Rendered Speculation: Ford's new Ka is coming
There are many vehicles manufactured by Ford that never see the United States market, and the subcompact Ka is one of those offerings. It can be found roaming the streets of Europe and Latin America (totally different versions that happen to share the same name, we're told), and it's actually quite popular in the United Kingdom where the second generation model is eagerly awaited.The updated Ka will officially debut in September at the Paris Motor Show, but Auto Express has managed to snag an early look for itself and produced some renderings based on what was seen. The new body lines trade smooth panels for slight bulges in the fenders, while the head and tail amps also protrude from the vehicle. The front fascia even features a wide mouth opening, further increasing the model's new dynamic personality. Despite the exterior changes, the design still maintains wheel placement at the extreme edges of all four corners. This ensures continuance of the tight cornering capabilities that made the previous model so popular. The new Ka will be built on the same platform as height-endowed automotive journo Jeremy Clarkson's favorite vehicle, the Fiat Panda, and share engines with the Fiat. It's not planned for sale in the U.S., but at least its larger siblings, the Fiesta and next-gen Euro Focus, are.
[Source: Auto Express]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Koko 1:31PM (2/14/2008)
I just don't get it...send them here.
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TriShield 1:34PM (2/14/2008)
If this came to the US we wouldn't want it.
http://www.saturn.com/astra
Like the Saturn Astra GM is bringing over straight from Europe we'd beg for it and when it finally got here we'd ignore it or complain that it has no cupholders.
Ford is smart, they know all Americans care about is how dirt cheap they can get a car like this and how many Big Gulps it will hold at once. It's better to warm up the leftovers for America and not lose money selling what the rest of the world prefers here.
Like our government we get the cars we deserve.
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Xcountryflyer 1:47PM (2/14/2008)
Europe gets the Ka and all we get is Ford's KaKa.
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Mercury Mountaineer 06 1:54PM (2/14/2008)
We really need this car here!
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Mbuku Kanyau Mbithuka 1:56PM (2/14/2008)
I saw this on fomoconews.com yestaday. I told Autoblog about it. Igor a poster there is getting more info.
Anyways, I do not think its vervefied enough. It would look much better if it was more verve than Renault Clio
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Robert 2:18PM (2/14/2008)
The Ka will be an inch or so shy of 140 inches long. For comparison, other than the SMART, that is 10 inches shorter than anything else offered here. The Ka is tiny. It would never sell enough to justify the costs of just updating the bumper to meet U.S. crash standards.
The Verve/Fiesta coming next year will more than meet our demands, and it seems that there is great interest in bringing the 3-door that will be 10 inches longer and more to U.S. tastes in every aspect.
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Adam 11:17PM (2/14/2008)
"It can be found roaming the streets of Europe and Latin America (totally different versions that happen to share the same name, we're told..."
Looks the same to me:
Mexico:
http://www.ford.com.mx/vehicles/gallery/gallery.asp?idModel=KA1§ion=EXT
UK:
http://www.ford.co.uk/safari/ka/-/ka_gallery/
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Ricardo Monteiro 2:35PM (2/14/2008)
The 2nd generation Ka is a reality here in Brazil, just check Ford's Brazilian website @ http://www.ford.com.br
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justin 2:51PM (2/14/2008)
the problem with the astra is the horrible gas mileage.
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Bancho 2:58PM (2/14/2008)
"Like our government we get the cars we deserve."
You're probably right but that doesn't mean I'm happy about it. I was hoping that in the wake of higher fuel prices, that people would reconsider what qualities are most important to them in a vehicle. I guess they still want 300+ HP, 3 row seating, 20 "big gulp" sized cupholders and 4 wheel drive (necessary or not).
Maybe when fuel costs hit $4 or $5. I'm not getting my hopes up though.
FWIW, the Astra looks like a pretty sharp car though I've yet to see one in person.
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500 11:37PM (2/14/2008)
Why do you care what other people buy? Buy what you want. There are plenty of tiny little crapboxes available.
Bancho 2:18PM (2/15/2008)
I care because it *does* affect what I get to drive. You're right, there are "crap boxes" available and I'm not asking for a crap box. I'd like a decently set up small car with a *nice* interior and is fun to drive.
Without more people demanding that, there will not be a great influx of interesting small cars and I'll be forced to select from the selection of "crap boxes" you say are so readily available.
Thanks.
TriShield 2:59PM (2/14/2008)
The smart car Mercedes is selling here isn't that much more miserlythan the Astra considering how much space you give up. The C1 Focus Autoblog always laments we aren't getting uses the same amount of fuel as well.
Like I said, Ford is smart for not selling these cars here. Everyone would complain once they got here and nobody would buy them.
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Daniel 2:59PM (2/14/2008)
Did I aread that right? 75 hp Diesel? That should get about 80 mpg!
If that is the case then - Yes - bring it to the U. S. asap.
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psarhjinian 12:40PM (3/24/2008)
A 75hp diesel will also do 0-60 in about 15-20 seconds. Personally, I'm ok with that, as are all the other Canadians that bought CDI smarts over the last few years.
Considering that even Smart is dumping the CDI powerplant in favour of a faster gas engine for it's US debut, I seriously doubt Ford would bring the Ka, let alone diesel, here.
It just won't play in a land where people want, nay demand, sub-six-second Toyota Camrys.
tio 10:36AM (2/16/2008)
I personally would love a car that held 4 adults and got that kind of mpg. 11-12 second 0-60 is fine for me. Where i live it takes people 30 seconds to get to 60 and their driving cars that can get there in 8 seconds. I see there is a market for this car but I'm afraid it woundnt have the rear leg room I need. I would have to pass. Cars with the interior size of the Fit and Versa are about as small as I can use. Even some larger cars like the Cobalt are usless to me, there is more room in a versa than a 4 door Cobalt.
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Pedro 4:33PM (2/14/2008)
Ricardo,
O novo Ka brasileiro é baseado na plataforma antiga. O novo Ka europeu partilhará a plataforma com o Fiat 500.
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Ricardo,
The new Brazilian Ka is based on the old platform. The new European Ka will share its platform with the Fiat 500.
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C.W. 4:57PM (2/14/2008)
this vehicle cannot be sold here because it does not meet US crash test requirements.
i feel like this is explained every time Ka is mentioned, but people just dont seem to get it.
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Daniel 5:14PM (2/14/2008)
Well said!
You have a gift of using few words to get to the heart of the matter!
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justin 6:18PM (2/14/2008)
"The smart car Mercedes is selling here isn't that much more miserly than the Astra considering how much space you give up."
You are correct, both cars are terrible considering the size. If the Smart car got 60mpg I would take a look, but right now it does no better then a well drive Civic or Corolla. Allow me to also complain about the Mini Cooper, a great little car that gets big car MPG.
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