Nick O’ Connor is a self-confessed Ford fan. As well as owning a succession of Fords over the years, when he took delivery of an all-electric Explorer 1 he decided to start a social media group for other owners and prospective buyers of the Explorer and Capri. Now the groups have more than 20,000 members, and Nick is trading in his Explorer for a Capri Collection. 2
I spoke with Nick about his Fords, and his experience of seeing his own Capri being built at the factory in Cologne.
Q: What made you decide to swap your Explorer for a Capri?
A: When I saw the Explorer originally I liked it straight away. At the time I had a Fiesta ST and obviously that's crazy sporty, but I've always wanted to stay in that category of Ford cars with something that looks and feels sporty.
But we had a baby a couple of years ago, so I needed something bigger. And the Explorer was ideal because I needed the space inside in it for everything that comes with the baby. However, earlier this year I saw the pictures of what's coming with the Explorer Collection and then the Capri Collection images came out literally a few days later, I thought ‘Yeah, that's kind of more like me to be honest, with the body kit, the splitter, the big wheels, the colour, and seats which were very similar to what was in my Fiesta.'
It looked like my Fiesta but bigger. So I just saw it and I loved the look, and thought it had some of that same sporty feel.
Q: And what was it like for you getting to see your own Capri being built and getting involved yourself?
A: As soon as we got there, it was just like a childhood dream of mine to see cars being built, let alone Fords, because I just have such a passionate interest in them all my life. Just to be part of it, the centre of where they're all built was a pinch-me moment.
And then we saw the rolls of aluminium being pressed into the shape of the car. Being able to touch those pieces and follow them down the line to be welded together, being able to get that close to see them from nothing to eventually something was amazing.
At a certain stage I was told my car was coming next on the production line, and then it just like dropped from the ceiling, which was really cool — like there it is! I'll never forget that. I'm hoping that I'm able to keep this car for a very long time, because of those memories.
Q: Were you able to follow the whole process from start to finish?
A: We didn't see it getting painted from the beginning because we were elsewhere at that stage, but I was taken on a tour of the whole facility, which was so cool, and once my car dropped down from that stage, I saw more or less everything from then on. It was really amazing to see it all happen. They actually let me put some parts on to it as well which was really cool, like the badges, the spoiler and some parts in the frunk, plugging in the testing equipment and that kind of thing.
And we were right there as soon as my Capri was finished being built, so I was able to hop into it and drive it off the line. So that was really, really cool, taking it to its testing area, because normally when you buy a car there's always a few kilometres on it when it arrives. It's never going to have zero, but now I'll know that I drove this when it had zero. Not many people can say that, it's a really special, unique opportunity. It's literally brand new.
Q: And your wife Rebecca has recently switched to electric power too?
A: Yes, she’s now got a Puma Gen-E. 3 She had a number of Pumas 4 before and they've all been petrol, but last year she tried a Puma Gen-E and when she drove that she loved it.
You kind of have to experience it and live with it for a little while, just to understand the differences between driving electric and driving with a traditional engine. But once you drive them then it's kind of a no-brainer and you have the potential to save money with them.
Q: I understand you give your cars names, is that right?
A: Yes, we name all our cars, it’s just something that we’ve done historically and it just makes them a bit more personal. I feel a car is more than just a car. It's something that brings you from point A to B, for sure, but you should also enjoy it, so it feels more like an extension to one's person.
So with our previous cars, because the Explorer was an electric vehicle, the name Evie just stuck. And then the Puma was called Penny, you kind of look at them and say, ‘Oh yeah, that does look like a Penny!’ Then we were thinking what we were going to call the Capri, and in one of our favourite TV shows there was a Ford Capri. They didn’t name the car, but there were a few people in the show that stood out. So one of the names we thought would be Marlene. And Rebecca’s Puma Gen-E will be called Daisy, as it’s yellow. Through the Ford App 5 you can name them, so whenever you look at your cars in the app you see their name first, so it kind of makes sense!
Zara Blackburn is public relations manager for passenger vehicles for Ford UK and Ireland, leading on media relationships and communications and based in the Ford Dunton Campus.
Since joining Ford in 2014, Zara has held roles spanning vehicle launches, motorsport, autonomous vehicles and marketing. She began her career as a product launch co-ordinator, supporting vehicle launch events while also served as WEC race ream co-ordinator, creating stakeholder experiences at the Le Mans 24 Hours during the race team’s 2016–2019 return.
Zara later worked on Ford’s Autonomous Vehicles programme, working with customers to understand how the technology could affect their businesses and what they would need to adopt it. Most recently, she was marketing lead for integrated services, leading marketing for the vehicle subscription pilot.
1 Up to 602 km based on full charge of Explorer RWD extended range. Estimated range using Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP).
2 Up to 463 km driving range based on full charge of Capri RWD standard range. Estimated range using Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP).
3 Up to 417 km on full charge of Puma Gen-E. Estimated range using Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP). Figures shown are for comparability purposes and should only be compared with other vehicles tested to the same technical procedures. Actual range varies due to factors such as temperature, driving behaviour, route profile, vehicle maintenance, lithium-ion battery age and condition.
4 Puma EcoBoost Hybrid CO2 emissions 119-146 g/km and fuel efficiency 5.3‑6.5 l/100 km WLTP. The declared WLTP fuel/energy consumptions and CO2-emissions are determined according to the technical requirements and specifications of the European Regulations (EC) 715/2007 and (EU) 2017/1151 as last amended. The applied standard test procedures enable comparison between different vehicle types and different manufacturers.
5 Ford App, compatible with selected smartphone platforms, is available via download. Message and data rates apply. The Ford App and complimentary Connected Service are required for remote features (see Ford App terms for details). Connected Service and features depend on Vodafone or Vodafone partner mobile network availability. Evolving technology/mobile networks/vehicle capability may limit functionality and prevent operation of connected features. Connected Service excludes Wi-Fi hotspot.
