The Ford Capri Laser Page

Rod Mansfield’s team created the legendary Sierra Cosworth, Capris Injection and ‘80s RS Escorts. I'm talking to him on Tuesday. He’s writing a piece for my new second book about what it was like to engineer the RS Capris and Capri Injection. What questions have you got for him – let me know! And if I know the answer from previous discussions I'll try answering here.

When you did the 2.8i, I am guessing there was a fairly hard limit on the budget and what you were allowed to put into the car for the price it was going to be sold at, but:
What would be the next thing you would have added to the original 1981 2.8i if you had been allowed?
Would it have been the 5 speed box?
Or the LSD (or was that not on the cards until a few years later?)
Or better brakes (within the limits of the hub design and wheel sizes).

Be interested to know what else might have been on the cards given more budget or time, or freedom.

Noel wrote:When you did the 2.8i, I am guessing there was a fairly hard limit on the budget and what you were allowed to put into the car for the price it was going to be sold at, but:
What would be the next thing you would have added to the original 1981 2.8i if you had been allowed?
Would it have been the 5 speed box?
Or the LSD (or was that not on the cards until a few years later?)
Or better brakes (within the limits of the hub design and wheel sizes).

Be interested to know what else might have been on the cards given more budget or time, or freedom.

To give a quick reply since we've discussed it over the years... plus it's all there in excruciating detail in my book.
https://www.stevesaxty.com/read-free-samples-capri

- 5 speed box was coming so it went in ASAP
- LSD never in the early product papers - too expensive
- Yes, he wished for better brakes but there was a packaging issue around tiny 13" wheels and rear discs unviable considering initial projections of just 500 units.

What else - here's what was in the original product proposal in 1980 for the project codenamed 2.8 FI Supersport
- Series X front spoiler
- RS four-spoke wheels
- an option of "Hot Appearance" body kit (pic will be in my next book later this year) with C-pillar decal and new centre console