Ford has been axing cars left and right over the past few years. In a short span, we’ve had to say goodbye to the Fiesta, Fusion (Mondeo in Europe), and Taurus. America missed out on the current Focus, but that hardly matters now since production of the fourth-generation compact ends next month. What’s left? Not much, just the Mustang and a mid-size sedan sold in the Middle East and China.
A little over a year ago, CEO Jim Farley famously said Ford is "getting out of the boring-car business and into the iconic-vehicle business” by focusing on trucks and SUVs. It’s a stark contrast to the early 2000s, when the Blue Oval had a vast portfolio catering to a broad audience, before SUVs took over. At one point, Ford was even considering reviving the Capri, affectionately known as Europe’s Mustang.
By 2003, the New Edge design language pioneered by the original Focus was already being phased out. The Visos concept arrived a couple of years before what Ford called Kinetic Design, while showcasing in-car technology developed with Sony. Although it was meant as a window into Ford’s future, the concept also borrowed from the past by harkening back to the original Capri.
The dual vents ahead of the rear wheels, the quarter-glass shape, and the curvy C-pillar clearly drew inspiration from the brand's beloved sports car, which had been discontinued for nearly two decades at that point. Chrome detailing paid homage to Ford of Europe's coupe, creating a retro-futuristic design first unveiled at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Despite being wider and nearly as long as the Mondeo, the Visos' underpinnings were more closely related to the second-generation Focus launched a year later. If the rear reminds you of the Volvo C30, you’re not imagining things—Volvo was part of Ford’s corporate umbrella at the time, alongside Aston Martin. In fact, the C30 shared its platform with the Focus Mk2.
Power came from a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six producing 345 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, sent to all four 20-inch wheels through a six-speed Auto Shift Manual (ASM) transmission.
Beyond the strong hardware, the Visos stood out for its innovative design. The roof featured a T-bar layout with dual glass panels that rose when the doors opened. With the doors extending slightly into the roof and the glass lifted, ingress and egress were easier. Once closed, the glass automatically retracted. Side cameras flush with the doors electrically flipped out when the engine was running.
2003 Ford Visos concept
Visos was envisioned as a 2+2 sports car, positioned above Ford’s usual fare. Think of it as Ford’s take on the Audi TT, but with a tech-heavy interior. It foreshadowed the SYNC infotainment system with a central screen hidden behind a lid on the center console. Another display atop the dash handled the rearview camera. A rare feat for the early 2000s, the digital instrument cluster was customizable.
Ford even engineered a Sport mode that automatically inflated the driver’s seat bolsters for added lateral support. Externally, the mode deployed a front splitter, rear spoiler, and diffuser to boost downforce. The gearbox featured a lever emerging from the transmission tunnel, allowing drivers to shift manually.
All these innovations came at a cost: Ford reportedly spent millions developing the Visos, known internally as "Project S272." When the concept broke cover, Ford of Europe’s Design Director, Chris Bird, made it clear he wanted to see the car reach production but acknowledged the decision wasn’t his to make. Speaking at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show, he said it would take about two years to develop a production version. However, that never happened.
This wasn’t just a static show car, either. Some journalists were invited to drive it at Ford’s test track in Cologne, Germany. Despite being a functional prototype, a production version never materialized. To be fair, Ford never promised it would, only that some of its technology would filter down to production cars, which indeed happened later that decade.
As for why the Visos was shelved, the consensus is that it would have been too expensive for a Ford. Perhaps there were also concerns about clashing with the Audi TT, which was gaining popularity despite having some stability issues in the early days. Indeed, Audi’s own coupe wasn’t without problems. Early TT models suffered from aerodynamic instability, prompting recalls to add a rear spoiler, stiffen the rear springs, and update the ESP system.
Visos was one of several canceled attempts to bring back the Capri nameplate. It finally returned in 2024, albeit only in name. The latest Capri is an electric crossover based on the Volkswagen ID.5. While there are a few styling nods to the original, they’re hardly enough to justify the badge. Adding insult to injury, Ford did the same with the Puma. Once a charming and affordable sports coupe, it’s now the umpteenth crossover.
Recent reports suggest Ford plans to launch new cars in Europe, but a true Capri revival seems unlikely. If it couldn’t make the math work for high-volume cars like the Fiesta, Focus, and Mondeo, a niche sports coupe below the Mustang is dead on arrival.
In an interview last year, Jim Farley admitted Ford "always competed at the heart of the passenger-car market, which didn’t work out too well for Mondeo, Focus, and Fiesta. They were loved by a lot of customers, but they could never justify more capital allocation – unlike commercial vehicles." In other words, Ford sees greater profit in trucks and vans.
Looking at it from another angle, perhaps enthusiasts should be grateful the Mustang is still around...
