Ford Of Britain 100: Image Of The Week - 47/52

BRENTWOOD, UNITED KINGDOM – Nov 23, 2011: To celebrate the centenary of Ford of Britain in 2011 the company is exploring its photo archive to reveal rarely seen images.

Ford's unique relationship with Britain and its society will be illustrated each week by specially selected pictures.

This week the archives reveal the significant evolution in the design of sporty but practical vehicles.

The launch of the Ford Capri in 1969 introduced a sleek and sporty car into the UK market. It was claimed that the Capri had a spacious rear seat ensuring enough room for two adults as well as offering Custom Plans allowing customers to personalise their Ford.

"The car you always promised yourself" – the Ford Capri – was re-launched in 1968 after the original Capri 109E, 116E and GT models sold well in the early 60s. The new Capri featured a long bonnet and Ford Mustang-like styling with a range of extras to choose from. These included chrome wheel trims, reclining seats and a map reading light. The Ford Capri impressed customers and sold nearly two million units in Europe in only five years.

Today, the Ford S-MAX is a true example of a vehicle which balances sporty aesthetics with a practical design. This seven-seater offers high-performance from Ford’s new 240PS 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine, while providing ample storage space, offering multiple seating arrangements and plenty of options for customer personalisation.