It's the car every Ford fan has been waiting to see! Here’s the new Capri.

The original was one of the most famous and best loved models in the firm’s history, and left the scene in the late Eighties. Now, the time has come to reinvent the classic.

Affordable coupés are experiencing a real renaissance, and Ford has already proved its talent for building niche products with models such as the S-MAX compact MPV and Kuga 4x4. So the stage is set for the Capri to make its stunning comeback.

One thing is for sure – it will not be short of competition. Audi has its A5 and Volkswagen has resurrected the Scirocco, while Toyota is planning a Celica replacement based on Subaru Impreza running gear.

There’s also Hyundai’s forthcoming Coupé, plus news that Peugeot has at last given its 308 RC Z the green light for production.

But while there will be an army of rivals, the Capri will certainly have style in its favour. As you can see from our pictures, the new Ford is a real feast for the eyes. If it seems a little familiar, that’s because it takes some cues from the 2003 Visos concept.

However, it mixes those with the company’s latest design themes. At the front there are the trademark twin grilles, with a large lower air intake incorporating neat spotlights. Bold Mondeo-style headlamps complete the Capri’s striking look.

Its profile harks back to the original model, with a tail-heavy stance and familiar C-shaped rear windows and thick pillars. At the back, strong shoulder lines combine with distinctive tail-lights and a sloping tailgate to create a pert-looking rear. A neat roof spoiler and venturi-style lower bumper finish the design off.

Inside, the Capri will offer a 2+2 seating layout, with a cabin inspired by the current-generation Mondeo’s. Under the skin, it’s likely that Ford will follow VW’s approach with the Scirocco, which sits on the Golf platform, and base the car around the Focus. That will mean a front-wheel-drive layout and a similar engine line-up to the family model, with the range topped by the 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged unit from the ST hot hatch.

An RS version, powered by a 3.2-litre six-cylinder motor and offering four-wheel drive, could also be on the cards.

With the Focus as a starting point, things bode well for the Capri’s handling. Engineers will give the new model a sporty suspension set-up to ensure excellent grip and agility. There’s even the possibility it will benefit from the Mondeo’s adaptive damping system. This would provide the car with sharp handling or refined cruising ability at the flick of a switch.

As Ford has yet to officially confirm its new Capri plans, we won’t see the car before the next decade. However, it has been reported that the blue oval is planning to reveal a concept version of the coupé at a major motor show in 2009.

Engine Cast iron block, aluminum head construction. Longitudinally mounted.

1994 cm3 , water cooled Cosworth YB series. Garrett AiResearch T35 (T25 post 1994) oil lubricated, water cooled turbo (0.7 bar Max pressure) and intercooler. Mahle forged pistons and heat-treated steel crankshaft and conrods. 2 OHC belt driven and hydraulic tappets. 4 valves per cylinder (45°). Compression ratio 8:1. Oil cooler. Weber-Marelli IAW P8 (Ford EEC IV post 1994) integral engine management (injection and ignition), with 3D cartography. Water to oil heat exchange.

Behr two stage water/air and air/air intercooler.

Max power: 220 Bhp @ 6250 rpm, 290 N/m @ 3500rpm

With T25 turbocharger: 227Bhp @ 5500rpm, 305 Nm @ 2750 rpm
Four cylinder 16-valve two liter Cosworth, Garrett AiResearch T35 turbocharger with FIA 34mm air restrictor.
1997:Hybrid IHI turbocharger and 8 injector inlet manifold
Modified compression ratio, modified crankshaft, all internal cleaned and polished, altered flywheel to suit clutch. All engine internals prepared by Mountune. Cast magnesium sump with mounting for Motorsport 8.5 in front axle, Kevlar sump shield. Three stage intercooler with water injection. Intake temperature maintained at optimum, approx. 40 degrees. Anti turbo lag system, Weber Marelli engine management electronics.
1997: Ford/Pectel T6 engine management

Turbo boost set at approx. 3bar

Engines prepared by Mountune, by 1998 they were prepared by Tom Wilkinshaw Racing (TWR) who also prepared the Arrows F1 engines.

Max power: 312bhp @ 6250 rpm*. Max torque: 450 N/m @ 5000 rpm

Transmission All wheel drive Ferguson layout. Center and rear viscous couplers. Epicyclical center differential with 34-66 % F/R torque distribution. Final drive ratio 3.62. Five speed fully synchronized gear box (MT75).

Gear ratios - speed at Max RPM:
1:3.608 - 57 Km/h
2:2.082 - 99 Km/h
3:1.363 - 151 Km/h
4:1 - 206 Km/h
5:0.829 - 233 Km/h
R:3.256

Single dry plate power assisted clutch, Ø240mm.

Rack and pinion steering, 2.45 turns lock to lock variable power assistance.
Six-speed Motorsport gearbox (stock seven-speeder with first removed) H-pattern shift non-sequential. Ratios vary depending on rally. Lightweight hydraulic clutch. Full time four-wheel drive with electronically variable bias. Magnesium axle case. Hand brake disconnects center differential for tight gravel corners.



Mid-97:

Six-speed sequential XTrac box.
Electo-hydraulically controlled front and center differentials, Torsen rear differential for tarmac, ZF rear differential for gravel.

Suspension Front: Independent McPherson struts lower control arm (not triangulated!!), coil springs and Fichtel & Sachs gas shock absorbers, 28mm antiroll bar.

Rear: Independent transverse arms, coil springs and Fichtel & Sachs gas shock absorbers, 22mm antiroll bar.
Depends on rally/surface. For tarmac: Bilstein dampers front and rear. Aluminum suspension arms. Coil springs with additional helper springs (dual rate system). Water jackets around dampers for cooling.

Brakes Front: Vented disks (278 mm) floating 1 pot calipers.

Rear: Vented Disks (273 mm) floating 1 pot calipers.

Teves ABS (5 sensors).
Spec varies depending on rally. For tarmac, front: Brembo eight-pot calipers with four carbon-metallic pads per caliper, aluminum bell, 380mm cast iron ventilated discs. Water cooled. Rear: 315mm discs with four-pot Brembo calipers, water cooled.

Chassis Monocoque steel construction.
Custom-made Ford body shell with unwanted bracketry removed. ACS-prepared shell, including lightweight 18-point roll cage. Air vents added in roof. Quick release bonnet and rear hatch clips. Repsol colors applied to body with minimum paint for reduced weight.

Wheels/Tires 8"x16" wheels, 225/45ZR16 Pirelli PZero 8"x18" wheels, 210/610-18 Michelin
Dimensions Length: 4211mm
Width: 1738mm

Height: 1360mm

Wheelbase: 2552mm

Front track: 1453mm

Rear track: 1472mm

Lad

General specifications
Country of origin United States
Numbers built N/A
Introduced 2009

Engine
Configuration Duratec RS Straight 5
Location Front, transversely mounted
Construction aluminum alloy block and head
Displacement 2.522 liter / 153.9 cu in
Bore / Stroke 83.0 mm (3.3 in) / 93.2 mm (3.7 in)
Compression 9.0:1
Valvetrain 4 valves / cylinder, DOHC
Fuel feed Fuel injection
Aspiration KKK Turbo

Performance figures
Power 300 bhp / 224 KW
Torque 410 Nm / 302 ft lbs
BHP/Liter 119 bhp / liter
0-60 mph 5.9 s