It was the morning after the big, top secret reveal, and I had only one thing on my mind: breakfast. En route for a second helping of Slovenian apricot jam dumplings, I was intercepted by a cheery “Hello!” Amko Leenarts, design director of Ford Europe, had entered the room. “So what did you think?” he enquired, with hushed tones and a hopeful smile. His appetite for making the most of the buffet seemed to be more reserved than mine. Bold, is the word I think I used.
The night before, I’d been privy to an exclusive unveiling of Ford’s “the legend is back” EV Capri. Against a backdrop of video screens and following a light show that lacked a bit of pyrotechnic pizzazz, the Vivid Yellow car received a tepid but inquisitive reception. What more do you expect from a cohort of sceptical UK press?
The embargo we’d signed said we’d be in big trouble if any of us were identified as the source of a leak, but within those four walls we were, of course, free to speak. Beyond the obvious – no, it’s not a low-slung, two-door, sports car – the whispers weighed heavily with speculation. Admirers of the original were surely going to rage, while rusty old Capris turned in their graves. “I love the passion,” said Leenarts, when we caught up in the wake of the reimagined Capri’s global launch. “Love and hate are very close to each other and spurs a ton of good discussion. It means people care and like to express how they feel.”
“Not impressed” was the prevailing vibe, but in this contentious tale of reincarnation, Leenarts isn’t the protagonist to villainise. He is the boy who grew up and worked hard to realise his dream job; part of which is to reinterpret Ford’s Hero nameplates. The pressure of that, he admits, is far greater than when starting from scratch. A kindred spirit who appreciates the “craft” that classic cars represent, he is sympathetic to their significance as “time capsules” that “unlock memories” in those who view and drive them. “The RS200 has an incredible, intense, yet short history with its peak in Group B rally,” Leenarts told me. “I was a young boy at the time and I loved that period in car design and motorsports. It generated my desire to become a car designer.” Time, however, has to move on.
Maintaining the essence of an iconic vehicle, “the image it portrays,” while translating the needs of a new generation of driver into a design that’s respectful to its ancestor is an unenviable task. “When we get older we might have the assumption that it was better in the early days,” said Amko, but the latest engineering, manufacturing, safety, and legal requirements have to be taken into account.
Being born 22 years after production of the Capri began in 1968, and four years after it ceased in ’86, I’m not what you’d call a first-generation fan. But hot diggity, that classic is one heck of a ride. With a stern brow and pert derriere, “the car you’ve always promised yourself” (as the original 1960s model was marketed) was brought to life by the man who designed the Mustang. Another favourite of mine. With a launch price of less than a thousand quid, plus trim and powertrain options aplenty, it was an attainable sports car with personality. Almost 2 million were let loose on the roads. Even Del Boy had a set of keys.
Today’s £48K reinterpretation features a 570-litre boot, heated front seats, and wipers that can sense when it rains. The range? Almost 400 miles. Less “oh my,” more “school run” SUV. “In fact,” said Leenarts, “the old Capri was the ‘sports car for the family.’ It was as practical (four persons plus luggage) as it was sportive. A sports utility vehicle tends to do exactly that for a new generation of families.” He makes a valid point.
Industry commentators were quick to publish their first-look reviews. The following headline caught my eye: “Has Ford finally lost the plot?” Leenarts says not. “We have unique stories to tell that roots in our history,” he argued. “This differentiates us from the competition. We knew we would never please everybody rewiring the nameplate in a different context, in a new world, for a new customer group. We believe it’s a great product that rewrites a new chapter of Capri in Ford’s history book.” Note to self, the EV Capri is a continuation, not a tribute.
To illustrate this point, Ford released a series of sketches to show how the Capri could have evolved from its combustion-engined ancestor had its design been updated every 10 years. This visual timeline actually encouraged me to take a more sympathetic view. Albeit ghostly, the profile is definitely there. The twin headlights, wraparound “grille,” and sweeping rear side windows are present too. “These exterior elements are integrated in a simple but desirable sculpture that makes the car easily recognisable from a distance,” said Leenarts, who hopes these features instill a “sense of familiarity.” But unless you’re a car nerd, I’m not so sure they really do. Inside, you’ll find a 6pm steering wheel spoke, another nuanced nod.
“We see people actually love the design but hesitate on the nameplate,” said Leenarts. “Once explained, people see how incredibly valuable it is to continue the history of Capri with a new chapter that attracts new customers. The opposite would be some generic robotic design with a name that involves a letter and some numbers. All of it maybe ‘futuristic’ but with little personality or storytelling.” Is the EV Capri an icon of the future? I asked. “Time will tell,” Leenarts replied. Iconic design, by his definition, ages well, is easy to distinguish, has a certain simplicity and, quite crucially, “is not liked by everybody.” Well, this spiritual heir certainly ticks the last box.
