Rumormill: Could the Fiat-Chrysler deal yield a North American Ford Ka?
The 2009 Ford Ka - Click above for a high-res gallery
It's a long shot, but according to The Detroit Free Press, Chrysler's deal with Fiat could result in Ford offering the cutesy Ka for sale in North America. As you may recall, Ford co-developed the Ka's platform with Fiat (it shares its chassis with the 500), and the Italian automaker builds both cars in Poland. If and when Chrysler and Fiat finish dancing and commit, the Freep reasons that models built on the 500's platform might be built in Chrysler's Toluca, Mexico plant. If so, that could offer Ford the kind of economies-of-scale necessary to sell the thousands of thin-margin Kas to make the venture worthwhile.
If the Ford Fiesta takes off and Ford can keep the Ka's price down – it starts at £7,995 ($12,150 US) in the UK – the case might make itself. Sure, there are a fair number of ifs, mights, and maybes in there, but as a cheap city car for when gas prices doubtlessly skyrocket again, it's certainly worth a thought or two.
Gallery: 2009 Ford Ka
[Source: The Detroit Free Press]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
blue3874 10:09AM (5/11/2009)
How would the sales of the Ka affect Fiesta sales? Won't the Ka need all sorts of American-spec safety tests?
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EXP Jawa 10:32AM (5/11/2009)
If Ford doesn't offer the Fiesta as a 3-door here, than I could see where they could make a case for this as a super value, entry-level model. I was counting on a 3-door Fiesta myself, but if they only offer the 5-door and sedan, than I'd consider something like this.
Bloke 11:00AM (5/11/2009)
The Ka is considerably smaller than the B-segment Fiesta and uses smaller engines; it's an A-segment hatch.
angelov.todor 11:20AM (5/11/2009)
http://www.euroncap.com/tests/ford_ka_2008/341.aspx
Nightcrawler 11:43AM (5/11/2009)
Yes, the Ka is considerably smaller than the Fiesta. In Europe, that makes a difference. Here, the average buyer isn't going to make the distinction though. To American eyes both the Fiesta and Ka are going to look like tiny little cars. They'll both be competing against each other for the relatively small number of small car buyers.
Bloke 11:50AM (5/11/2009)
Well, if you pitch one A-segment car with a 1.0 or 1.2 litre engine against a B-segment hatch with a far more powerful 1.6 or 1.8, and wonder why a) there's a good deal less power, b) there's less leg room, c) there's noticeably less width and d) there's less boot space, you'll soon realise that these cars were designed originally NOT to compete with one another ... whether you lump all cars together which are smaller than the state of Rhode Island or not.
The B-segment has gradually become more defined from the C-segment in the States, with GM, Toyota, Honda, and soon Ford offering examples of both there. Start throwing A-segments into the mix and you'll soon notice the difference.
Smegley 10:13AM (5/11/2009)
Am pretty sure there is already aFord Ka in North America since I've seen them driving around with Mexican license plates. Ford is simply convinced that those of us north of the Rio Grande are uninterested in this.
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dukeisduke 10:20AM (5/11/2009)
The pictures seem kind of odd, as the cars appear to by wearing UK number plates, yet they're left-hand-drive. What's up with that?
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Ian 10:40AM (5/11/2009)
The blue one has a D on it... for Deutschland.
Yaroukh 10:41AM (5/11/2009)
I've seen lots of right-sided interior shots where it was obvious they have been created by mirroring (and finishing) left-sided interior photos (and vice versa)
Bloke 10:57AM (5/11/2009)
The pictures are pre-production prototypes with personalised UK plates registered to Ford. They were used for publicity purposes. In the UK you can register any LHD car as long as it meets EU type approval.
Bloke 10:59AM (5/11/2009)
Ian - the light blue car is wearing regular German plates.
Ian 11:35AM (5/11/2009)
I know... thats why I said it.
Bloke 11:51AM (5/11/2009)
Ian - so why not make the distinction from the UK plates then? Why didn't you mention the blue EU slash is not mandatory in all markets?
Zach 10:20AM (5/11/2009)
I was wondering about this myself. Guess we'll just get more annoying bad engineering out of the deal.
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tio 10:50AM (5/11/2009)
What would make me buy this over a much larger 12K Nissan Versa? The Ka does not have the cheeky feel of the Fiat 500. The Ka would have to have a low price point and super high mpg before i even looked at it. In my mind the looks and appointments in the Fiat 500 make it worth the higher price.
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Bloke 10:54AM (5/11/2009)
$12K is the price if you take your USD, convert them, and buy one in the UK. That's the forex rate. It's not the purchasing power rate to people in Britain.
In the US it would likely retail for less than $10K.
mikecanada 12:14PM (5/11/2009)
Maybe the fact that the Nissan Versa is without question the ugliest, blandest car on the road.
David 12:17PM (5/11/2009)
If you had to parallel park every day as a way of life then you'd definitely prefer one of these over a Versa, which isn't so small.
If you never have to parallel park, then get a Hummer for all that matters.
I am of the former. The smaller the better!
mikecanada 10:49AM (5/11/2009)
From what I recall reading, Mullaly wants to bring the Ka here, but Jim Farley and Bill Ford are totally against it. We shall see.....
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