Pininfarina Starts up Ford

ONE of the most significant cars for Ford at the recent Frankfurt motor show was not even on its own stand - it was across the hall with the renowned Italian design group Pininfarina.

And this is it: the first showing of what could evolve into the Cougar coupe replacement, dubbed the Start.

Based on the next generation Focus platform, the Start is a front-engined 2+2 coupe with a stunning, compact wedge shape designed to evoke an impression of a mid-engined, two-seater sports car.

Besides the head-turning appearance, there are a number of interesting aspects to the Start including a retractable steel roof - fast becoming de rigueur on European two-doors - and a 2.0-litre version of the Duratec engine with a Garrett turbo bolted on.

Peak power is claimed to be no less than 300kW, channelled to the tarmac via all four wheels.

The car is tipped to roll off the production line in both AWD and front-wheel drive versions late in 2003, not 12 months after the Blue Oval's other Pininfarina-penned object of desire, StreetKa, and the new generation Focus also hit the streets in Europe.

START v COUGAR Length (mm): 4200 4699
Width (mm): 1830 1780
Height (mm): 1300 1325
Wheelbase (mm): 2515 2704
Front track (mm): 1600 1506
Rear track (mm): 1585 1491
Tyres: 245/35 R19 215/50 R16