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What is it?

This is the all-new Ford Ka. It replaces the venerable original Ka, which has been in production since 1996.

The new Ford Ka is a joint venture with Fiat. It’s based on the Fiat 500/Panda platform, but has a Ford-designed body and Ford-tuned mechanicals.

>> See 53 pictures of the new Ford Ka

Two engines are available...Read the full article

Unfortunately I don't see this car having the enduring charm of the original and I would be surprised to see its life cycle last as long.

Where the old model was original, this one is just a little more generic.  Shame really, but I understand that Ford needed to build it in a joint venture to make it economically viable.

I agree Teg, it looks like a small Fiesta with a Peugeot grille. The original Ka looked like no other Ford and was cute, if a little like the toy from a Mcdonalds happy meal.

Same as the new Twingo, the successor has lost the cuteness of the original.

It will still sell like mad though. 

Looks apart, which will grow on one with time, this car deserves to sell by the bucketload.

940kg? If the road tests of all recent fords are anything to go by this car will really tip the scales at around 1000kg, which is a bit heavy for my liking. I know it'll be safer, more refined, more spacious etc, but I loved the chuckability of the old one and that might be lost. An inevitable result of platform sharing I suppose.

Still got to be a great first car though and I bet it'll still be fun at very sensible speeds. The styling isn't great, but it's conservatively handsome and shouldn't put anyone off. It would have been a very tall order to come up with another design that was distinctive, attractive and still looked fresh after 13 years; I think they were right to play it safe. Shame they won't make a sporty one though, I think there'd be a market for one of these with the engine from a 500 arbath.

Shame it's so tall and narrow - it looks unsettlingly like a Daewoo Matiz from behind. Ford are discovering funky colours though, aren't they?

 Ah, to hell with the Ka.

I wouldn't mind giving that Bond Bird one.

Ford have launched some great looking vehicles this year , and according to the press they drive as well as they look. But what has happened to their performance. the launch engines in both Fiesta and Ka are very dull. I don't need anything that burns tarmac, but to get to 60 in around 10 seconds is not asking for too much, especially in the Fiesta

Christ they have messed the styling up on this one.  There is too much body above the front and rear wheels making the wheels look tiny like shopping trolley wheels.  It's not a pretty car and i wouldn't buy one, oh and yes i used to own a new Ford Ka Collection.

Ive just driven it, and it's a lot of fun. Wait 'til you see it in the flesh too, it looks really funky (especially in pearlescent white!). Inside looks more modern and spacious than the Fiat 500.

Looks like a squashed Fiesta......................which, I supposes it is.