Following the debut of the new Explorer EV for Europe, a second all-electric crossover riding on Volkswagen’s MEB platform – the Ford Capri EV – resurrected a rather iconic nameplate from Blue Oval history, too. Even before that new model debuted, FoMoCo was keen to lean on the history of the beloved Ford Capri to help sell the new one, even declaring that “the legend is back” in a teaser video released before that event. Problem is, a lot of folks weren’t happy that the new Ford Capri was an EV, nor a crossover, and that fact is clearly on display in the comments section of a new post from the automaker on Instagram.
View this post on Instagram
Once again declaring that “the legend is back,” this particular post also states that “it’s time for the Capri to make an all-electric comeback.” It features a series of images showing a classic Ford Capri coupe transforming into its current form as an all-electric crossover after being struck by a lightning bolt, which didn’t quite seem to resonate with fans of the model. Rather, the comments are a bit, shall we say, negative.
“Disgrace to the Capri name,” one commenter states, while another adds “that thing isn’t a Capri, it’s a Crapi.” “You have dragged the Capri name through the mud enough now,” one person states. “In the process you’ve taken a proverbial dump on the aspirations of our petrolhead ancestors and angered some of the most passionate enthusiasts of the automotive world. You’re not saving our future with this car, you’re destroying our heritage and dissolving the dreams of some of your most loyal followers. Stop it now while you still can. The damage to your brand will be irreversible otherwise. The Capri should be a small, affordable, rear drive, petrol powered sports car. Not a VW based washing machine on wheels.”
This is obviously not a great look for the Ford Capri, which has thus far not sold terribly well across Europe – prompting FoMoCo to scale back production of it and the Explorer EV, shortly after deliveries began last fall. Regardless, Ford remains adamant that a lack of robust incentives are to blame, and those remarks have at least helped prompt officials in the UK to consider different ways to meet its zero-emissions ambitions.
Comments
That atrocity is not a Capri no matter how much Ford intends to make believe it is.
Yes, in Europe there is really a lack of efficient and quality public transport… then you understand why an automaker reaches rock bottom: it wants to focus its vision on the customer and not what coherence requires… the Puma has electrical sense since it allows other options than just EV… even FCA managed to realize that the Avenger would be a failure if it was just EV… then people at Ford want to complain about losing 16% of the market… but not even doing their duty to home right is difficult to give credit!
Ford seems to be digging out nameplates without consideration of their history with the public. They desecrated the Mustang name with their crossover EV, and now they’ve done the same with the Capri name. Why don’t the idiots in marketing ask some of us that grew up with these cars and others in the Ford lineup about these dubious decisions? It would probably help their bottom line.
The same sentiment resonates with Mustang enthusiasts across the United States. For many of us, the Mustang has always symbolized the pinnacle of American muscle—raw power, rumbling V8 engines, and the unmistakable sound of exhausts roaring to life. So, when Ford introduced the all-electric “Mustang,” it felt like a betrayal to those of us who hold cherished memories of the iconic V8, an engine that has defined the Mustang’s legacy for decades. The electric Mustang isn’t just a shift in technology; it feels like a complete departure from everything the Mustang stood for—the freedom, the thunderous power, and the visceral experience that only a high-performance combustion engine can deliver. For Mustang purists, this transition is more than just a change in fuel type—it’s a slap in the face, a reminder that sometimes progress can come at the cost of the very soul of a legendary car.
I disagree on some of the criticism on the Mach E. I have owned one for 4 years and am impressed with the car. I previously owned a 2010 GT500 and never expected the Mach E to be a direct replacement. What I found is that it handles like a sports car and accerates better …in a straight line. It was never meant to be the same type of car as the ICE engined Mustang.
What I do agree on is that the new Capri is a disappointing car stylewise. I owned a 1971 two litre from new until 1975 and the style was what made it popular. Whomever approved the new EV body style obviously never owned one of the originals.
Completely agree, it looks like any other bland featureless EV
For goodness sake, be a bit more adventurous with design and don’t be afraid to use new names instead of insulting classics.
And why all of a sudden do all cars have to be SUVs what was wrong with saloons and coupes ?