Ford boasts reborn Capri concept
May 1, 2008 by George Skentzos
Ford’s new design philosophy has produced some stunning cars in recent times such as the new-generation
Now Ford has reinvented the Capri namesake as a stylish and affordable 2+2 Coupe – although shooting-brake would be a more accurate description.
Not seen since the late Eighties, the Capri will face some strong competition, with the market having become flooded with affordable Coupes in recent times.
This includes the resurrected Volkswagen Scirocco, the forthcoming Hyundai Coupe, the recently green-lit Peugeot 308 RC Z and the Toyota-Subaru collaborative Celica replacement.
But the new Capri won’t be competing with looks alone, likely to feature the 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged unit from the Mondeo.
An all-wheel-drive RS version is also a possibility, powered by a 3.2-litre six-cylinder engine.
So far there are no official plans for the Capri from Ford before the next decade, however a concept version is expected to be revealed in 2009.
Source: AutoExpress
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Nice. They did another Capri concept 3 or 4 years ago, I recall.
Very nice…hope Ford builds this one – however there is one small problem…
Real Capris are supposed to be rear wheel drive! The old-school Capri was kind of like a European Mustang, whereas this is, as pointed out in the article, more of a Scirocco competitor. Handling-wise it would no doubt be great, even as a front wheel drive (given Ford’s present skill with chassis dynamics), but we all remember the success (or lack thereof) of the last front-wheel drive Capri…
I like the front, side is a tad RX8 and the back a little Volvo. If they produce it, it could do well, just tidy up the “theme” a little me reckons.
I like the stylin but rear wheel drive is the only way for me
they could always base it on the new falcon platform of 2011…
Unless it is a rear wheel drive it doesnt really deserve much attention imo, there are already enough of these Fwd ’sports cars’ floating around the market
i think this looks the goods, but RWD is the go! imaging a modern day GT capri…… now that would be good!
Agreed R32!
Yep, needs to be rear drive or forget it.
Matt, the last fwd Capri (ours! – yecchh) wasn’t really a Capri. Capri was just a handy name hanging around the Ford history bin and Ford Australia quite lazily said, “Dang! let’s use that!” for the half-baked MX5 wannabe.
It was also the name used for the Mercury version of the 1980’s Mustang, so there’s a sad history of the name being pillaged within the Ford empire.
But if Ford Europe does this, then it’s a REAL Capri! Even if it’s fwd.
not sure if anyone else has notice that the pic is a chop of the vere and the capri concept from a few years back?
Finally the designs are becoming more svelte and real stylish and not as Ford has become (boxy and devoid of much style) as to USA inspired. Lets hope Ford release some of these hot designs ASAP as they seem to be “SLOW” releasing them! If they did there homework correct under assembly and heaps concentrated on suspension then it will have runs on board for quick release…..gee god knows Ford need this car and other hot stylish cars!
I love the look and who cares if FWD. Good competition against MX5 and besides if hot sweet looking enough; it will appeal.
FORD HAS SOME SVELTE FILLES IN THE STABLE…..NOW BRING THEM OUT WITH UNREAL FEATURES AND COOL PRICING AND BINGO = MORE SALES.
THEY HAVE NEW FIESTA, NEW FOCUS, NEW IOSIS, NEW VERVE, NEW CAPRI, NEW KUGA. THROW IN NEW FALCON WITH SIGNIFICANT MODEL DIFFERENTIATION ON HIGH END MODELS (especially externally), TERRITORY UPDATE, RANGER, MONDEO, MONDEO WAGON, TRANSIT, AND MAYBE ANOTHER MODEL TO COMPETE IN COMMERCIAL RANGE AT SIMILAR PRICE TO I-LOAD BY HYUNDAI AND I CAN TELL YOU FORD WILL HAVE A VERY FORMIDABLE ARSENAL TO COMPETE WITH SELLING CARS TO THE PUBLIC.
LOVE IT AND WILL WAIT WITH BAITED BREATHE AS TO WHEN FORD GET OFF THERE BACKSIDE AND RELEASE! GOD KNOWS THEY NEED AN INJECTION OF STYLE AND PIZAZZ IN RANGE!
In profile; there is also a hint of Aston Martin with the sweeping lines of the glass-house
Wow thats a link I sent the CA folks last night.
Nice car but too similiar to the current crop of Scirroco, Fiat Ritmo etc etc etc.
As for the FWD nah its got to be a RWD to be a real capri. However its welcome all the same. Ford in Euroland are missing a decent coupe in their line up.
Better looking than the Alfa 147!
everything ford seems to be designing of late screams instant yes!!!!
i mean every upcoming model from the “kinetic” range looks hard to fault.
i totally agree with NM, in that if only they got it here quicker.
i would have said this would have been on the focus platform myself.
and that brings up another point where ford is starting to get value for their platforms like toyota has been doing for ever, in that they are utilising 1 particular base and building several cars off of it.
and the focus is a great platform to start with
I got excited when I heard about this.
