First came Puma, then came Mustang and now Ford has reinvigorated its Capri sports coupe nameplate as an electric SUV.
Mustang may be a global sensation but Capri is just as, if not more, important to British and European buyers than the stallion nameplate.
Headline figures are up to 627km of WLTP driving range from the rear-drive 210kW/545Nm Capri, while the twin-motor AWD ups power to 250kW though total torque remains the same.
Unfortunately, the Capri is not in Ford Australia’s plans: “The Ford Capri is an exciting new addition to Ford’s growing EV line-up. There are no plans for the Capri to come to Australia,” a spokesperson told CarsGuide.
The Capri is effectively a coupe version of the Ford Explorer (also ruled out for Australia) and therefore rides on Volkswagen’s MEB platform – the same found under VW’s ID.5 coupe SUV rival.
Ford’s new Capri measures 4634mm long, 1872mm wide and 1626mm tall with a 2796mm wheelbase. It is a little longer than the Explorer and visually very different, though it is mighty close in size and target market to the existing Mustang Mach-E.
The Capri’s chiselled styling and rising window line is more reminiscent of the SUV’s sport coupe namesake (and, funnily enough, the Polestar 2) than the Mach-E, giving it some unique attributes to the electric ’Stang.
It rides on large alloy wheels, between 19 and 21 inches depending on trim.
The electric stats are impressive, too, with good efficiency (13.3kWh/100km in the RWD) meaning the Extended Range RWD model is capable of travelling up to 627km from a single charge of its 77kWh NMC lithium-ion battery pack.
That’s enough to beat a Tesla Model Y Long Range (542km). It is also a long way clear of the Mustang Mach-E equipped with a much larger 91kWh battery, which is only capable of 597km from a charge.
A 79kWh pack is linked to AWD Capris, though the driving range falls to 592km in the WLTP combined cycle.
The RWD model can fast charge up to 135kW (DC) while the AWD tops out at 185kW. Both take under 30 minutes to charge from 10-80 per cent.
Inside, the Capri is outfitted with a generous 14.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen with connected navigation, a 5.0-inch digital instrument cluster and centre console bin with 17 litres of storage.
Two trim levels: Capri and Capri Premium are available, both can be paired with either rear- or all-wheel drive.
This won’t be the end of Ford’s badge revivals, far from it (though we hope Probe stays in the grave) and while the result may annoy some fans it is at least a refreshingly different approach to Volkswagen, Polestar and Tesla’s dull alphanumerics.
Not coming to Australia but Ford has promised five electric cars by the end of the year. Mustang Mach-E and two electric vans will definitely be joined by the Puma electric, but what else? The F-150 Lightning sounds most likely.