FORD Indigo Concept

Although originally not my theme concept, I was lucky enough to join the Indigo team toward the tail end of the program having just been recruited by Ford from GM. I contributed several components and details to this really fun project which like so many other concept vehicles that never make production...

FORD Indigo Concept

The Indigo concept was created in 1996 as an auto show circuit item. Ford returned deposit checks from enthusiasts wishing for a production version! 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 be modified slightly to allow for a two passenger layout.

FORD Indigo Concept

With the showcar was complete, I couldn't help but to fit test the car.The ingress & egress was farther than any Ferrari, and more like an IMSA race car with a journey required over a giant sill to get to the seats. A female in a dress would simply be out of the question unless she were air lifted into the cabin!

FORD Indigo Concept

FORD Indigo Concept

The working Indigo had a 6.0L V12 48 valve DOHC 435 hp (324 kW) at 6100 rpm engine which used the parts and specifications from Ford's Duratec V6 engine found in the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable.This engine would later go on to power many cars by Aston Martin.

FORD Indigo Concept

This view of the car reveals the car's super-aggressive wedge shape and all black underbelly. With Plymouth doing the Prowler hot rod, the Indigo surely would have become a collectible and might have even had a little race series built around it, however Jaq Nasser didn't see a place for it in the Ford portfolio.

FORD Indigo Concept

One of my Art Center Alumni: Chelsea Lau, designed the interior. Chelsea and I would later work together on the Mercury MC4 concept.

FORD Indigo Concept

This mock up of Indigo has some ball point markings on it that we were contemplating details needed to finish the concept. The car changed very little from this version to the final design.