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This 1992 Ford Focus Ghia Convertible Concept had the 2.0-Liter 4-wheel drive Cosworth Turbo, and design details as radical they can be for the 90s
The progressive one-off Ford Focus Convertible was designed by Taru Lahti at the Italian design studio owned by Ford, Ghia. One look at it, and you know it was designed to be an art piece rather than a nimble little roadster. And it’ll be a shame as it is based on the Escort Cosworth platform, a byword for performance and driving excellence. Anyway, the not-so-subtle design features right from its minimalist head and tail lamps, to the nostril air intakes on the bonnet, to the absolutely bonkers interior design define it as an art piece than a mass market idea. It exudes the stark presence of TVR and Weissman handcrafting in it, which means basically artisans hammering them panels into shape. Yes, we love it as a Ford’s distant peek into the future. Maybe this is why the Focus Concept bid for $1 million at Christie’s Auction in 2002.
Related: 5 Coolest Ford Concepts (And 5 Chevy Concepts That Blow Them Out Of The Water)
A concept vehicle is a showcase of what direction a brand wants to take for its future models. The front canard fins would act as aerodynamic aids while making this little sports car very rakish. These are also the only sharp bits on what is mostly a curvy design. The nostrils are the air intakes for the engine and intercooler, and their asymmetrical sizing adds to their unique appearance. Asymmetrical design elements are cool, and that must be universally accepted, please. The windshield is a needlessly complex arrangement as well. Look at it from the top, and you understand how beautifully it gels with the passenger compartment.
Also, that rising curve near the headrests also serves as rollover protection for the passengers. The side protection rail running from the front door all the way to the tail lamps might not be for everybody though. But the tail lamps definitely are. They’re just like somebody sprinkled random LEDs, fantastic! They just don’t look enough to function properly. It’s a design study, nobody cares. All the curves end in that single exhaust outlet, which considering it’s a Cosworth engine is definitely going to be melodious. Related: 15 Photos Of Incredible Concept Cars From The 2000s
Interior of the 1992 Ford Focus Ghia Concept mirrors more asymmetry than the nose. The steering wheel spokes are asymmetrical, the main dials are different diameters, the cockpit cossets the driver, and the floor is carved out of wood. Made out of two hand-bent steel rods, the two steering rods support a fat wood steering wheel (asymmetrically one at 4 o’clock and the other at 8 o’clock). Dashboard design is so seamless with the door that it almost looks like it doesn’t have a door. They’ve left the steering column exposed, which just might look like they forgot to cover it considering it’s a futuristic design.
The instrument cluster also sits on this column though making it a retro design feature. The gear lever is a piece of hand-sculpted beauty carved out of a piece of wood that feels like it's growing out of the central console. The outside rearview mirrors too sit on a shaped steel branch with a motor cabling exposed.
But we bet even Ford engineers would have deemed these design cues from Ghia as too complex for mass production. Not to mention the exclusive use of materials and shapes would have made it impassably expensive to produce.
Under all that hand-carved beauty is a very capable 2.0-Liter 227 hp 221 lb-ft Cosworth engine from an Escort RS, go mention this to your dad and watch him smile. This engine is like the older generation’s Zippo -hearty, dependable, and always exciting to fire up. The Ford Focus Ghia Concept weighs in at 2,100 pounds, which is fairly light considering it is made of carved wood and hand-beaten steel. It also has wider section rear tires, 225/45-R18 up front while 255/40-R18 at the rear. Ghia was not content, so they asked for a custom-cut tread pattern for the concept. Weirdly the 18-inch wheels are alloys, but have these shiny plastic covers on them. Perhaps alloy cutting technology has come a long way now. It has a removable hardtop, but its design also allowed the addition of a soft top setup.
Without a shadow of a doubt, Ford Focus Ghia Concept is a fabulous showcase in 1992, a time when the first generation Crown Victoria had come out. This was in stark contrast to the ugly Ford Ghia Vivace Concept in 1996 which was designed to test aluminum space frame in car design. Okay, the latter was a technical study, but they could make it look nice, jeez. This is why concept design is so important. Onlookers are convinced that these futuristic concepts will carry over most of the design language in the company’s line-up. Ford Ghia is one of the best there is, and will always intrigue us petrol heads with its novel ideas.
Sarcastic, cynical and sometimes just comical, Abhijeet writes to titillate the reader's curiosity. He wants to make sure any vehicle you own swings between everyday practicality and dogmatic individualism. We're certain his pragmatism and humour will keep you engaged and informed about the past, present and future of the magnificent words of automobiles.