Is this the new Ford Capri? Classic sports car set for electric car revival takes shape in new images

As interest builds in the news Ford is going to revive the Capri nameplate for a new electric SUV crossover, curiosity begins to circle around how the car will look.

Obviously, it won’t be a small two-door sports car, but will it even use any design elements that hark back to the ‘pony car’ that became something of a ‘Mustang for Europe’?

This render from the graphic artists at Kolesa.ru is probably not a bad starting point, taking the rough platform limitations of the VW MEB basis which will underpin the new Capri - just like the recently revealed Explorer - and using modern Ford design language to build a sporty-but-practical small electric SUV.

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Is the electric Ford Capri going to now be the alternative to the Mustang Mach-E favoured in Europe?

Ford Europe Head Designer Amko Leenarts recently spoke to UK publication Autocar about the use of older nameplates and the idea of reviving retro designs.

“The public loves that we’re bringing nameplates to new territories”, he told the outlet, though use of the Mustang name for the Mach-E was contentious. He said the older names coming back offer a “unique perspective that nobody else has”.

But when it comes to the design itself, we shouldn’t expect the next Capri to draw too heavily on the classic.

This render from the graphic artists at Kolesa.ru is probably not a bad starting point. (Image: Kolesa.ru)

“Retro designs aren’t moving us forward. It’s always about totally new interpretation: that’s what makes it interesting.”

In that sense then, this render might be on the right path.

The specifications of the Capri are somewhat up in the air, though limited by the MEB platform, meaning they’ll probably be similar to that of the Ford Escape, in terms of battery size and range at least - either a 52kWh or 77kWh battery, with a range of up to 500km. 

It’s still possible Ford will offer more powerful versions of the Capri.