Ford Capri: The legend lives on!

Many accuse the Capri of being a copy of the Polestar 2 – but it is not. Although the Polestar was introduced as a production model in 2019 (and even earlier as a Volvo study), that was when the work on the Capri began in Cologne. But not how it looks now! Güler and his team wanted to design an "ID.4 and ID.3 beater," although the name for the Capri was decided very early on. However, the design was not set yet! This caused several sleepless nights for the Ford designers because how do you revive an icon without it looking "retro"?

What many don't know: The Explorer followed as a shorter variant first and didn't even have a name but then got one much faster because of a direct predecessor. And it ended up being a little larger than planned – which led to the ID.3 competitor being scrapped. It turned into the 4.45-meter short Explorer, while the ID.4 opponent became the Capri with a longer rear overhang.

The package was set – similar to the Polestar 2, with the Capri being ten centimeters taller! And it shares the door segments with the Explorer! We wouldn't have noticed that. Even inside, the Capri and Explorer are similar and yet so different.

It was a long road to today's form

And yes, lots of experimentation took place: The gun-shaped arch of the original model, which according to Günak didn’t work at all, and also two-tone coloring – which made the Capri look too old-fashioned. The "bedroom eyes" from round headlights in extra frames as in the Capri 1 facelift or Capri 3 were also tested – here the aerodynamics were too poor... This is why they oriented themselves towards the Escort 1 and Capri 2 with a reinterpretation of the "dog bone" design. A complete success, because from a distance, the Capri is instantly recognizable as: Ford Capri!

The rear was sometimes lowered further like the original model, which just looked strange, as did a vertical cut-off edge like the original: This made the back too narrow and the car too high-legged. That's why they slowly approached the current Capri with a total of seven 1:1 models. In our opinion, it is the most cheerful MEB+ interpretation.

With 52 kWh, 77 kWh, and 79 kWh batteries as rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive versions with 125, 210, and 250 kW. The latter should certainly pack a punch! And the range for the large batteries is generous at 552 to 627 kilometers according to WLTP, also thanks to a drag coefficient of 0.26.

We suspect that it drives as competently as the Explorer and the other MEBs. However, Ford uses its own spring-damper setting on the rear axle, unlike the VW Group. It will be exciting to see! Prices start at a not-so-cheap 44,950 euros gross, ranging through 51,950 euros for the 77 kWh battery to 55,950 euros for the top model. "Premium" costs an additional 3,700 euros. Bold that the heat pump costs another 1,050 euros, but also cheeky yet amusing that the bright yellow is the only free color.