Ford Maya

The Ford Maya was a pragmatic prototype designed by Italdesign Giugiaro, intended to facilitate limited production while keeping industrial investments low. Introduced in 1984 for the American market, the Maya featured a sharply wedged design reminiscent of the De Tomaso Mangusta, Maserati Boomerang, and Porsche Tapiro, yet refined with smoother lines for improved aerodynamics, achieving a 0.28 drag coefficient. Italdesign submitted the Maya as a contender for Ford’s GN34 program, which aimed to develop a high-performance mid-engine sports car. To further evaluate the concept, two additional prototypes were developed: the Maya II ES (Evoluzione Stile), featuring minor styling revisions and a red paint scheme per Ford’s request for comparison with other proposals, and the Maya II EM (Evoluzione Marciante), a fully functional version equipped with a Ford USA experimental engine. This 3.0-liter, 60° V6 featured four valves per cylinder and produced 250 horsepower, highlighting Ford’s commitment to advanced engineering. Designed with practicality in mind, the Ford Maya incorporated a soft-nose plastic bumper filled with polyurethane resins for enhanced safety. Inside, it featured an innovative control layout, with a steering wheel integrating a central disc housing essential functions, a concept reminiscent of the Medusa. Despite Italdesign’s efforts, Ford ultimately selected Ghia’s proposal for the GN34 project. However, the Ford Maya and its evolutions remain significant as a demonstration of Italdesign’s ingenuity, blending cutting-edge design, aerodynamics, and experimental technology in a mid-1980s sports car concept.