The Ford Capri is back – as an electric SUV!

The Ford Capri is back – with the help of Eric Cantona

Ford has revealed the all-new Capri, marking a return for the legendary nameplate after an absence of nearly 40 years.

Forget any ideas of a rear-driven two-door coupe, however. Instead, the new 2024 Ford Capri is an SUV coupe that features an all-electric powertrain.

Football hero Eric Cantona has been drafted in to launch the new Capri, using the tagline ‘the legend is back’.

Join us for a closer look at the new Capri, as Ford reinvents the name for an electrified generation.

Two doors out… five doors in

When it was first launched in 1969, the original Capri was sold as the European alternative to the all-American Ford Mustang.

Described as ‘the car you always promised yourself’, the core of the Capri’s appeal was its coupe design. A long bonnet and a short tail gave it the proportions of a true sports car.

Some 1.9 million examples would be made by the time production ceased in 1986, making it a major hit for the Blue Oval.

The new 2024 Capri replaces the classic silhouette with a more practical five-door SUV coupe design. Although the LED headlights are a nod to its predecessors, the new version owes more to modern EVs such as the Polestar 2.

A focus on aerodynamic efficiency

As a pure-electric model, ensuring the new Ford Capri maximises efficiency was at the core of the design process.

Ulrich Koesters, in charge of styling Ford’s European electric vehicles, says the “sleek and soulful body is great for aerodynamics”.

The standard Capri comes equipped with 19-inch wheels, while the fancier Capri Premium has 20-inch rims. This gives an idea of the scale of the new Capri, which measures a considerable 4,634mm in length.

Shared technology underneath

Underpinning the new Capri is the Volkswagen Group MEB electric platform. This makes the Ford a relative of numerous vehicles, including the Volkswagen ID.5 SUV coupe.

The Capri is not the first Ford to use the MEB setup, however, with the Explorer SUV also riding on the same platform. However, Ford is keen to stress that the Capri has more ‘cool’ and ‘soul’ than its electric sibling.

Six colour options will be available for the Capri, including Blue My Mind, Lucid Red and the searing Vivid Yellow seen here.

Blending space and design

“Inside, I think this is exactly how an original Capri driver would have expected the future to feel,” said Amko Leenarts, design director at Ford of Europe.

Arguably, the interior of the original Capri was never the most memorable part of its design, with the stylish exterior stealing most of the attention.

Ford will be hoping the reborn Capri’s cabin can be a bigger talking point, delivering style and practicality in equal measure.

Thoroughly modern technology

The basic design of the Capri will be familiar to anyone who has looked inside the Ford Explorer EV. A 14.6-inch central touchscreen, placed in portrait orientation, is at the heart of the Capri’s dashboard.

This can move to reveal a hidden storage locker, perfect for hiding your retro gold medallion. A 5.0-inch digital instrument cluster is standard on both trim levels, as is wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

A seven-speaker sound system is included on the standard Capri, which incorporates a soundbar atop the dashboard. The Capri Premium comes with a more powerful 10-speaker B&O setup, which incorporates a subwoofer and a branded soundbar.

The Capri that massages you

Ford is keen to stress the strong standard specification of the new Capri, including features such as heated front sport seats and a heated steering wheel. The driver’s seat comes with a massage function on both trim levels, along with 12-way power adjustment and memory.

Dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, wireless phone charging and satellite navigation are all included on the Capri.

Customers will be able to specify ergonomic AGR-approved front seats as an optional extra, along with a heat pump to aid battery efficiency.

The everyday Ford coupe

While Ford may have emphasised the coupe design of the new Capri, like other crossovers it still has to deliver when it comes to practicality.

Even with a swooping fastback roofline, the Capri boasts the same interior headroom as the related Ford Explorer EV. However, it lags slightly behind the related Volkswagen ID.5.

Boot capacity is generous, though, with the Capri able to accommodate up to 572 litres of luggage with the rear seats up. Dropping these down flat increases the cargo capacity to 1,510 litres.

Clever storage solutions included

Ford has become a fan of integrating clever storage ideas into its latest models, such as the 80-litre waterproof ‘MegaBox’ in the Puma SUV.

For the Capri, Ford has incorporated a ‘MegaConsole’ into the cabin. As part of the centre console, this offers a secure locker large enough to keep a 15-inch laptop computer safely out of sight. Not something the owner of an original Capri would need to have worried about…

A power-operated tailgate, including hands-free opening, is part of the package of features found on the top-spec Capri Premium.

