A weird looking Ford Ghia Focus concept car of 1990s
Unique ONES In this world nothing is impossible, although before that no one ever thought before. This really happened to a unique vehicle that was said to be a beautiful work of art, and who would have thought that on its way, an automotive manufacturer used its name as the company's production car name.
The Ford Ghia Focus Concept is a weird-looking bio-design styled two-seater sports car concept designed by Taru Lahti together with Camilo Pardo back in 1992. (Picture from: Motor1)
Indeed, this is related to the name of Focus, which is used by the Ford Motor Company, one of American' big three automotive giants for one of its compact car models which began production in 1998 until now. Well, who would have thought, it began from emergence a weird-looking bio-design styled two-seater roadster concept car named the Ford Ghia Focus that six years earlier.
The Ford Ghia Focus Concept car debuted at the 1992 Turin Motor Show, inspired by small sea vessels and the 1950s, but also by Hans Rudolf Giger's movie titled ALIEN.. (Picture from: Motor1)
Maybe you will ask, what car is it and who made it? It was one-off blue oval company's concept car debuted at the 1992 Turin Motor Show, but had nothing to do with later compact yet. What is certain, it's bearing the name of Carrozzeria Ghia, the famous Italian coachbuilder.
As quoted of Wikipedia, this Italian famous coachbuilder based in Turin no longer exists, had been acquired by Ford Motor Company since 1970 and currently focused on the European market through Ford's subsidiary in the region. Perhaps because its unique and unusual design is reminiscent of the
Ghia's style, so Ford picked this model to pay tribute for those Italian
coachbuilder.
As You see from the front, the Ford Ghia Focus Concept has a unique appearance resembled to a whale with duck legs, weird isn't? (Picture from: Motor1)
This one-off Ford Ghia Focus concept car was originated from a 1:10 scale model created by a Finnish automotive designer named Taru Lahti together with Camilo Pardo (later known as Chief Designer of the Ford GT). The unique concept car bodywork designed by Taru Lahti is said not only to be inspired by small sea vessels and the 1950s, but also by Hans Rudolf Giger's movie titled ALIEN.
Although the Ford Ghia Focus Concept is built in roadster style, it also has a removable hardtop that is stowed under a hatch on the rear deck and designed to have a folding soft top. (Picture from: Motor1)
Meanwhile from other sources it is also said that Camilo Pardo points to the organic textures, materials and shapes that float, like the amoeba they sometimes resemble, throughout the realization of Ghia Focus as a breakthrough in the car concepts, and in any case this concept car caused quite a stir with its strange shapes.
The Ford Ghia Focus Concept is built on a 100 mm shortened floorpan taken from the Ford Escort RS Cosworth 4WD, and is powered by the Cosworth's 227 horsepower turbocharged and intercooled 16-valve 4-cylinder engine. (Picture from: Motor1)
As You see from the front, the car resembles a whale. Furthermore it's reinforced by the projection and position of its plastic covered headlights and low windshield, while the lower parts of the bumper had the shape of duck legs. Overall, it's like a whale with duck legs, weird isn't?
The Ford Ghia Focus Concept's interior was dominated by wooden touches on the floor, the shift lever and the steering wheel. (Picture from: Motor1)
Then at rear was made wavy and complemented by a shiny tank cap. Indeed, this Ghia Focus was quite retro which not resemble any car model in the slightest, with its type designation inscription was in the rear under a transparent cover above the central exhaust tip. It was all topped off with its unique taillights likened air bubbles in the water.
The Ford Ghia Focus Concept has a such kind of steel "ropes"extending from the door to the rear was not only a stylistic element, it also had a protective function to the body resisted knocks from other cars, for example in parking lots. (Picture from: Motor1)
The Ghia Focus is built on a 100 mm shortened floorpan of the Ford Escort RS Cosworth 4WD, and is powered by the Cosworth's 227 horsepower turbocharged and intercooled 16-valve 4-cylinder engine. And its body is made of carbon fiber composite, as the result the car has curb weight of 2,100 lbs (958 kg). Driven by those such engine power, so the car can be running up to a top speed of 240 kph and took only 5 seconds to reach 100 kph from rest..
The Ford Ghia Focus Concept's rear was made wavy and complemented by a shiny tank cap. (Picture from: Motor1)
The Ford one-off concept car sits on 18" split alloy rims behind full plastic wheel covers mounting 225/45 front and 255/40ZR-18 rear Goodyear tires with a custom cut tread pattern that complements the Ghia Focus's design. While this Ford Ghia Focus is built in roadster style, it also has a removable hardtop that is stowed under a hatch on the rear deck. Besides, this concept car is also designed to have a folding soft top.
The Ford Ghia Focus Concept's body is made of carbon fiber composite, as the result the car has curb weight of 2,100 lbs (958 kg. (Picture from: Motor1)
No less exciting, its cockpit was dominated by wooden touches on the floor, the shift lever and the steering wheel. The combination with steel, from which the asymmetric "rudder" spokes and the floating center console were needed, was successful. The sheet metal was carved and polished by hand... The console was followed by a second, identical part, transitioning into the driver's armrest. Genuine cowhide covered the sports seats and door panels. The analog instruments really looked like they came from old ships or submarines, the same could be said about the trio of round pedals.
Immediately after the construction was completed, the concept car was exhibited at the 1992 Turino Motor Show. During the automotive exhibition, the Ghia Focus received a lot of attention from the automotive world enthusiasts. No less compliments from well-known Italian automotive designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro who said, "It's not a car, it's a work of art."
Indeed, this Ford Ghia Focus was quite retro with its type designation inscription was in the rear under a transparent cover above the central exhaust tip. It was all topped off with its unique taillights likened air bubbles in the water. (Picture from: Motor1)
Even retired Ford design chief, J. Mays likened it to a sculpture, and paid special attention to steel "ropes"extending from the door to the rear was not only a stylistic element, it also had a protective function, the body with compact external dimensions of 4135 x 1793 x 1224 mm resisted knocks from others in these places, for example in parking lots. The high sides were intended to allow the crew to survive a capsize.
The flamboyant show car had no chance of serial production, it would have been too expensive... Finally the Ford Ghia Focus's presence on public's eyes should be ended, after it managed to be sold in an auction event by the Blue Oval company on June 16, 2002 to an unknown buyer over the phone, but the money went to charity along with the 51 units of another company's concept cars.
At the time, this particular concept car changed hands for the price of $1,107,500 (approx Rp. 9.9 billion for 2002's exchange rates) that's an amazing numbers, and the equivalent to nearly four years of sales of the same name Ford's production cars.. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | FORD GHIA FOCUS | MOTOR1 | FORMULAPASSION.IT | AUTO.CZ | 421CHEVAUX ]
Indeed, this is related to the name of Focus, which is used by the Ford Motor Company, one of American' big three automotive giants for one of its compact car models which began production in 1998 until now. Well, who would have thought, it began from emergence a weird-looking bio-design styled two-seater roadster concept car named the Ford Ghia Focus that six years earlier. 
Maybe you will ask, what car is it and who made it? It was one-off blue oval company's concept car debuted at the 1992 Turin Motor Show, but had nothing to do with later compact yet. What is certain, it's bearing the name of Carrozzeria Ghia, the famous Italian coachbuilder. 
The flamboyant show car had no chance of serial production, it would have been too expensive... Finally the Ford Ghia Focus's presence on public's eyes should be ended, after it managed to be sold in an auction event by the Blue Oval company on June 16, 2002 to an unknown buyer over the phone, but the money went to charity along with the 51 units of another company's concept cars.
