The Ghia Saguaro is a concept vehicle developed for Ford Motor Company by Ghia, the design and prototype studio based in Turin, Italy, and shown to the public at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1988. It was conceived as a multipurpose off-road utility vehicle combining rugged capability with a high level of comfort, described by Ford as a vehicle intended to be as much a luxury cruiser as a go-anywhere machine. Filippo Sapino, managing director of Ghia S.p.A., said the design study was undertaken to prove that not all utility vehicles have to look alike, and that the Saguaro would look at home on the Champs-Elysees as much as on off-road trails.
The Saguaro was a five-door design, 20 cm shorter, 5 cm narrower and 1 cm taller than the Ford Sierra Turnier estate, with overall dimensions given as 432 cm long, 170 cm wide and 137 cm high. Seating was arranged for five adults and two children in a two-three-two layout, with both rows of rear seats folding flat to create a cargo area comparable to an intermediate-size station wagon. Permanent four-wheel drive, raised ground clearance and short overhangs gave it a notable degree of off-road ability, and Ford's range of technical components allowed for several possible 4x4 drivetrain configurations, though specific mechanical details were not disclosed. The car was designed around a mid-mounted, transversely positioned engine.
Aerodynamic detailing included flush door glass, flush exterior door handles and a steeply raked windshield that flowed into an arched roofline, contributing to a drag coefficient of approximately 0.29. Tires measured 631 mm (24.8 inches) in outside diameter, mounted on 19.4-inch wheels. Air intakes and auxiliary lights were integrated into a heavily styled bumper, while additional small intakes beside the main headlights were designed to keep engine cooling protected from dust and water during off-road use. The rear liftgate extended down into the bumper and up into the roof for easier loading, and the tailgate area used a translucent plastic panel that concealed the taillights.
Inside, the cabin used leather and durable fabric upholstery color-keyed to the car's pearlescent turquoise exterior paint, with a tall center console dividing driver and passenger in a sportscar-like arrangement, integrating the gear lever and handbrake, alongside a digital instrument display. As a concept vehicle, the Saguaro was not put into production.