Two powertrain options available

At launch, the new Ford Capri will come with a choice of two battery and electric motor combinations to choose from.

The starting point will be a rear-wheel-drive version, offering a subtle reminder of the original Capri’s layout.

For maximum performance, Capri buyers will need to pick the Extended AWD model. The all-wheel-drive version uses a pair of electric motors, boasting more power and torque.

At launch, both powertrain options can be combined with the Capri or Capri Premium trim levels.

Large battery range from the start

The Extended Range RWD version of the Ford Capri comes equipped with a lithium-ion battery that offers up 77kWh of usable capacity.

When fully charged, this can officially allow for an impressive range of up to 389 miles in standard form. The Capri Premium, with its bigger wheels, sees this range drop to 372 miles.

Opting for the Extended Range AWD model, with its dual-motor layout, means the Ford Capri comes with 79kWh of usable battery power. The extra oomph means the range decreases compared to the rear-wheel-drive model, though.

In standard Capri trim, the AWD model boasts a range of 368 miles, with the Capri Premium offering up to 348 miles.

Rapid charging potential included

Sharing a platform with Volkswagen means that Ford can integrate the German company’s electric architecture into the Capri. This includes rapid-charging capabilities for both versions of the car.

The Extended Range RWD model is compatible with rapid-charging speeds of up to 135kW.

When connected to a suitable charging device, this will see the battery go from 10 to 80 percent in just 28 minutes.

Go big and charge even faster

As fast as the charging speed offered by the Extended Range RWD is, opting for the AWD model means even quicker battery replenishment.

Despite its larger 79kWh battery pack, the Extended Range AWD manages to recharge even more quickly. Being able to use charging devices with speeds of up to 185kW means the same 10 to 80 percent charge takes only 26 minutes.

For home charging, both battery sizes are compatible with 11kW wallboxes.

Performance beyond comparison

Through three generations, the original Ford Capri was renowned for delivering big performance when specified with the right engine.

Nonetheless, the electric model will bring acceleration a classic Capri owner could only dream of, even if a V6-powered RS3100 would make a far better sound.

The single-motor setup of the Extended Range RWD version sees it produce 286hp and 402lb ft of torque. Despite the 2,100kg kerb weight, it accelerates from 0-62mph in a brisk 6.4 seconds.

Opting for the twin-motor Extended Range AWD Capri increases the output to 340hp. Even though the kerb weight also increases, the extra power and all-wheel-drive traction cut the 0-62mph time to 5.3 seconds. Both versions offer a top speed limited to 112mph.

How much does the new Capri match the original

According to Ford, the all-new electric Capri represents what the model would have become, had the original version continued in production to this day.

How true is this? Well, automotive tastes have firmly shifted away from coupes towards SUVs, meaning a two-door Capri coupe would be unlikely to find many buyers.

Fuel prices and environmental concerns have also left V6 engines as the preserve of sports cars and supercars. So perhaps electric power is exactly what the Capri would have evolved to use by 2024.

Will enthusiasts be convinced

Rumours of the Capri’s return have been circulating for around two decades, but Ford has finally taken the plunge on bringing back the famous nameplate.

Initial reactions from Ford fans have been mixed, but this is unlikely to deter the Blue Oval from promoting the reborn Capri.

With the Mustang Mach-E, and Puma SUV, the company has already demonstrated that it has no fear in attaching famous names to brand new cars.

What rivals must the new Ford Capri beat

The Ford Capri finds itself entering a fiercely competitive marketplace, with new electric SUVs arriving seemingly every week.

Possibly its biggest rival will be the related Volkswagen ID.5 crossover, given it shares the same platform and powertrain options as the Capri. The Polestar 2, BMW i4 and Kia EV6 are also likely to feature on any buyer’s shortlist.

An internal challenge will come from its in-house rival, the Ford Explorer EV, although the Capri boasts more interior space and greater performance.

Can the new Capri become another legend

Applying a famous badge to a brand-new model, and one so different from the original, means expectations will be high for the reborn Capri.

Amko Leenarts, design director at Ford of Europe, says that the new Capri celebrates “our past while reinventing our future.” He adds that it is “a car that only Ford could build. The legend is back”.

We will have to wait and see whether the electric Capri can capture the hearts of enthusiasts like the original did. At least Eric Cantona seems convinced.