New Ford Capri revived as an electric SUV-coupe with hot hatch performance, 645km range

The 2024 Ford Capri has been revived after a 30-year hiatus to court controversy among Blue Oval diehards because it’s neither a sports car nor a proper Ford.

Timed to launch in markets, like the UK, before the end of this year the new Ford Capri is the new sister car to the Ford Explorer already on sale in Europe.

That means it is heavily based on the Volkswagen Group MEB electric car architecture and is heavily related to the VW ID.5 SUV-coupe.

That explains why at 4634mm long, 2063mm wide and standing 1626mm tall it shares the same footprint with the ID.5, while weighing in between 2023kg and 2115kg, depending on the version.

2024 Ford Capri EV — *The new Ford Capri will be powered purely by electricity*

Much sleeker than the electric Ford Explorer (built for Europe – it’s very different to the American Explorer), the new Capri abandons its two-seat coupe heritage and adopts a jacked-up fastback sedan-like profile reminiscent of the current Polestar 2.

Up front there’s a black front facia that’s said to pay tribute to the original Capri’s front grille while the headlights and daytime running lights (DRLs) are said to evoke those of the original Mk1 Capri qua-headlight setup

Other cues include fender peaks and oval side windows, plus a subtle rear spoiler that’s shape is said to owe much to the wild RS3100’s ducktail spoiler.

The rear lights are said to mirror those of the Mk3 Capri.

Within, the Capri borrows much from the Euro Ford Explorer, including its 14.6-inch portrait mounted infotainment.

Beneath the skin there’s the choice of an entry single-motor version that produces 210kW that can launch from 0-100km/h in 6.4 seconds.

Paired with a 77kWh power pack, Ford says the cheapest Capri can cover up to 627km on a single charge.

A second version with 250kW offers all-wheel drive thanks to its dual-motors that slashes its 0-100km/h dash to just 5.3 seconds.

The flagship dual-motor Capri gets a larger 79kWh battery that can still see it drive up to 592km on a single charge and be topped-up at a higher rate of 185kW, meaning a 10-80 per cent recharge takes around 26 minutes, versus the 77Wh power pack that takes around 18 minutes.

In Europe all Capris come with dual-zone climate control, 12-way massage seats, electric folding door mirrors, keyless entry and start, wireless phone charger and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus 19-inch rims.

The range-topping Premium adds 20-inch wheels and throws in a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system with a subwoofer and ambient lighting, matrix LED lamps, a gesture tailgate, but all that extra kit lops 32km off the total range.

Options include big 21-inch alloy wheels and a driver assist pack that includes a head-up display, active park assist, lane change assist and a 360-degree camera.

Pricing is expected to arrive with beginning of sales that is tipped to take place in Q4 of 2024.

Speaking of sales, Ford Australia has yet to officially confirm it’s interested in the new Capri but it’s thought that it’s unlikely to ever reach our dealers following a decision by the business to rule out the closely related Ford Explorer last year.

The Capri name has been employed not once but twice in Australia both for the original two-door coupe that was sold briefly from 1969-1972 and again in 1989-1994 with the SA30 Capri roadster that was made at the Blue Oval’s Broadmeadows plant on the northern outskirts of Melbourne.