DRIVEN: All-new Ford Capri. Right car, wrong name? | Electrifying

#fordcapri #newevs #electriccars

Ford has some big hero nameplates in its back catalogue - Escort, Explorer, Mustang, Capri. And, as you'll know, it’s bringing some of those names back. The new Explorer? Good car - but it’s not an Explorer. The Mustang Mach-E? Again - good, but it’s not a Mustang. And now, I’ve had a first look at the electric Capri. Which, yes… you’ve guessed it, is not a Capri.

The size and pricing of the Capri puts it up against the BMW iX2, Cupra Tavascan or VW ID.5 – and, speaking of VW, the Capri has far more in common with the ID.5 than it does with that original Ford icon of the 70s and 80s.

You see, the new Capri is basically a Ford Explorer, and that car is basically a Volkswagen. Well, sort of… Beneath the surface of both the Explorer and the new Capri lies Volkswagen’s MEB platform and powertrains, which you may be familiar with from the ID.3, 4, 5, Skoda Enyaq and the rest.

Ford agreed a tie-up with Volkswagen a few years back, so that VW now uses Ford bits for its commercial vehicles, and Ford uses VW bits for its electric passenger cars, in an effort to cut development and manufacturing costs. And that’s why we have a Capri that isn’t a Capri.

The Ford Capri will be offered with rear-wheel drive, single motor models or a four-wheel drive, dual-motor version. The single motor Capri will be available with a 52kWh usable li-ion NMC battery capacity as of 2025, but it’s the 77kWh car that will arrive first – complete with a range of up to 389 miles. It can also manage 0-62mph in 6.4 seconds thanks to the 282bhp electric motor, which is fast even by the standards of its rivals.

The dual motor Ford Capri gets slightly different battery chemistry and a usable capacity of 79kWh, which is good for 367 miles of WLTP range. Not bad given the 335bhp and 0-62mph time of 5.3 seconds.

Is the new Capri the right car with the wrong name? Join Nicola as she puts it through its paces for the first time. Do you like the new Capri? Do you love the name? Let us know in the comments below.

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[lowfuel]

It looks like a polestar 2 with a peanut allergy that's flared up.

[Nicks_GamingTTV]

I love her she my favourite presenter and I love how entertaining she is and also honest please give her a raise guys
She deserves it

[bellshooter]

So it's a VW iD5, but £10k overpriced, and heat pump is extra....goodbye Ford.

[Mancozeb]

Bravo, Nicola - yeah, definitely an insult to memory of Capri ! Certainly nearer Mondeo hatch - though, I’d probably have used the Sierra name ! The (early) Mondeos were just too good, to also be sullied by this ID5 thing !! 😅

[markatkinson]

Come on Ford if you're going to bring back the Capri name, at least place it onto a sporty looking thing.

[blackbelt]

ford is just slapping model names that remotely have any recognition on their EVs hoping it gives their cars cred. They did the same thing with the mustang EV. It obviously backfires. There is nothing wrong with giving a new name for their EV line up.

[scott]

I have no idea why it took me so long to get the Capri Sun connection.

[graemechurch]

Looking at what Renault is doing with the 4, 5 and Twingo, exciting reinventions of loved old cars, this is really disappointing from Ford. I would really like to see a modern interpretation, but it seems silly referring to this car as a Capri.

[aleksandarbrzic]

Apart from that.... Apart from Apart from Oh dear...

[UltraJaff]

This car is a crime against the Capri name, if this was named Cortina, Mondeo, it’d be an insult to those cars names too.

[DaveC]

Perfectly fine, nice!! You said it all 😮

[TeaBreak.]

This car is the spiritual successor to the old VW Bora. >>>The Ford Bora.

[PattyTheGeek]

Love the saucy rename. Very boldly done!🤩

[sIightIybored]

So they've made a Ford ID.5. They saw everything people hated about the ID cars and left it in then slapped on a historic name that has only angered people.

Ford better have something good in the pipeline after the ID clones are done with

[marting]

As a Mondeo owner, i'm just going to say "How dare you!"

[DavidJohnson-ghsi]

Please can you interview the marketing people that decided ‘Capri’ was the way to go. Would love to hear their reasoning because most potential buyers seem to be put off just by the bloody name!

[worldofcars_ldn]

Did I hear her say it’s both longer and shorter than an Explorer?! They should have just called it the Explorer Coupe, just like most other manufacturers these days giving us both versions of SUVs

[Dubnoreix]

Ford should look at what Renault is doing with the Renault 5. That’s how you bring back an iconic name.

[littleblackcloud]

Well done Nicola for telling it like it is - nowhere near enough reviewers do this (likely don't want to risk getting off the gravy train). This car is an affront to the name Capri - no wonder Ford are in deep trouble.

Renault's recent 4/5 launch are showing the industry how to revive an iconic name.

[danmason]

Nicola, you're literally the second best presenter in the game. Definitely the best women presenter. I reckon only Rory pips you in terms of overall balance of review info x entertainment x knowledge. Keep up the great work 👍🏻