Forbidden Fruit: Ford Capri Returns As An EV

Ford has rebooted another vintage sports car nameplate with an electric SUV, but not in the USA.

The automaker has revealed the new Ford Capri for the U.K. and Europe.

It borrows its name from a classic two-door, much like the Mustang Mach-E, but takes the form of a four-door utility vehicle.

The original Capri was first launched in 1969 and is revered among British and European Ford sports car fans similar to how the Mustang in the U.S.

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The new Capri is built on an electric platform Ford borrows from Volkswagen and features a sedan like shape that hides its hatchback design. The look is very similar to the Polestar 2’s, but the Capri stands about six inches taller. Its front end features eyebrows over twin headlights that echo the original Capri’s styling.

The compact model will be offered in 282 hp rear-wheel-drive and a 335 hp all-wheel-drive versions, which use the same motors as the Tennessee-built Volkswagen ID.4.

The Capri will be manufactured in Germany but, unlike the original Capri that was sold in the U.S. in the 1970s, it isn’t scheduled to make the trip across the Atlantic.

Ford will offer it with two battery options good for up to 368 miles and 390 miles of range, respectively. That’s on the European test cycle, however, which is typically about 20% higher than U.S. testing.

The Capri’s list pricing starts at the equivalent of $61,000 in the U.K, but that includes a 20% tax and registration fees.

Ford also offers an electric Explorer in the market that’s built on the same platform, but features a more conventional SUV shape.

Adventure traveller and social media start Lexie Alford in March became the first person to complete an all-electric around-the-world drive, but used five Explorers along the way.