Ford brings another classic nameplate to the EV world with the all-new Capri CUV. The Capri attempts to bolster Ford’s presence in Europe while also fleshing out a partnership with Volkswagen at the same time.
Ford is expanding its presence in the European EV market with the revived Capri nameplate.
Ford is pushing hard to bring electrification to global markets. While models like the Mustang Mach-E and the Ford F-150 Lightning attempt to make a dent in U.S. sales, Ford knows that it needs to expand its presence in Europe to hit its global EV sales targets.
The company recently entered a partnership with rival Volkswagen to produce the Explorer EV which is currently limited to the European market. The company is now prepared to expand on this newfound alliance with the Capri EV. But does the Capri also signal a shift in the alliance and perhaps preview a possible U.S. bound model that would benefit from Volkswagen’s assistance?
Capri continues Ford’s push into European EV sales race
The reborn Capri has styling inspired by the past but performance that pushes it into the future.
The Capri itself is essentially a design-focused version of the Explorer EV with both models being underpinned by Volkswagen’s MEB platform. The MEB platform is also used on VW EVs like the ID.4 and the ID.5 and its appearance on these two Ford models is an example of its inherent flexibility. The exterior styling is supposed to be reminiscent of the original Capri sedan with the headlights and taillights paying homage to some of its ancestors. The interior is largely carried over from the Explorer with the Capri getting that model’s 14.6-inch infotainment system and some of the core interior appointments.
Performance for the Capri comes from two electric powertrains with the base model being powered by a front-mounted electric motor that makes 282 hp and 402 lb-ft of torque. The setup allows the rear-wheel drive Capri to make the sprint to 62 mph in 6.4 seconds before topping out at 119 mph. A beefier dual-motor model is also available which boosts performance to 335 hp and also gives it standard all-wheel drive. These figures also match the ID.5 and the ID.5 GTX which is not a surprise since both models share the same platform. The Capri nameplate has largely been used exclusively in Europe but Ford did use the nameplate in the U.S. between 1970 and 1994 for Mercury models including its version of the Ford Mustang as well as a two-seat convertible that was imported in from Australia.
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Volkswagen partnership might translate into other models
The Capri’s introduction and Ford’s existing partnership with Volkswagen might pave the way for a U.S. bound model that would be underpinned by VW’s MEB platform.
While the Capri is currently a Europe-only offering, Ford’s partnership with Volkswagen and the use of the MEB platform might eventually see the two bring a model to our market. Collaboration is rapidly becoming the new normal for many automakers as firms that were once seen as unlikely bedfellows team up to not only reduce the costs of developing EVs but also use these partnerships as an opportunity to meet their respective goals.
In the case of Ford, using its existing partnership with Volkswagen could help it bring new EV models to the U.S. in less time with the boosted timeframe also allowing the company to save on development costs by using a proven platform versus developing one from scratch. This model might come in the form of a U.S. version of the Explorer EV. While the current generation model continues to maintain its reliance on ICE-powered powertrains, that might change with the next generation Explorer. Rumors have stated that an EV version is strongly being considered and it would not be a surprise if the model uses the MEB platform just like its European counterpart.
“The Capri itself is essentially a two-door version of the Explorer EV …” What’s unique about this two door is that it has (drum roll, please) four doors.