Rendered Speculation: Ford Capri to return next year?
The Ford Capri is to Europe what the Ford Mustang is to the United States... with at least one major exception. Unlike the quintessentially American pony car, which has been in nearly continuous production since its inception way back in 1964, the Capri nameplate has been conspicuously absent from European showrooms since 1986 – making it ripe for a remake.According to the fearless rumormongers at Auto Express, the next Ford Capri may be right around the corner. In this guise, the Capri would basically be a three-door hatchback version of the Ford Focus with a sporty take on Ford's so-called Kinetic design language. The car would be earmarked to do battle with the revived Volkswagen Scirocco and Renault's latest Mégane Coupé.
Inside, the new Capri would share the same basic guts as the Focus and feature the latest version of Ford's Human Machine Interface. Underhood would sit the buyer's choice of an EcoBoost gasoline-fed four cylinder in either 1.6-liter or high-performance 2.0-liter sizes – or perhaps one of Ford's TDCi turbodiesel engines mated up with a Powershift twin-clutch gearbox.
If there is indeed any truth to these rumors, we can expect the next-gen Capri to debut at an unknown auto show sometime in 2010.
[Source: Auto Express]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Bloke 10:34AM (5/28/2009)
Autoblog: actually the last year for the Capri mk III was 1988, when Ford released a limited number of Capri 280 special editions for its final run.
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James 12:19PM (5/28/2009)
If I were Ford Europe, I'd utilize the RWD platform of the current Aussie Falcon...slap on a modern interpretation of the Mk 1-Mk 3's Capri (ala 21st Cent muscle car stablemate Mustang and the Camaro, Challenger rivals)...and call it a day.
Now "that Capri" remake is ripe for the picking!
bc 1:02PM (5/28/2009)
The Falcon is far too big to be reasonably cut down to the size of something that could be named Capri; they might as well design a new C-sized RWD platform.
Rumors of a new Capri are a staple of the European motoring press, last heating up in the 2005 time period, complete with handsome renderings based on the contemporaneous Focus, with the signature four round lheadlamps and curved c-pillar glass making it much more Capri-like than this.
As I interpret the article, 'Auto Express' doesn't say that Ford is going to call this car a Capri, but that the 3-door Focus Mk III will have a more sporty, low-slung appearance than the 5-door and again compete with sport compacts from other European manufacturers.
James 1:19PM (5/28/2009)
"The Falcon is far too big to be reasonably cut down to the size of something that could be named Capri; they might as well design a new C-sized RWD platform..."
What I meant was to "base" it on the rwd Falcon platform. To "modify" or "shorten" a platform or what have you by an automaker with the likes of Ford...to cater to a certain market, is quite capable.
Randy 1:18PM (5/29/2009)
Rocky Marciano.. Rocky Marciano... Every time I mention the Capri someone got to pull Rocky Marciano out there azzz....
Sorry, the posts just reminded me of that ... ;)
typhoon5000 10:34AM (5/28/2009)
Hmm, looks good, but it's a def photoshop, with the 2010 Taurus SHO wheels. hopefully this will jump the pond into the US with the new Focus in 2011.
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Avinash machado 10:36AM (5/28/2009)
Was there not a Mercury Capri also? Or am I imagining it?
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Bloke 10:41AM (5/28/2009)
The 70's Mercury Capri was a rebadged Ford Capri mk I and early mk II before they discontinued it. The 80's Mercury Capri was a rebadge of a Ford Capri roadster built for the Australian market, based lossely on the mid-80's European Barchetta concept but not related to the European Capri.
BoxerFanatic 10:43AM (5/28/2009)
The Mercury capri was sold as Ford Capri in europe. There is no Mercury brand in Europe.
The first Mercury capri ORIGINATED as a Ford Capri, and was sold as an import at US Lincoln/Mercury dealers. The Fox-body Mercury Capri went the other direction, and was exported to Europe as Ford Capri.
I thought that Europe got the Aussie-build FWD Capri (1991-1994 mazda 323-based) convertible, too. Although it wasn't a big seller anywhere... Maybe Europe got it with a different name, or something. It's convertible top was made in Germany, so it seems odd that the car would not have been available there...
Avinash machado 10:49AM (5/28/2009)
Thanks Bloke and BoxerFanatic. Mercury today seems pretty much dead. Wonder whether Mullaly has any plans to revive the brand.
Bloke 10:55AM (5/28/2009)
Let's get this straight for those who misunderstood my post: the North American Mercury Capri was a rebadged version of the Ford Capri mk I which debuted in Europe in late 1969. The car was based on the Cortina and used its mechanicals and running gear.
The mk II Capri was launched in 1974 and it too was sold in the States, albeit briefly, but as a Mercury. The mk III Capri was a heavily revised Mk II and debuted in 1978, and lasted for ten years. For the last two years production was cut and the final model, the 280, was a limited run special edition using the Cologne V6.
