Capri to make its comeback in days: Ford teases the return of its iconic nameplate – but it will be reborn as an electric SUV

The Ford Capri, an icon of the Seventies, is about to make an electrified return – and it is going to be confirmed in only a matter of days.

The US model is relaunching the well-known nameplate for its new electrical sporty EV because it provides to its rising arsenal of all-new battery-powered vehicles that includes a number of the firm’s traditional mannequin names.

And Ford has been cheekily teasing the car’s unveiling with a sneaky advert marketing campaign with varied references to the Capri’s comeback scheduled in lower than a fortnight.

This is when it is because of be unveiled, the kind of motor followers can anticipate and the way a lot it can doubtless price. 

At its peak of recognition, the Capri was dubbed the ‘working man’s Porsche’. 

And the identify is about to make a sensational comeback subsequent month when Ford unwraps a Capri for an electrical period.

Final March, it was confirmed that the legendary nameplate can be getting back from a 40-year hiatus.

However as a substitute of a modern coupe, it is going to be used for an SUV powered totally by batteries.

And it has now been revealed that the enormous automotive firm will formally showcase the mannequin on 10 July, which means Quick Ford lovers will not have to attend for much longer to see it.

However that hasn’t stopped the model’s advertising crew from teasing petrol and battery-heads with a vintage-looking advert for a makeshift enterprise referred to as ‘Comeback Automobiles’ that is showing in quite a few print magazines this week…

Ford enticed readers of automotive magazines this week with a vintage-looking advert. Readers who contacted the WhatsApp offered within the advert had been despatched two photographs of the brand new Capri – together with this shot of the brake lights

Ford final March confirmed it can relaunch the Capri as a brand new electrical ‘Sport Crossover’

The advert states: ‘We deliver again icons to their legendary standing, rewired for a brand new period. 

‘With 55 years of data, our crew has restored 1,986 traditional coupes. 

‘We promise to return your automotive quick, again from its glory, EV-ery time.’

Eagle-eyed followers will discover the 2 references to the unique Capri within the advert.

Firstly, the ’55 years of data’ comment is a nod to the 1969 Mk1 Capri arriving on the scene, whereas the ‘1986’ reference marks the tip of manufacturing of the Mk3 variant.

There’s additionally the plain ‘EV’ery’ wording signalling the kind of energy the following Capri will use.

The advert additionally encourages readers to message the corporate’s WhatsApp group for extra data. 

After a short change with a digital chatbot, it shares two photographs that includes a headlight cluster and a close-up shot of the brake lights to the rear of the brand new EV.

The chatbot indicators off with the message: ‘Now, you realize all I may give you. Nearly. The legend returns on July 10.’

Ford Capri EV: What we all know thus far 

Whereas the brand new Capri will use the age-old moniker, relatively than a petrol-guzzling coupe, it is going to be re-launched as an electrical sports activities crossover able to reaching 0-to-62mph in round 6.5 seconds with zero emissions.

Boasting as much as an extra of 330 horsepower, it is going to be constructed on a Volkswagen-borrowed rear-wheel drive platform as a part of a deal between the 2 automotive giants struck a few years in the past,

Whereas it can take the Capri right into a daring new world, the automotive will nonetheless boast a number of the traditional’s unique options, together with a four-headlight association.

Capri to make a comeback: Ford offered nearly 1.9million of the coupes throughout its 17-year manufacturing. It can formally return on 10 July – however look very totally different to the one everyone knows and love…

These are the 9 EVs Ford plans to promote in Europe this yr. The Capri nameplate will take the function of ‘Sport Crossover’ on this line-up

Ford will package it out with its newest tech, which is able to doubtless embrace an enormous high-definition touchscreen, wi-fi telephone charging and massaging seats.

A Ford spokesman revealed that whereas they do not wish to speculate on future vehicles, Ford is ‘on a mission to make electrical iconic’.

The arrival of Capri will observe carefully within the tyre tracks of the brand new Explorer SUV – the corporate’s first EV mannequin constructed on a VW platform that additionally makes use of certainly one of its current nameplates relationship again to the early Nineties.

That is Cash take a look at drove the brand new Ford Explorer EV earlier this month. 

