We’ve already seen pictures of the Ford Ka, but now it’s been officially unveiled at the Paris motor show.
The new city car clearly draws on the visual DNA of the seminal original version, which was introduced as long ago as 1996, but the new car also looks considerably more modern. Ford claims to have paid particular attention to making the car’s ‘face’ as distinctive as possible.
Underneath the Ka shares its underpinnings with the Fiat 500, and will be built alongside its Italian cousin. Ford has worked hard to distinguish the Ka from the 500, and despite similar external dimensions there’s little visible similarity behind the two cars.
The new Ka’s cabin is particularly impressive, being finished to a high standard and with some neat design touches. Features aimed at younger buyers, like iPod connectivity, will be standard across the range.
For now, there are no plans to launch a hot version, according to chief programme engineer Matthias Tonn. “We'd like to do it' he said 'but at the moment the focus is on green technologies in small cars rather than making sporty ones.”
Ford could utilise the Fiat 500's turbocharged 1.4-litre engine but there isn't a business or environmental case for it, Tonn told Autocar.
When it goes on sale early next year we’re expecting the Ka to come with 1.2 and 1.4-litre petrol engines and the option of a low-CO2 diesel. It’s also possible that it will eventually get the ultra-efficient two-cylinder 900cc turbo petrol engine that Fiat is developing.
We’re anticipating that prices will start at about £7500.
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Re: Paris show: Ford Ka
Ford will effectively purchase finished KA's from Fiat. The contractual issues around the whole joint venture will be massive, in much the same way as it was with VW and Ford when they produced the Sharnalaxyambra.
I don't know for a fact but it is likely the deal only includes certain engines, and if they wish to go for a hot version then there will either be some sort of considerable price hike or the contract will state that only Fiat can have the hot donkeys.
As this is car is predominantly engineered by Fiat, then Ford putting their own engine in to the KA would be a bit of an engineering and financial nightmare.
Re: Paris show: Ford Ka
It depends if you want to count the Land Rover Defender or not
Re: Paris show: Ford Ka
Why no case for a hot Ka when Fiat/Abarth can make a case for a hot and hotter 500? Is it just that Ford makes more money out of its lardier hot hatches? A hot Ka would make perfect sense to my missus, who currently plans to replace her 207 CC with an Abarth 500.