The Australian Capri was not sold in Europe. It was due to be sold in Europe but Ford of Europe pulled the plug on the project at the last minute (in much the same way as they did later with the Lincoln LS). It was based very loosely on the former Barchetta roadtser prototype and used Mazda engines (at the time, several Australian Fords were merely rebadged Mazdas) and it was exported to North America as a Mercury.
DKB_SATX 11:18AM (5/28/2009)
In between Mercury's americanized version of the '70s euro Ford Capri and the later (early '90s?) Aussie 2-seather (both mentioned above) Mercury had a version of the Mustang badged as a Capri. They started out with attractive, low-key distinctions from the Mustang... flared fenders and a Mercury-styled grille and tail lights, hatchback only. The last Mustang-based Capris had a tumor-inspired bulging rear window on the hatch that looked ridiculous.
I had an '80 Mercury Capri RS Turbo (2.3-liter 4-cylinder with a carburetor.) It had primitive, bitchy boost control and was not the most powerful car made in 1980, but it did reasonably well for a 1980 consumer car. I think I kept the engine running longer than anyone in the world... my mechanic dad and I rebuilt it at around 140k miles because the oil consumption was getting a bit high. My dad was a diesel mechanic with years of experience with turbochargers, he taught me how to take care of it to prolong the life of a primitive turbo system.
It really makes me appreciate my modern turbo engines... the 1.8T in my last GTI, and the outstanding 2.5T in my Legacy GT Wagon that makes nearly 2x the horsepower (and feels like 3x the torque!) of the 2.3 in that old Capri.
BoxerFanatic 10:39AM (5/28/2009)
Wow....
Hopes UP, then crash, when I saw the rest of that cropped photo.
I think the "Capri is Europe's Mustang" analogy is a bit strained... but that is another discussion.
That isn't a fastback 3-door, that is a 'kinetic' two-box hatchback, with a tiny oval rear window. It wants to be sleek... then boxes up the rear roofline.
A relative of mine has had all three generations of Capri. The original european version, a 79 Fox Mercury Capri, and a 1991 Aussie-built convertible.
I was hoping this might be a good fourth... maybe for a focus hatchback alternative...
I guess I was hoping for something closer to a Fox Capri, or classic Cougar type vehicle. A longitudinal rear-drive chassis, with proper independent suspension, and a sleeker design... perhaps 'kinetic' design language applied to a modest mid-size or large-ish compact RWD chassis. With Duratech 35/37, EcoBoost TT, and Coyote V8 power.
And bringing back the fastback hatch sleek practicality that the Fox Mustang/Capri had, that 05-current Mustang failed to deliver, even though the 2004 concept coupe had it...
Mercury needs something... and hopefully more of a Genesis Coupe competitor, or a G37 under-cutter, rather than a VW 2-box competitor...
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AlexIP 10:43AM (5/28/2009)
If it comes as a FWD roof chop Focus, it won't be the Mustang of Europe.
I think it would be better to add a supercharged smaller engine in the Mustang (tax reason) and bring it over to be assembled in an European plant (tax reason), like Chrysler is doing at the Magna plant in Graz, Austria.
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Bloke 10:43AM (5/28/2009)
"I think the "Capri is Europe's Mustang" analogy is a bit strained... but that is another discussion."
It was always known as Europe's Mustang here - simply because of the demographic it appealed to. The Capri was enormously popular, especially in the 70's. Ford of Europe dropped it at a time when D-segment coupes were falling out of fashion in favour of the huge rise in popularity of hot hatchbacks.
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BoxerFanatic 10:49AM (5/28/2009)
It may have applied to the original Capri, and I could see that...
A FWD hatchback, though strains the analogy now, as the Mustang is about as far from that as possible, while still being a two-door car.
I wish there were something sleek and cool between the two. Better looking and RWD, rather than a FWD hot hatch; and more modern, sleek, handling-oriented, and moderately sized than the US Mustang.
Bloke 10:57AM (5/28/2009)
All European Capris were RWD for its entire lifespan (1969-1988).
BoxerFanatic 12:13PM (5/28/2009)
Bloke...
Article. Above. Read it.
They are talking about making it a FWD hot-hatch. THAT is what we're talking about here.
Bloke 12:23PM (5/28/2009)
Boxer - YOU read the article. Here's a quote from it: "The Ford Capri is to Europe what the Ford Mustang is to the United States... "
That statement is completely true. Now, there have been three renderings along with rumblings about a new Capri released in the past eighteen months, and there's nothing to state if it will in fact be built. The statement does not refer to a new, FWD model - it refers to how the RWD is perceived. Any new model will be pitched against the likes of the 407 coupe.
Gloria 10:57AM (5/28/2009)
"You need to put Mercury on your list."
(hint, hint)
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