By Otsile Kadiege

Back in November 2019, Ford took the legendary Mustang nameplate and slammed it on their all-electric SUV and called it the Mustang Mach-E. The ‘Blue Oval’ automaker has now resurrected the Capri nameplate as an all-electric fastback styled SUV.

Exterior design and styling

On the outside, the new-age Capri styling re-imagines classic Capri design cues for the electric age. Highlights include iconic four headlamps with cutting-edge Dynamic Matrix LED and Glare-Free High-beam technology, a  slim, coast-to-coast grille, a swooping coupe roofline, machined metal alloy wheels in 19-, 20- and 21-inch designs,  sculptured rear with signature four-piece LED taillamps, and a colour palette featuring exclusive Vivid Yellow, with wheel arch and lower body trim finished in premium high gloss.

Interior design, technology and convenience features

Inside, the new Capri has a digital an minimalist interior that looks similar to the electric Ford Explorer. Cabin highlights include a wrap-around cockpit, sporty seats with integrated headrests, optional heated and massage seats, a heated flat top and bottom steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, 10-colour ambient lighting, a 10-speaker B&O sound system with a subwoofer and a soundbar and a 14.6-inch touchscreen which runs on Ford’s SYNC Move infotainment system that features voice activation, connected navigation, a configurable interface with light and dark modes as well as wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. 

The Capri has a luggage capacity of 572 litres with the second row seats up and also has clever storage like an integrated parcel shelf and a foldable boot floor, a 17-litre ‘MegaConsole’ between the front seats which can hold a 15-inch laptop and ‘My Private Locker’ to secure personal goods.

Advanced driver assistance systems

The new Capri is equipped with a raft of advanced assistance systems. These include 12 ultrasonic sensors – 5 cameras – 3 radars – 360-degree monitoring, Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Assisted Lane Change, Lane Centering, Heads-Up Display, Traffic Sign Recognition and Wrong Way Alert Recognition and Blind Spot Information System for confident cruising, Clear Exit Warning, Lane-Keeping Aid, Cross Traffic Alert with Active Braking and Pre-Collision Assist, front and rear parking sensors, Reverse Brake Assist, rear-view camera, and Active Park Assist.

Performance

Powering the new electric Capri is a dual motor, all-wheel drive powertrain developing 250kW (340ps). Ford claims zero to 100 km/h acceleration  is achieved in 5.3 seconds. It has a 77-kilowatt-hour usable capacity battery pack which avails a claimed 627 km driving range on a single charge. When using a 185 kW DC fast charger, 10-80 per cent charging will take approximately 26 minutes. The automaker is yet to announce more details on the entire Capri range – including a RWD derivative.

Availability

Ford’s new Capri EV will be built alongside the Explorer EV in Cologne, Germany. We strongly doubt the new Capri will be coming to our shores anytime soon. That said, we look forward to the local launch of the Mustang Mach-E which will be launched in SA in 2025.