ATTEMPTING to breathe new life into a legend carries is always a risk.

It’s one Ford is obviously willing to take though and depending on your age, the risk is that you might be slightly disappointed.

Not because there’s anything inherently wrong with the new Capri, but simply because it’s not the old Capri.

Mitigating that risk is the task now facing the brand-new Ford Capri.

The original Ford Capri is an icon. Envisioned as the European answer to the Mustang, the two-door coupe, with its enormously long bonnet and sleek lines, was unashamedly modern and became an instant hit when it was unveiled in 1969.

More than 400,000 were sold in the first two years alone, and after three generations and numerous special editions, more than 1.8 million of them had rolled off the production lines by the time the Capri was retired in 1986.

But instead of ending production in 1986, imagine if Ford had kept redesigning the Capri every 8-10 years as happens with most cars.

What would the Capri look like after nearly four extra decades of development?

The new Ford Capri is the latest legendary name to return to the road…

That’s the question Ford is posing, and apparently the answer is an all-electric Coupe/SUV crossover.

Which is why some people may now be feeling a little peeved that the new Ford Capri isn’t a two-door coupe with jaw-dropping looks. I must confess, I might even be one of them. But is it justified?

The world has changed a lot during the last 40 years, and a stylish, all-electric crossover SUV is the most likely 21st Century equivalent to offer that same rebellious streak the original Capri represented.

The styling of the new Ford Capri is clearly influenced by the original. It may be an SUV now, but the coupe looks still feature in the flowing roofline and sculpted rear end.

The iconic four-headlight arrangement has been updated with the latest LED technology and the wide, slim grille that traditionally connects them has also been redesigned for a new era.

The wheels also reflect a more contemporary approach to design, with the 19, 20, and 21-inch alloy options all being much larger than they were historically.

Even the choice of paint colours resembles the original Capri, especially the Vivid Yellow option paired with a high-gloss finish on the wheel arches and lower trim.

The interior of the new Capri is also equipped with levels of technology that were inconceivable back in the 1970s and 80s. It’s also got a few unique touches of its own as well.

The cabin has been designed to reflect what a classic Capri driver would have expected from the future, complete with digital displays and a wrap-around cockpit that blends seamlessly into the door design.

Heated sports seats with massage function, two-zone climate control, soft-touch materials, and ambient lighting also create a welcoming atmosphere.

The infotainment system is controlled via a 14.6-inch touchscreen that can move up and down for the optimum viewing angle, and features satnav, voice commands, and smartphone connectivity.

The touchscreen can also slide out of the way completely to reveal a hidden storage compartment for valuable items. That’s not the only practical touch either. The console between the front seats is large enough to store a 17-inch laptop, there’s a dedicated holder for two smartphones that includes a wireless charging feature, and behind the seating for five people there is a large boot with a foldable floor to make the most of the space and an integrated parcel shelf to keep it all hidden from view. You can also specify a hands-free tailgate for easy access.

Obviously, it’s all change under the bonnet too. A new generation of Capri requires a new generation of drivetrains to match. While it may not have the big petrol engine of the olden days, the new Ford Capri can still offer exhilarating performance to go with the sleek looks.

From launch it will be available in a choice of two all-electric versions, one with rear-wheel drive and the other boasting all-wheel drive. For the UK market both will be fitted with the extended range battery pack as standard.

Rear-wheel drive models will be fitted with a 77kWh battery and a single 286bhp electric motor mounted on the rear axle. That’s enough power to sprint to 62mph in 6.4 seconds. Range will be around 390 miles from a full charge, with the maximum charge rate of 135kW enabling fast-charging from 10-80% in 28 minutes.

Upgrade to the AWD version and the battery grows slightly to 79kWh and a second electric motor is added on the front axle. That increases the power to 340bhp and drops the 0-62mph time to just 5.3 seconds. Adding all-wheel drive does mean sacrificing a little range, but it will still cover around 365 miles on a full-charge.

To offset the slight drop in range, the more powerful version also offers more powerful charging – 185kW compared to 135kW – so even with the larger battery, that same 10-80% charge is achieved in a slightly faster 26 minutes.

Specification is also an equally binary choice, with both the rear-wheel drive and AWD versions available in either the standard ‘Select’ or enhanced ‘Premium’ trim-level.

Ford’s recommended OTR prices start from £42,075 for the rear-wheel drive Capri Select model. Order books are expected to fully open in the next few months, but Ford is already accepting pre-orders with first deliveries scheduled for the end of this year.

So, the new Ford Capri… It definitely isn’t anything like the old Ford Capri, and some people will inevitably consider that a missed opportunity and a bit of a shame.

But for an awful lot of people, I’m not really sure if the mild disappointment of rose-tinted nostalgia will matter in the slightest when considering everything else the new Capri has to offer.

It may well be an old name on a new car, but to horribly misquote Shakespeare: By any other name, the new Ford Capri would be just as good.

DAVID YOUNG, Motoring Expert