electric SUV. “Bringing back a legend as revered as the Ford Capri is
a big deal. We’re excited that the new all-electric Capri is ready to bring some swagger to the world of EVs and introduce a whole new generation of drivers to the spirit of a cult classic,” says Jon Williams, GM of Ford Blue and Model E Europe. There’s loads of new tech, obviously, but we care about powerplants. There are two options for the new Ford Capri, a 213 kW rear-wheel drive version and then a range-topping all-wheel drive version that has 254 kW on tap. The former can hit 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds and the latter can do it in 5.3 seconds. The RWD one had to a reported 627 km on a charge and the AWD version can get 592 km. The new Capri will be available from the end of this year, there’s no word on if it will make it’s way to SA though.Take a look at the YouTube video that shows off the all-new Ford Capri, and just to show how it's lost the plot a wee bit, you can see an original OG Capri in the vid too: New All-Electric Ford Capri | Ford News Europe
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