The Ford Capri has officially returned, and it still has rear-wheel drive, but that’s as far as the similarities go with the Cortina-based coupe of the seventies that many Blue Oval fans remember fondly.
The fact that it’s a battery-powered crossover should come as no surprise given that Ford has already taken the Mustang name down electric avenue with its Mach-E crossover in spite of any protest from purists.
Like the European-market Ford Explorer, the new Capri is based on Volkswagen’s MEB all-electric platform through the multi-layered back-scratching agreement that also sees Ford SA building their new Amarok.
Ford has at least put some effort into making it resemble the Capri of yore, most notably in the fastback profile with C-shaped rear windows and recessed headlight units featuring double lighting elements, albeit in modern Matrix LED form.
The Vivid Yellow exterior paint option is another nod to the original classic, while sizeable wheels aim to give it a sense of purpose on the road, with buyers choosing between 19-, 20- and 21-inch options.
Two power options are available to European customers, with the base rear-wheel drive (RWD) model boasting outputs of 210kW and 545Nm, which according to Ford should get you from 0-100km/h in 6.4 seconds.
The spicier option is an all-wheel drive (AWD) variant producing outputs of 250kW and 545Nm, with 0-100km/h coming up in 5.3 seconds.
Both get their juice from a lithium-ion NMC battery, with the RWD and AWD derivatives offering respective capacities of 77 kWh and 79 kWh, and claimed WLTP range figures of 627km and 592km, no doubt under perfect simulated conditions.
The cabin comes with a 14.6-inch SYNC Move central infotainment system and 5.0-inch digital instrument cluster, while standard features include heated front sports seats with massage function for the driver, dual-zone climate control and a seven-speaker sound system with Soundbar.
The Premium version adds a 10-speaker B&O sound system, adjustable ambient lighting and hands-free tailgate.
“Inside, I think this is exactly how an original Capri driver would have expected the future to feel,” says Amko Leenarts, director of design for the Ford Capri.
Ford South Africa has yet to confirm whether the reincarnated Capri is destined for local shores, but the larger Mach E is on the cards for prospective EV buyers.
ALSO READ: Ford confirms Mach-E for South African market
IOL Motoring