Ford Capri: The Superhero of Cars

The Ford Capri has long been an icon in the automotive world, symbolizing the perfect blend of sporty dynamics and family utility. After its production stopped in 1986, the popular car is now back. Therefore, Ford celebrated the world premiere of the new electric version of the Capri in London last week with special guests like the football legend Eric Cantona. With his rebellious and unconventional spirit, Cantona seems to be the perfect face for the Capri’s revival: “The new Capri is a symbol for freedom and energy, just like me”, he says.

SLEEK met Amko Leenarts, the creative force behind the Capri’s modern revival in London, where he shared some insights into the creative challenges and triumphs that have defined this project. “It’s been four and a half years in the making,” he remarks, his voice tinged with a mix of relief and excitement. For him, the journey to the world premiere has been both arduous and rewarding. The process has involved countless hours of design, engineering, and testing, all aimed at staying true to the Capri’s legacy while infusing it with modern sensibilities. The anticipation to unveil this reimagined icon to the public is palpable, especially as it makes its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. “Seeing the car in a building is always a bit unnatural to me somehow,” Leenarts admits. “But when it’s going up the hill tomorrow, I’m curious what you think then.”

One of the most significant challenges Leenarts faced was striking the right balance between innovation and tradition. From the outset, he was adamant about leveraging the Capri nameplate to inspire his team and focus the engineers. “I’ve been pushing from day one that I wanted to have a nameplate that inspires my team, that focuses the engineers,” he says. This approach, he believes, helped create a cohesive vision that could be both a tribute to the past and an inspiration for the future.

Leenarts explains that starting with an inspiring nameplate was crucial. Instead of designing a car from scratch and then assigning it a name, the process began with a clear identity. This methodology ensured that the car’s design would be coherent and resonate deeply with the Capri’s storied history. “The creativity then is actually going from, okay, that’s quite a challenge, you know, from a sports car for the family to kind of reinvent it as a sports car to the family, 50 years later,” he notes. This constraint, rather than stifling creativity, provided a framework that fueled innovative solutions.

Another challenge was translating the character of the original Capri into a larger, higher vehicle. The new Capri is undeniably bigger, with a more imposing presence, yet it retains the agility and silhouette of its predecessor. “Translating that was difficult,” Leenarts admits. “The design team was making things way too complicated. The process was about how much can we take away and get to the essence of what we wanted to be.”

The process of simplifying the design to its core essence was one of the most critical aspects of the project. The team focused on clean lines and minimalistic details, striving to create a vehicle that exudes both sophistication and practicality. “The cleanliness, the courage of being clean on such a volume, not everybody can do that,” Leenarts asserts. The new Capri’s design boasts minimal split lines and a seamless transition from window to body, enhancing its sculptural solidity.

One of the most debated aspects of the new Capri’s design was the front end. The decision to include twin headlamps was non-negotiable for Leenarts and his team, as it was a signature element of the original Capri. “Choice number one was twin headlamps. We’re going to do it,” he states firmly. The front end’s design aimed to be super clean, with a full, flush appearance that maintains the car’s

Color plays a significant role in the new Capri’s identity. The choice of “vivid yellow” harks back to the original 1969 Capri, which was also launched in a striking yellow known as “Daytona Yellow.” However, due to naming rights, the new hue is referred to as vivid yellow. Leenarts believes this bold color choice helps the Capri stand out and aligns with contemporary desires for individuality. “People love to be different these days,” he observes, attributing this shift to the influence of social media. “Everybody is aware of themselves and they are saying, no, no, I’m not the same. I’m different.”

The new Capri underwent rigorous testing with customers, pitting it against competitive vehicles. According to Leenarts, the Capri emerged victorious every time, which provided significant assurance to the design and engineering teams. “Every time the customer said no, no, we want this one,” he proudly notes. This consistent preference for the Capri affirmed the team’s design choices and reinforced their commitment to maintaining the car’s clean, bold aesthetic.

Leenarts envisions Ford’s iconic models as superheroes, each with unique attributes that set them apart. He recalls presenting this “hero nameplate strategy” to the company years ago, likening Ford’s portfolio to the Marvel universe, filled with distinct heroes like Captain America and Superman. This strategy was a departure from the uniform design approach favored by some competitors, but Leenarts believed strongly in the strength of Ford’s individual models. “Our oval is strong enough. Just be confident and create unique heroes with their own superpowers,” he asserts.

As the new Ford Capri prepares to make its public debut, Leenarts is both reflective and forward-looking. The journey to revive this iconic model has been filled with challenges, but it has also been a testament to the power of innovation and respect for tradition. “I’m happy that we finally can bring it to more people,” he concludes. The Capri’s return not only celebrates its rich heritage but also sets the stage for a future where iconic designs continue to evolve and inspire – a future that captivates a new generation of enthusiasts.