Do you think Ford should make a new Capri?

[benanderson89]

I was thinking about this the other day. Ford says they want to introduce a lot of new performance models. We've got the Mustang and its derivatives, the Focus ST, Focus RS, Fiesta ST (and possibly a Fiesta RS) and the burly Ford GT super car.

They want 12 performance models out the door by 2020, and I think the Capri could slot in the product line somewhere. Make it a two seater (or a 2+2 at the very least), small, lightweight (little in the way of heavy tech, just the essentials like the GT86) powered by a range of 4-cylinder engines with a small displacement V6 at the top of the range as the Capri GT. They could use the 2.7L from the F-150 EcoBoost without the Turbo.

Put it on a modified RWD Focus platform. They can already send power to the rear wheels as seen with the RS' AWD system and the Focus can handle pretty darn well. Put a teeny tiny coupé body shell on top with a long hood and the classic Capri rear quarter window line and you've got yourself a mini-Mustang (which is what the Capri was when it was released in 1969. It was a smaller, more economical Mustang for Europe).

I'm probably exercising a lot of wishful thinking, but I'd love to see a new Capri roll off the assembly lines.

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[Twin Turbo]

I'd love it, too, but the Mustang in Europe has now killed off any chance of the Capri coming back, in my opinion.

For me, a re-skinning of S550 would have made the perfect Capri. I agree with your engine choice, although I'd go 2.0 Ecoboost 4-cylinder, 2.3 Ecoboost 4-cylinder and the 2.7 Ecoboost 6-cylinder.

A Capri HAS to be RWD, with those classic long nose/short deck/fastback proportions. For me, it also has to be a proper 2+2. The practicality was always a big draw when I had mine.

Autocar recently ran an article on what a new Capri might look like. A like the details, although the proportions are a little off

 

[Falc'man]

I'd love to see one.

You can't escape the fwd proportions if you base it off the Focus platform. You'd have to use Mustang's platform if you want that long bonnet and rwd, in which case they can reskin the Mustang, which would be pointless, or start from a clean sheet of paper, which is not going to happen.

They're better off getting in bed with Mazda and use their MX5 platform and build a coupe only. At 2,200lbs with the 2 litre Ecoboost and undercutting the Toyota 86's price it would he a hit, providing it borrows a lot of styling cues from the original.

 

[L8APEX]

With Mercury dead, and Ford wanting global products, I can't see this happening

 

[Herr_Poopschitz]

Lincoln please.

Or something I'd buy at this moment if available, a Rachero.

 

[Zerocool]

Would love to see it again.
I've had this one for the last 7 years and the 2.9 cosworth v6 made it more fun to drive!!



I think as has already been said above that the mustang has put paid to the Capri coming back as a car but maybe it will make an appearance as a trim level? The focus 'capri'

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[Chameleon]

No.

 

[Waylap1]

Lincoln S550
AWD Ecoboost Mustang equivalent.

 

[Waylap1]

That booty

 

[MIKESHIP]

Would love to see the CAPRI again. I had one in high school. It was a 1974 with a 2.8L V6, 4speed manual in yellow. It was a quick little car for its day. Fun car to drive:eyebulge:

 

[benanderson89]

With Mercury dead, and Ford wanting global products, I can't see this happening

Mercury has nothing to do with it. One generation was sold under that brand in the USA because reasons.

Elsewhere in the world it was a Ford.

Even though Ford do want global products, they still have some exclusives in each area - the European version of the Ranger comes to mind. Compact truck with a 2.2L 4-Cylinder Diesel engine. I don't think this model is sold in the USA and probably never will be.

 

[EXP Jawa]

Mercury has nothing to do with it. One generation was sold under that brand in the USA because reasons.

Actually, three generations are tied to Mercury. The early car was sold by Mercury, but had neither Ford or Merc badging here. My father had a '72 with a 2L, 4-speed. The name was used again, of course, on the Fox body car, but then a third time from '91-'94, as a FWD convertible from Australia, also having distinct Merc badging. I've had a couple of '91s - one turbo, the other not.

But let's not forget that before any of the Ford or Mercury-badged cars were sold as a Capri, the name was used by Lincoln in the '50s. So, the moral of the story is that all brands have connection to the name, and Ford car market it however they see fit - assuming they see fit to do something with it at all.

I think that assuming that the Focus MkIII would be readily adaptable to RWD isn't really realistic, even though the RS will include AWD. Keep in mind that the rear drive unit in the RS is secondary, it is not sized to handle the level of torque that RDU in a RWD car of that power level would see. Also, the chassis is fundamentally a FWD architecture - the engine is transverse and mounted ahead of the front axle. The dash-to-axle proportion is not well suited to a RWD adaptation, and the expense to convert it would be hard to justify - especially for a low-volume, niche car that would essentially be a Miata & BRZ competitor. I'd love to see a proper update of a 1st generation Ford Capri. But I can't see the business case.

 

[bluebeastsrt]

No. They didn't sell that well back in the day. No need to clutter the market with more nameplates.

 

[benanderson89]

No. They didn't sell that well back in the day. No need to clutter the market with more nameplates.

It was one of the best selling cars Ford had in Europe. It was the car to have.

 

[Zerocool]

No. They didn't sell that well back in the day. No need to clutter the market with more nameplates.

They sold over 1.9million units in its lifetime from 1969-1987

It's still one of the best represented cars at classic shows today.

It was billed as 'the car you always promised yourself.'



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