The New Capri!
FORMAT: 805 x 466, 61K. |
The biggest question is, will Ford build it?
The Capri name has been used on almost every kind of car you can imagine. A luxo-cruiser in the fifties by Lincoln. A luxo-muscle car in the sixties with the Mercury Comet. An imported european sport coupe in the seventies. A muscle car for the eighties. A front wheel drive convertible roadster from the Land Of OZ in the ninties. Each decade brought a new type of car. Now starts another decade, you've got to wonder..."Is Ford going to try again?"
Talk to 50 different people and you'll get 50 different answers on what a Capri is to them, and what a "real" Capri is. The only thing they have in common is, that they all have nothing in common. Each one had it's good points and bad. Although each Capri is nothing like the previous, they all have the same common themes. When you look for parts, people tell you that's Chevy. You can never find any parts for them. The wierdest things happen to them when things go wrong.
Rumor's are spreading through out the internet about this new Capri. Will it uphold the "Capri Tradition?" Is it going to be a 4 or 5 year wonder and then disappear into oblivion never to be remembered? Are we going to be hearing "They didn't make Caprice's in 2005."? Enthusiasts for Capris will be looking at it and comparing it to what they already have, seen, or known about Capris. Is it going to measure up to our, the enthusiasts expectations? Maybe, maybe not. Rest assured though, someone is going to like it and want it. They may have never heard the Capri name before, they don't know anything about previous Capris and they are going to buy it, and they are going to love it. A new following will be made, new clubs, and more "What kind of car is that?" type questions.
FORMAT: 650 x 350, 32K |
Ford may use the classic Capri name again on this new coupe, giving the name new life. Auto Bild magazine in Europe says this Capri will come into production in 2006. The car pictured on these pages could potentially be the next Capri. With the demise of the Cougar in North America and europe, and the Probe before that. Ford needs a new sport coupe in Europe, and Mercury needs a new entry level car in America.
FORMAT: 876 x 730, 81K |
The Capri is supposed to be part of the "Living Legends" program. This is the same program that has recently seen the Thunderbird be resurrected, the soon to be built GT-40, the Ford Forty-Nine concept car and the Bullit Mustang. It is supposed to recreate the sensational seventies Capri. It was one of the biggest introductions of a new car in Europe and the best selling import in 1973 for North America. The premise was based on the Ford Mustang. A sporty 2+2 for the family. It was something for everyone, the car you always promised yourself.
The starting point for this all new Capri was pretty ambitious: Turbocharged 300 HP motor, permanent all-wheel-drive with active differentials all encased in an aggressive and sporty body.
Ford has looked into Volvo's engines, as well a 6 cylinder engine...however this would add to the price of the Capri and they want it to be affordable. The original premise of the Capri was a car that everyone could afford, look good in and have good performance. With these kinds of engines, you might see a Capri selling in the $50,000 range and up! Much too expensive. It would also start making the premium divisions of Ford, meaning Jaguar and Volvo, work a little harder. Who would pay $50,000+ for a Capri when they could have a Jaguar? They don't want to turn the Capri into it's sole flagship either. That was never the premise of any Capri in the past, and it looks as if Ford will keep it that way.
FORMAT: 906 x 457, 61K |
As a result of those ides, a new vehicle concept was developed: fascinatingly and nevertheless payable, versatile and nevertheless profitable, modern and nevertheless a genuine Capri.
The chassis choosen for this duty is the Ford Focus. As with all other Capris, this Capri will be built off another chassis that is cheap and already in use. The car will be fairly pedestrian, meaning a dressed up Focus, except for the all-wheel-drive system. You'll probably only see this on the top of the line model, probably called The RS.
The body concept is not fixed yet, these are just some preliminary drawings of what COULD be. Pictured are a hardtop and a convertible. A hard-top convertable similar in style to the Mercedes SLK is being considered. This Capri would probably be put together from an outside source, possibly Karmann or Webasto. Should the Capri come with this option, there will be no other car in it's class with this option. From a customer point of view, the concealable hardtop could be an advantage over the competition, and could be an advantage for selling Coupes as well as the Convertibles. The Capri might be built with help from Pininfarina.
Capri production may start in 2006, or possibly earlier. Also the price margin has to be fairly good for the new car. Therefore the base model will be equipped with front-wheel drive and the standard 130HP Zetec Motor. The same motor found in the Focus ZX3. Price should come in a thousand or two over a Ford Focus. With a convertible version being another two or three thousand more. The top of the line model, the proposed RS, would have a price closer to $30,000. For this you get the ultimate competition for the Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Lancer EVO. A turbocharged Capri with all-wheel-drive, and a minimum of 225 horsepower. A Getrag 6 speed transmission would also be included. Another possible competitor would be the Audi TT. The Capri should come in thousands of dollars less than the TT.
As stated, the basic 2.0 litre, 16 valve, 130 HP motor would be in the base Capri. A step up in performance could be the 170HP SVT motor out of the Focus SVT. As in the 70s, the Capri RS2600 was the top model, and produced in small numbers so would the new Capri RS. There hasn't been a set "top performance level" for the Capri RS. It could be set as high as 250HP, or higher depending on the market when the Capri arrives in showrooms.
FORMAT: 678 x 358, 29k |
In Europe there will probably also be a TDCi Diesel version.
What are the chances that Ford succeed this time? How will it compare to the 70s Capri? If the styling is done properly and the powertrain is up to the task, it might not do too badly. One thing is for certain, the car HAS to be customer orientated. Like all the Capris before it, people have to have options and decide on what they want. I don't know if Ford can do that anymore. I hope they can.
Most of the information above has a european twist. If Ford does build the Capri, it will definately be released in the U.K. and Europe. Will it come to North America? Perhaps.
Mercury currently doesn't have an entry level car. They have the Sable, Marquis, Mountaineer and the Marauder. The Cougar is almost gone, the Villager has been cancelled, and Mercury doesn't have anything to bring in the younger generation. This Capri could be just like the Capris before it...an entry level, inexpensive car that will bring youth the Mercury dealerships...breathe some new life into the car company. With a good design and some good advertising, this could be a car that could pull Mercury out of the dumps...yet again.