The ultimate italian coachbuilder site
The ultimate italian coachbuilder site
The Ford GN34 Sierra Italdesign proposal.
The Ford GN34 Sierra Italdesign proposal was a technical evolution built upon the foundation of the Ford Sierra platform, developed as part of the GN34 project. While Giugiaro was excluded from the design competition, Ford continued to rely on Italdesign for its technical expertise. Italdesign produced a running prototype of the Maya, which was equipped with the standard 3.0-liter V6 engine from the Ford Taurus. For testing purposes, Italdesign developed a mule version, the Maya II EM (M for “Muletto”), fitted with a more powerful 225-horsepower biturbo V6 engine. The results were highly promising, with performance that matched, if not exceeded, that of the best competitors of the time. It became clear that the transition from prototype to production would only improve the design. At the same time, the Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) team at Ford had commissioned Roush Engineering to build two additional mules for evaluation. One featured the SHO engine, developed by Yamaha and expanded to 3.6 liters, while the other used a classic Ford “Windsor” V8, intended to simulate the future modular V8 in development. Although these technical advancements showcased the potential of the Maya platform, the final GN34 design was ultimately based on the Ford Sierra platform. This version incorporated the technical expertise of the Maya prototypes and included the various engine configurations tested, but in the end, it was Ghia’s design that was selected over the Italdesign proposal for the GN34 project.
It’s true: In the ’80s, Ford aimed to make a sultry-looking supercar with better grip and handling than anything else on the road, including the Ferrari Testarossa and Lamborghini Countach. It would have best-in-class ride quality, easy-to-live-with practicality, and a price tag comparable to a Chevrolet Corvette or Porsche 944. And it came close to reality … before being dropped in favor of an SUV. This is the story of the GN34.
