Ford Capri with LFP Battery starts at €42,400

In January, Ford Europe announced upgraded versions of its electric models, the Explorer and Capri, both of which are now available for order. With an entry price of €39,990, the SUV Explorer remains slightly more affordable than the SUV coupé Capri, which starts at €42,400 in Germany. In the UK, the latter starts at £37,485.

Their development has progressed in sync: both models have received enhancements to their underlying Volkswagen technology and now transition to the MEB+ platform.

The base versions of both models now feature, as announced, increased range and performance thanks to a new lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and an improved electric motor. In the Capri, power has increased from 125 kW to 140 kW, with a maximum torque of 350 Nm. This improvement is driven by the fundamentally new electric motor from the Volkswagen Group, the APP350, which Ford has adopted along with the entire MEB platform for its Cologne-built electric models, the Explorer and Capri. The APP350 replaces the older APP310 and is significantly more efficient than its predecessor, despite both being permanent-magnet synchronous machines (PSM).

In the Standard Range models, the new motor is paired with a new battery developed by Ford and Volkswagen: the energy content of the smallest available battery has increased from 52 kWh to 58 kWh net. Combined with the more efficient motor, the WLTP range is expected to rise from 381 to 464 kilometres – an increase of around 17 percent. The Explorer follows a similar trend, with its range increasing from 378 to 444 kilometres under WLTP. The Capri’s slightly better figures are due to its more aerodynamic body.

Importantly, the new 58 kWh battery no longer uses NMC cells containing materials such as nickel, manganese, and cobalt. Instead, it features LFP battery cells, which do not require these critical raw materials. LFP cells are known for being more cost-effective and durable, though they have a lower energy density, which is why Western car manufacturers previously avoided this technology. However, this is changing as LFP cells have seen significant advancements, particularly in Asia, and battery concepts like Cell-to-Pack now enable competitive energy densities in vehicles. This is also evident in the MEB battery with LFP cells: the smallest MEB battery will soon offer the same energy content as the original mid-sized version. For example, the VW ID.3 Pro initially launched with 58 kWh net (62 kWh gross) using NMC cells.

In addition to the drivetrain and battery, Ford has used this minor model upgrade to introduce further improvements. These were largely covered in last week’s announcement of the new Explorer. For the Capri, one-pedal driving is now included as standard. The MEB-based electric vehicle from Cologne also features the ‘Pro Power Onboard’ system, which allows power from the drive battery to be used for external devices – with a maximum output of 2.3 kW.

These updates – including the new LFP battery and motor – are shared by Ford’s electric models with the facelifts of the Cupra Born and the ID.3 (soon to be renamed ID.3 Neo) from the Volkswagen Group, thanks to their identical technical foundation. All the aforementioned vehicles also receive, among other things, an upgraded adaptive cruise control (now with additional traffic light recognition), a new reversing assistant, and a new Driver Status Assistant (‘to monitor the driver’s attention and driving inputs’).

Ford has also revamped the design and operation of its infotainment system (‘SYNC Move’), allowing apps to be grouped individually and providing an enlarged display for navigation, external cameras, and parking sensors. “The layout of the navigation and parking assist screens has also been improved to make it easier to operate at a glance, with the map area, camera portal, and parking sensor displays all made larger,” Ford says.

Additionally, the Capri will now be available as a ‘Collection’ model. According to Ford, this trim level combines the car’s motorsport heritage with electric performance. Exclusive to the Capri Collection is the Tribute Blue paint finish, along with a new 21-inch light-alloy wheel design in Satin Black, complemented by deeper side skirts, black side sills, and a black rear spoiler.

“Capri is our answer to customers asking for a versatile and capable electric family vehicle that stands out from the crowd,” said Christian Weingaertner, general manager, passenger vehicles, Ford Europe. “The Capri Collection celebrates the motorsport heritage and iconic performance car history of Capri, with the advanced technologies and convenience features of the future.”

media.ford.com, ford.co.uk (Configurator)