30/10/2024 The new Ford Capri is a five-seat car powered by electricity that comes as a result of Ford’s partnership with Volkswagen. Under its skin, the Capri, unlike its iconic namesake, shares a host of parts common to the VW ID.5. So why revive a two-door coupe’s name for what is clearly a family car? Could Ford be guilty of a cynical marketing exercise… heavens forbid.Â
Putting aside the resurrection of the Capri name for a moment, something that it is quite easy as the new Capri has nothing, and I mean nothing in common with the orginal 70s two-door sports car. The new Ford, as a family car, is acceptable in appearance and certainly a better looking machine than the Volkswagen it’s based on. While two versions will be available in Europe: an AWD (dual motor) and a RWD (two wheel drive), Ireland will get just the RWD variant to keep it resonably price competitive. The 2.098kg RWD has one motor, a 77kWh battery and 286hp and 545nm. Ford quotes an energy consumption figure of 13.3/14 kWh/100 for the RWD and the AWD can manage 15.8kWh/100km. Our Premium grade AWD weighs in at 2,190kgs and pushes out 340hp and 545nm. It has a 79kWh (useable) rechargble battery. Both have 11kW onboard AC chargers. It has a quoted maximum range from a full battery of 560km. 0-100km/h takes 5,3 seconds and top speed is 180km/h. It can tow 1200-1400 kgs max. We drove both versions for comparison.
We went to the south of France to test the car at its Euopean launch and only now can tell you about how it drives due to an embargo. On the road, Ford Capri is comfortable, quiet and very aerodynamic for such a large car. The AWD feels a bit more weighty and planted while the RWD feels a little more nimble despite a slighly slower 0-100km/h of 6.4 seconds. The car’s exterior proportions are similar to the Mustang Mach E and in no way could new Capri be described as coupe like in the original sense. The original Capri was an aspirational car that turned heads and played a significant part in many peoples lives as it offered the best of Americana styling as it was inspired by the 1964 Mustang. The original was a breath of fresh air when it came out as all the cars around it were very boring and dull. The new Ford Capri can’t claim to be anything other than a good offering in the family car sector. No matter the road the new Capri feels composed and premium. Ford has only slightly tweak the rear suspension setting but as they say ‘everybit helps’.
The exterior of the 4634mm long car features a high set bonnet that is very un-Capri-like and of course there are five doors. The C pillar, the designers say nods to the original car but in truth I had to bite my lip at the pres conference as the car has nothing in common with the original. The boot is very accommodating (572/627 litres, up to 1510 litres with seats down) and access for passengers is very good also. I sat in the rear behind my own seat and had enough headroom, legroom and elbow space to make any journey in the rear comfortable. The seats are well built and accommodating.
Inside the cabin you’ll find plenty of space and the usual switch gear you’d see an ID car from Volkswagen plus Ford little tweaks here and there that make the car a that bit more distinguished for the blue oval brand. Just like the smaller Ford Explorer (that’s based on the ID.4) Capri gets a impressive centre display which is mounted vertically and behind it is secure storage just like the Explorer. You can slide a tilt the screen a certain degree which makes use it very pleasant as the sun will never reflect of it and if it does, you could just adjust the angle it is displaying at. Storage in the interior of the Capri continues on from the Explorer (check out the MegaConsole that can take a laptop) and is therefor excellent.
When I was a kid growing up the Capri was a highly desirable car. It turned heads. It was a car that made you feel like a Movie Star – okay a slight exageration, but a TV Star at least everytime you got behind the wheel. The original was not great to drive but it made up for its dynamic failings by having such a strong image. Who didn’t want a ‘CI5’ spec 3 litre S Capri made famous by Bodie and Doyle in The Professionals? By the time I was a TV car show presenting adult I had gotten behind the wheeel of nearly every Carpi available and I quickly realised that unless you buy-in-completely to the styling and feel of the car you end up massively disappointed. The original was to drive. It had a terrible turning circle too. It wasn’t particularly quick and if you went quick its brakes weren’’t great – this was before ABS (anti lock brakes) in a strange way this made the whole driving experience all the more thrilling. Even the high performance versions weren’t particularly quick, but they did look good and still command peoples’ attention when driven on the road.
The new Capri is a very competent electric car, but does it set hearts racing? Not a chance! Is it gorgeous to look at? No! So why should you buy one? The new Capri is a very good family car it’s very spacious comfortable and aerodynamic for its size. It’s as quick as you needed to be. It’s not exciting to drive but there are few cars in its class that are! Capri is composed and goes where you want it to go. Do I feel the urge to rush out and buy one? No! So who will buy the new Capri? Ford is slowly rebuilding it’s passenger car fleet and the new Ford Explorer and Ford Capri are worthwhile efforts in the EV marketplace.
The golden days of Ford, when it was the number one car maker in Ireland and blindly followed by loyal fans, is long passed. Ford has its work cut out here and in Europe to regain prominence. Ford as a company is conservative and it really has left it very late with Capri and Explorer to make an impact in the EV car market and for many people especially fans of older Fords (including me) feel disappointed and poorly served by the famous brand. On the upside, if you take a Capri for a test drive, don’t be surprised when it does all the things you require from a family car. Equipment and grades offer all the toys you could want – The B&O sound system is impressive. Michael Sheridan
