The Avant Garde was a Ford concept car built as an advanced design aerodynamic research vehicle, designed by Ghia as a 2+2 seat coupe with three doors based on the mechanical underpinnings of the Ford Escort XR3.
Provisional wind tunnel testing indicated a drag coefficient of nearly 0.30, achieved through a fully enclosed underbody, an aerodynamically shaped front end with a low apron, smooth flanks with fully covered rear wheels, flush-mounted windows, and a windscreen raked at 67 degrees. The headlights were hidden beneath flaps, and the air intakes for the engine, positioned below the headlights, and for cabin ventilation, positioned ahead of the windscreen, were integrated into the bodywork to minimize drag. The car featured large glass areas, though the door windows did not retract. The rear window was designed as a hatch to ease access to the luggage compartment, which could be enlarged by folding down the rear seat backrest, as on the standard Escort.
The interior received considerable attention, with a steering wheel and instrument panel featuring circular cutouts echoing the design of Escort XR3 wheels, glare-shielded electronic displays, and controls positioned for operation without releasing the steering wheel. The handbrake lever was integrated into the center console, and the cabin was trimmed in suede, with door-mounted storage for four matching shoulder-carried luggage pieces.
The car used a 1597cc four-cylinder engine from the Escort XR3 producing 96 PS at 6000 rpm and 132 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm, with a top speed of approximately 190 km/h. It measured 395 cm long, 162 cm wide, 126 cm tall, with a wheelbase of 239.5 cm.
