Three exciting new Ford concept cars have been developed by Ghia Operations of Turin, Italy -- Ford Motor Company's International Design "think-tank. "

They are the Cockpit, an innovative three-wheeled city car with seating for two, and the A.C. Ghia and Avant Garde, both futuristic approaches to sleek, sporty vehicles,

"Although there are no plans to manufacture these specific vehicles, they do provide our designers with an opportunity to research and develop a wide range of concepts and features which could be adapted for more conventional volume-production vehicles," Filippo Sapino, managing director of Ghia Operations, said, The Cockpit, a possible urban commuter car of the future, offers the dual advantages of outstanding projected fuel economy linked with optimum cruising speed to provide acceptable inter-city highway transportation in a period of severe energy crisis.

In stop-start urban driving, the Cockpit -- which weighs only 770 pounds --is projected to get better than 75 miles per gallon from its motorcycle-like engine. Its body lines were designed to take full advantage of the latest airflow-management techniques.

- The tiny car has a triangular chassis which, with additional side support bars, carries all mechanical components. The transverse-spring front suspension is controlled by hydraulic shock absorbers, while the rear-mounted powerplant and driving wheel are set at the apex of the chassis and sprung by two integral coil-spring shock absorber units.

Access to the Cockpit's tandem seating position is via a full-weather-sealed, framed canopy, which is front-hinged and lift-assisted by hydraulic struts, enabling the driver to make optimum use of confined space. The car's windshield is made of laminated glass while the whole canopy and rear window are of tinted reinforced plastic.    

The A.C. Ghia, designed as a luxury, mid-engined, two-seater sports car, is constructed on a British sports car chassis with a transverse-mounted three-liter V-6 engine. This is a further development of the Action -- a 1978 mid-engined European Ford racing sports prototype.

The A.C. Ghia’s body represents a totally new, wedge-shaped, all-steel concept. It is a full mechanical prototype and operational, although detailed road tests of the car have not been completed.

From a low front end, the car's lines flow smoothly back to permanent rear spoiler and offer excellent visibility for this type of vehicle. Wide ducts built into the rear quarter panels and side pillars assist rear brake and engine cooling. An insulated luggage area is located beneath the rear airfoil and behind the engine.

As with the original Action design, the A.C. Ghia has two sets of headlamps -- one recessed into the front-end spoiler and the other behind rotating doors in the front fenders.

The advanced-design Avant Garde -- based on the 1981 Car-of-the-Year award-winning European Ford Escort -- is a development of aerodynamic design packaged in a sleek 2-plus-2 sports coupe, and incorporates a number of exterior and interior design innovations.    

Wind-tunnel research modified the initial Avant Garde body design to a drag co-efficient that could reach .30, Mr. Sapino said.

The car's bumper and spoiler are integral units. From the low front end with its small frontal area, the bodywork flows smoothly to the shallow, raked windshield. Twin cooling ducts for the front-wheel-drive engine are. positioned between the front bumper and hood, while the headlamps and front direction indicators are recessed behind rotating doors to improve airflow.

Visibility is excellent, with large areas of tinted glass built into the doors, rear sent area and roof. The rear window also allows access to the luggage area, which, as with production Escorts, can be increased by folding down the rear seat.

The three prototype vehicles made their debut at the 1981 Geneva (Switzerland) International Motor Show in March, They are scheduled for appearances at other important European auto shows later in the year.

Engine & performance:

Position: mid-engined

Type: Piaggio, 1-cylinder

Capacity: 200 cc

Power: 12 hp

Dimensions:

Length: 3280 mm

Width: 1430 mm

Wheelbase: 2210 mm

Weight: 350 kg