P.M. BRIEFING : Mercury Capri Due in Summer

Ford Motor Co. said today its long-awaited Mercury Capri roadster will go on sale this summer with a base price of $12,588, with the peppier XR2 version to start at $15,522, both excluding a $355 destination fee.

The four-seater roadster, built at Ford’s Broadmeadows plant near Melbourne, Australia, is viewed as a prime competitor for Mazda’s Miata, a two-seater roadster that sells for between $13,800 and $17,000, excluding dealer premiums as high as $2,500 because of the car’s strong demand.