I really approve of recent retrospective designs – especially when they resurrect iconic cars like the Fiat 500 and the Mini.
For me the Capri concept is a bit of a disappointment – many because the feature line on the doors and the c-pillar are the only two areas that nod towards a very important piece of automotive history.
I really don’t want to see one of these in metallic green with a tan vinyl roof and GT stripes.
I own a XR2 capri turbo and havent found it wanting along the great ocean road or any other real drivers road a “twisty” road, you just have to know how to drive it.
The problem was the leading edge of the roof leaking in the rain (which can be fixed)but it has the buttet proof running gear of a turbo laser.
Also I have driven a MX5 of the same time 1992/1993 and the windscreen shudder is twice that of the Capri.
The new Ford C-Max, the new Ford S-Max and the new Ford Galaxy (UK market) would be good additions to Ford Australia and spin offs of these cars on same platform…something to take on Toyota Hiace and Hyundai i-load. Make LPG and diesel options readily available!
Ford has the ingredients – just gotta work out where the cook is as Kitchen bare in decision making land! Get your act together Ford.
Quite agree with you Maximuff. The S-max is a roaring success, a bit expensive at $54K ish. Problem is Holden bought GM’s Zafira to Australia, it was not well received or purchased in enough numbers to make it viable. I’m sure the same thing would happen to the models you list
I don’t know why but todays UK car buying public seem to be afraid of buying overtly sporty saloon/hatches. So the Australian butch saloons Commie and Falcon wouldn’t be favoured here. Oh we’re all to conservative I guess.
Wonder if it’s on Google earth?
Retro of the original please.
Google ‘earth’. Surely wrong word used…..maybe Mars or Pluto as that is really out there and more in line with warblings and prattle!
So Mondeo in UK starts at £15,205 UK (AUD sells at $29,990 AUD). So the S-max would be around the £17,800 UK and put it around the $40,000. The C-max is £13,550 UK and put it around $30,000 AUD).
So I guess we dont need to Google Pluto that then! Dam it must be dim out there!
Andrew M Says…. May 1st, 2008 at 8:35 pm
“everything ford seems to be designing of late screams instant yes!!!! i mean every upcoming model from the “kinetic” range looks hard to fault”
NM response….cars have to look clean, functional, carry svelte style and capture your attention by the scruff of the neck on looks. Ford designs scream this “now”!
The bonnet isn’t long enough to be a Capri (the proper UK one not the pretend Aussie one). There should be at least a foot between the front wheelarch and the door. Bring back the 2.8 Injection with a bag of cement in the boot. Ah the good old days…
The Ford offering I hope is heading down path of Mazda… there are some stunning cars in the stable. Now just needs seriously iron fisted approach of management to nail these designs and cross the T’s and dot the I’s on manufacture. Also to be hellbent on suspension settings and attnetion to detail (e.g. serious seat squabs as sick of flat base where you sit on the seat {like in my BF ute} and not in seat!).
Let me go through the stable….
1. Ka
2. Puma (would resurrect and rehash)
3. Fiesta
4. Focus
5. Focus Euro Wagon
6. Reflex (or F250)
7. Capri
8. Verve
9. Kuga
10.Iosis
11.Mondeo
12.Mondeo Wagon
13.Falcon range
14.Falcon wagon (updated)
15.Territory (updated)
16.Ranger
17.Transit
18.Falcon ute
19.C-max
20.S-max
21.Galaxy
Like this is were Ford should be hitting rock hard and well and sure not all these cars would come downunder. Slight tweak here and there for differing markets and add diesels, LPG turbo, smaller turbo motors, V8’s that have cylinder shutdown at certain speed, supercharged and turbocharged motors, hybrids and hydrogen or Joe Cell / Generator assistance. The one I witnessed of having a spool of wire feeding in to give off chemical reaction is astonishing!
Ford can redefine where it is going right with this model line up and all management should be hellbent to replace models regularly, introduce some of these models. Remember he who reads in vogue look first and mechanicals with a mega decreasing fossil fuel base will be in front.
And further the tweaking of some models to offer small vans, commercial range by using same underpinnings. Ford needs models to tackle commercial range better!
But how does the roof come off?Looks like its a hardtop?
Cheers
F-0
Give me a Mulberry Pink one, with matt black bonnet decal and the white and black houndstooth check interior like the 72 GT, and RWD…. :)
Personally i think that looks just like the new VW Scirocco, which ofcourse does look good but its nothing like the iconic car i grew up loving. I doubt it will make much of an impact on the car scene and i think if they do release it ever, then they should first reconsider the looks.