Ford Capri 2015 ??

[csv8]

Affordable sports cars are back in fashion thanks to the Toyota 86, Volkswagen Scirocco and Hyundai Veloster, among others. Ford is believed to be considering getting in on the action.

To do so, the blue oval could look to its past, reviving the Capri name made famous in the 1970s with a rear-wheel-drive coupe, rather than the infamous '90s convertible.

According to reports, because Ford hasn't made any official comment, the reborn Capri would likely be based on the mid-size Mondeo platform to give it a point of difference from the smaller Focus hot hatches.

It would also give Ford the option of both front- and four-wheel-drive layouts to differentiate the Capri from the next-generation Mustang, which will be sold in Europe.
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If Ford does give the Capri the green light for production, don't expect it before 2015. That would give the brand time to launch the new Mustang as a global car before offering this cheaper alternative.

Engine choices would almost certainly come from the brand's EcoBoost range of turbocharged powerplants.

Ford has a long history of two-door sports cars but dropped out of the coupe market after axing the conservatively styled, V6-powered Probe in the late 1990s and edgy Cougar in the early 2000s.

They were replaced by the performance-oriented Focus ST 170, XR5 Turbo and new ST EcoBoost.

Another sports car might seem like a luxury but given the recent sales boom, the market seems to be healthy.

Sales of entry-level sports cars are on track to double in Australia this year, led by new products from Toyota, Subaru and Hyundai.
http://brisbanetimes.drive.com.au/mo...116-29fhf.html

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[Nic85]

Now that's what I'm talking about! Looks amazing. Maybe just tidy up the rear quarter panel area a touch. I'll have one in that colour with a 2.3L Ecoboost and 6 or 8 speed auto please.

[Moby Vic]

It would be stupid to revive the Capri when they're trying to expand the world market for the Mustang (with the next generation, which will have IRS so don't start).

That picture is based on the concept car that predicted the styling for the new Fusion (and Mondeo).

[EVLKNEVL]

That's a photoshopped Evos.

http://www.caradvice.com.au/196577/f...2-sydney-show/

So it's a rear wheel drive sports car with a choice of front wheel drive or four wheel drive? Does it only exist in the imagination of the author of that article, or has Ford actually mentioned something relating to it?

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by csv8

It would also give Ford the option of both front- and four-wheel-drive layouts

Originally Posted by EVLKNEVL

So it's a rear wheel drive sports car

huh? front and four, no RWD mentioned, so i don't know how you got there.

[EVLKNEVL]

To do so, the blue oval could look to its past, reviving the Capri name made famous in the 1970s with a rear-wheel-drive coupe

Yes, I realise this was referring to the old car and not the new one. I was having a sarcastic jab at the clumsy structure of the article.

[XWGT]

This is a made up story

There is no source

No offiical Ford comment

And a photoshop probably lifted from Google

Can anyone actually see any credibility attached to this story?

[fou_bleu]

Naturally, there's conflicting reports elsewhere:

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/19/f...ty-questioned/

If a smaller sports car were to come out of Ford, I'd prefer a Focus-based Puma over a Mondeo-based Capri...

[TZENU]

An article best suited to April 1

[Moby Vic]

Speculation is fun:

Boss 429-powered Falcon GTHO for 2016?

[Road_Warrior]

A crap story, but it's from Drive, so that's to be expected. Also, I lol'ed at the thought of it being built off the CD4 platform because this would make is nearly identical in size to the next generation Mustang.

[mike_nofx]

Originally Posted by Head of AMG Engines and Powertrains

"Front-drive cars are for children,"

Ford - If you revive the Capri, go the classic Capri layout, not the hairdresser capri layout.

[Bossxr8]

See Ford Visos concept of 2003. Thats how long they have been looking at reviving the Capri for. It was based on a Focus.

Its been rumoured one of the 10 different models to come off the new Focus platform will be a Capri.

[fou_bleu]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

See Ford Visos concept of 2003. Thats how long they have been looking at reviving the Capri for. It was based on a Focus.

Its been rumoured one of the 10 different models to come off the new Focus platform will be a Capri.

That ended up being the Volvo C30...

[aussie muscle]

according to Jalopnik, this has already been canned

Ford's Euro Problems Stall A New Coupe
Inside Line reports that Ford wants to build a new coupe positioned below the Ford Mustang. But the proposal has been put on hold because of the company's problems in Europe. The decision to delay the car was made by CEO Alan Mulally, according to Inside Line, and it's a disappointment to those who think the company needs a sexy coupe as a halo car. The design was developed from one of Ford's core global platforms. And here's something interesting. Although the next Mustang has been developed for global sale, and it's expected to be sold in Europe, Ford officials there believe that its sales potential there will be limited owing to its size, price and thirst. While coupes are risky models from the profitability perspective — overall volumes are low and they tend to have short lives — proponents of the coupe believe Ford has to have something in addition to the MPVs and SUVs that dominate its lineup.

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by Moby Vic

Speculation is fun:

Boss 429-powered Falcon GTHO for 2016?

Overhead Valves?


Anyway... I think there is room for a niche RWD coupe like the Toybaru Twins. It would allow Ford to showcase all it's small EcoBoost offerings. 1.0L, 1.6L, and 2.0L. Made off of the new Mustang platform? It's all just a dream though.

[max_torq]

Ford doesn't need another orphan FWD coupe, after all the probes and cougars etc. They should trry to do a decent job to get the driving dynamics right, ie; make it race competent, to ensure it well get a fan-base and any model longevity. A mid-engine layout would be prefereable. It is possible to build such a car out of mass-produced FWD components (like fiat did with the X1/9).

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by max_torq

Ford doesn't need another orphan FWD coupe, after all the probes and cougars etc. They should trry to do a decent job to get the driving dynamics right, ie; make it race competent, to ensure it well get a fan-base and any model longevity. A mid-engine layout would be prefereable. It is possible to build such a car out of mass-produced FWD components (like fiat did with the X1/9).

Well, if they get the next generation Mustang platform "right", they should be able to down-scale it so it would support a roughly C-sized coupe of the type you mention. Add a 2L Ecoboost, 6 speed manual and RWD and keep the costs down and I'm sure trackday enthusiasts will be all over it, if the Toybaru 86 is anything to go by.

[Buntz]

Maybe the Maverick could make a comeback... and I don't mean the rebadged Nissan Patrols.