The Capri is prone to share lots of its underpinning with the Ford Explorer EV. We examined the electrical SUV in Slovenia earlier this month

The Explorer SUV – an electrical household automotive – is clean, handles all bumps with ease and motorway acceleration could be very spritely with the twin motor hitting 0 to 62mph in 5.3 seconds

That is Cash’s Motoring Reporter Freda Lewis-Stempel on the controls of the brand new Explorer EV 

Capri will doubtless share the Explorer’s powertrains.

Meaning entry variant might have a 52kWh battery and 168bhp electrical motor, whereas the prime quality model shall be get a 335bhp dual-motor setup and 79kWh battery.

Whereas costs for the Ford Explorer begin from £45,875, the sportier Capri coupe-SUV will doubtless be nearer to £50,000.

Ford confirmed in 2022 that it plans to launch seven new electrical automobiles by 2024, which additionally contains battery-powered variations of its legendary Transit van.

The Ford Capri was launched in 1969. It survived via three generations of the sporty coupe. Right here is an advert for the unique

Ford Capri: Stepping again in time 

How does the outdated Ford Capri stack as much as the brand new?

Ford Capri 1300 (1969-1973) 

Value: £890

Horsepower: 57hp

0-60mph: Over 11 secs

Headlights: 4 

Drive: Rear wheel drive 

The brand new electrical sports activities crossover Ford Capri

Value: £50,000 (approx)

Horsepower: 300hp (approx)

0-62mph: 6.4 secs (approx)

Headlights: 4 

Drive: Rear wheel drive  

When the Ford Capri was first proven to the general public in January 1969 on the Brussels motor present, it was marketed as an affordable, quick and enjoyable coupe.

Manufacturing for the automotive started two months earlier on the Halewood plant in Liverpool to make sure each UK seller would have a minimum of one Capri on its forecourt by the point gross sales began.  

Costs for the Capri began from £890 in 1969, which equates to round £18,300 immediately utilizing That is Cash’s historic inflation calculator. 

General, it was a massively profitable mannequin for Ford promoting a staggering 400,000 models in its first two years.

It additionally remained in manufacturing properly into the eighties and throughout its 17-year manufacturing run Ford offered nearly 1.9million models in complete.  

Designed by a crew led by American automotive designer Philip T. Clark, the Ford Capri was initially supposed to be named the Ford ‘Colt’ – a reference to the well-known Ford Mustang. 

Ford hoped that the Capri would mirror the American success of the Mustang and largely, it did.

The Capri gained recognition throughout Europe as probably the most inexpensive and fashionable sports activities vehicles.

Capris have since grow to be a collector’s merchandise, with values hovering lately.

Manufacturing of the Ford Capri ended with the Mk3 in 1986. After a 38-year hiatus, it is coming again

The very best value ever paid for one at public sale as recorded in June 2022, when an fanatic paid £74,250 for the ‘Holy Grail’ of Capris – a 1972 RS3100 prototype, which is a one-of-a-kind model of the

Final summer time, a pair of Capris that featured in cult Seventies ITV present ‘The Professionals’ and had been pushed by characters Raymond Doyle (performed by Martin Shaw) and William Andrew Philip Bodie (performed by Lewis Collins) additionally offered for a whopping £186,000.

Movie star followers of the Capri embrace TV chef Jamie Oliver and former One Course member and now solo singer, Harry Kinds. 

Well-known Fords: This pair of Carpis that featured on TV screens in hit TV present ‘The Professionals’ offered final yr for £186,000 as a twin public sale lot

The Professionals with Martin Shaw as Doyle (left) and Lewis Collins as Bodie (proper) was on our screens throughout 5 sequence from 1977 to 1983

Jamie Oliver’s MK1 Ford Capri which was offered final yr by a traditional automotive specialist 

Jamie Oliver’s Mk1 Capri was featured within the Channel 4 present Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night time Feast, and nonetheless has the window stickers to show it. Pictured right here with co-host Jimmy Doherty

This Ford Capri from Eighties present Minder was restored to its former glory in 2021 after catching fireplace on the way in which again from an MOT take a look at. The 1977 white motor appeared on the opening titles of the comedy-drama 

Goes in additional than One Course – and quick: Harry Kinds is among the many followers of the long-lasting Capri. Pictured right here in 2014