Mulally: Ford considering Ka for U.S. market
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Ford Ka
Ford has said in the past that it wasn't looking to bring its lovable little Ka subcompact to the United States, but increased demand for fuel efficient transportation has the Dearborn-based automaker rethinking its plans. The Ka is very popular in Europe, where fuel-sipping cars have long been accepted, but the tiny Ka has never been sold here in the States. The new Ka, which was shown off in Paris last week, carries Ford's European Kinetic Design theme that is shared with the larger Fiesta and Focus, but in a much smaller package.
Ford CEO Alan Mulally told a local Detroit radio station this morning that many within Ford Motor Company would like to bring the Ka across the pond, and that executives are reassessing the situation. The new Ka hits European showrooms in early 2009, and even if the Ka does come here, we likely won't see the sub-compact until 2011 at the earliest. With fuel prices in constant flux, we're guessing MPG-conscious customers will make the Ka a safe bet for Ford in the U.S.
Gallery: 2009 Ford Ka
[Source: Detroit News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
TheNoggin 11:35AM (10/06/2008)
Yes bring it but first please totally muck it up by softening the suspension to 'accomodate american tastes'. Also add ugly bumpers, cupholders and widen the seats to accomodate our wide rear ends. Finally, make it available with the largest, least fuel-efficient engine because we LOVE power. Vroom!
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EVan 11:40AM (10/06/2008)
+1 for hilarious.
I was thinking the same thing.
1337 11:40AM (10/06/2008)
Don't forget to include the knobbiest all season tires you can find. Oh, and you can't trust Americans to properly operate a clutch, so make sure the only transmission is a clunky old power sucking 4 speed auto.
Torrent 11:42AM (10/06/2008)
.................or maybe not.
letstakeawalk 12:33PM (10/06/2008)
@ 1337
For us nostalgic economy car drivers, we demand a 3-speed auto; a 4-speed smacks of pretentiousness!
(please don't muck it up, Ford)
why not the LS2LS7? 1:02PM (10/06/2008)
There must be a soft-suspension version already. Trust me, I'm seeing them in Malta, and the roads here are worse than in Michigan. And Greece can't be much different. You'd die if you had a stiff suspension.
Lar 1:16PM (10/06/2008)
+1 The Noggin
And make sure that magazine reviews and the product brochure all state with complete seriousness "A five-speed manual comes standard. A four-speed automatic is optional" and then don't have any stick shift models on actual dealer lots.
Kotse 1:32AM (10/07/2008)
A US Ford Ka...Okay!
1337 11:38AM (10/06/2008)
YES! Bring the Ka! Minicompacts are selling like crazy right now! Detroit, pleeeease bring us a high MPG car.
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Red 11:50AM (10/06/2008)
No, subcompacts are selling like crazy now. This is about the size of a kei car (Japan), which would make it a sub-subcompact. Doubtful this is large enough for the American market. This thing is small.
Mirko 4:14AM (10/07/2008)
@Red
This is about the size of a kei car
It's not. Kei cars are much smaller. The maximum lenth for a keicar is 3339mm - the old Ka is 3620mm long. The maximum width for a keicar is 1475mm, again, old Ka is 1620mm wide.
The maximum engine size for a Kei car is 660 ccm, while the Ka starts aroud 1200 ccm.
So, a Kei car is a sub-sub-subcompact, about one size class smaller than the Ka.
Mirko 4:20AM (10/07/2008)
My point was:
This is Mini sized. The Fiesta is Honda Fit sized.
Kei < MINI < Fit
The Mini is selling like hotcakes in the US, this is the same size but much cheaper.
G-Meister 11:40AM (10/06/2008)
I think its too soon still, for Americans to embrace this thing. But with support already present in Mexico, how much would it cost to "test" market it here?
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1337 11:43AM (10/06/2008)
If Ford "test" markets it and only imports a few hundred of them a month, they'll be going for above sticker on eBay. If Americans are buying the Ford Topaz...er..Focus, they'll snap up the Ka.
Ayatollah Rodriguez 11:40AM (10/06/2008)
Once again, typical over reaction. Just improve Focus, make it competitive with a Civic and improve MPG on all cars by 6-7% within next two years.
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The Luigiian 11:53AM (10/06/2008)
+1
Even after prices hit $10 a gallon, we'll still have semis and pickups on the road. Even though we've got MINIs and Smarts, those are usually low-volume sellers, and niche ones at that.
What I'm saying is, I'm doubtful Ford's Ka could compete against those. It doesn't have the same "cuteness factor". The other two are like the Volkswagen Beetle in that they sell because they're cute and weird, this is just a good little subcompact car.
Landy 1:57PM (10/06/2008)
Again Ayatollah:
You can't get a modern vehicle that weights less from refreshing an 15 year old design again and again. It just does not work. Sometimes you have to start on a white sheet of paper to get it all up to date. What you propose has been done by the once 'Big 3' in all the recent years - and where did it get them???
Believe me, if I say:
There is a quite big difference between selling cars and selling antiques!
That One Person 7:44PM (10/06/2008)
Landy and sometimes you can't get a brand new car to weigh less. Plus, significantly cutting weight can cost money. With the way the Feds want things fortified, the days of a true lightweight compact that is cheap is pretty much over.
Also, you do realize that Focus sales skyrocketed when the 08 was put on sale.
Torrent 11:43AM (10/06/2008)
yes bring that thing over.
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esteva03 11:58AM (10/06/2008)
yes please. thank you. please i want one. since i moved to here to detroit i been telling everyone that i kno that american cars need to just be like their european models. the puma, ka, and fiesta are great cars. and if you can get a focus for 13k any of those cars could be well under 12 or even 11. a ford ka could totally be priced for 11 k and a lot of people would get it. students, old people, singles, couple, anyone that wants to have a car for everyday single no passengers drive. love it want it gotta have it.
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