Ford Indigo
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The Ford Indigo is a concept car developed by Ford for the 1996 auto show circuit. Only two were ever built, only one of which was actually functional. It took Ford only six months from the original computer designs to the finished show car. The functional concept is still owned by Ford. The non-functioning show car was auctioned.
The Indigo was created to showcase Ford's Indy car technologies, including new materials and construction techniques as well as powertrain and aerodynamics. The monocoque chassis was developed in conjunction with Reynard Motorsport as a single piece tub made of a carbon fiber composite material, to which the suspension is directly attached. The suspension was a direct copy, in design and materials to Reynard's various Indy cars, only having to modified slightly to allow for a two passenger layout.
The working Indigo had a 6.0L V12 435 hp engine which used the parts and specifications from Ford's Duratec V6 engine found in the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable. The engine has no relation to the V12 used in the Ford GT90 concept a year earlier, despite both being a 6.0L V12. This engine would later go on to power many cars by Aston Martin. The engine was bolted directly to the chassis, and is a load bearing member for some suspension components, as is found with most Indy cars. The transaxle is a 6 speed unit with a manual clutch, and steering wheel mounted push button gear shifting, developed by Reynard for its Indy cars. Ford claimed that the engine was so efficient that it should be capable of 28mpg on the highway.[1]
Scissor style doors, HID lighting, deep leather bucket seats, a premium stereo, and a four point seatbelt system make the car more on-road friendly.
The car was featured in the PC/PlayStation game Need for Speed II as the hidden 9th car, in Ford Racing 2, Ford Racing 3 and also in the Xbox 360 game Project Gotham Racing 3 as the "Ford Super Car Concept".
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| Ford concept cars | |
| Cars: | Focus MA | Forty-Nine | GT90 | Gyron | Indigo | Interceptor | Iosis | Mustang I | Reflex | Shelby Cobra Concept | Shelby GR-1 | TH!NK | Nucleon | Vega |
| Minivans/SUVs: | Airstream | Bronco | EX | Fairlane Concept | Model U | SAV | SYNUS |
| Pickup trucks: | Explorer Sport Trac Concept | F-250 Super Chief |
