Autoblog

Click above for our high-res gallery of the 2009 Ford Ka

While his priority is to launch the Ford Fiesta in North America in 2010, the CEO of Ford told Automotive News that the Europe-only Ford Ka microcar might also be available in the United States. Alan Mulally said that an array of subcompact and Focus-sized cars will follow the Fiesta, and then the redesigned Ka (itself smaller than the Fiesta) may find itself on our shores. Mulally reiterated Ford's commitment to a small-car strategy, but admitted the company must find a way to achieve a decent profit margin on the inexpensive vehicles. The task is especially daunting when one considers the $8,000 to $10,000-plus margins the automaker banks on SUVs and big pickups.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

Who's not looking forward to the new Bond flick Quantum of Solace that opens in theaters on October 29th? Agent 007 returns with an Aston Martin DBS as his daily driver and a beautiful woman on his arm, per usual. The new girl's name is Camille, and she's played by Olga Kurylenko. Her job is to make James forget about that Vesper girl, and she'll be sharing scenes with Ford's recently redesigned Ka while doing it.

Ford plans to make good use of the Ka's starring role next to Olga, and is sponsoring a slew of Bond girl events including a special on MTV that will take an ordinary Jill and give her four weeks of Bond training with Ms. Kurylenko. Other events include a behind the scenes look at the Camille character on E! Entertainment and full coverage from the red carpet premiere. We dig the cute little Ka, but we're guessing Olga will garner much of the spotlight during the efficient little hatch's big screen debut. Click the pic to the right for a high-res version and another head shot of Kurylenko upstaging the Ka with her better-than-Kinetic good looks.


[Source: Ford]

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.


[Source: Detroit News]

Ford's Ka has always had an expressive design, and the second generation of the little city car is set to continue that trend with three new custom packages that will debut with the new model in January. All three of them make quite a statement, though we'll leave it to you to decide if that's a good or a bad thing.

Ka Digital: Hi-Liter green is the name of the game, with an offset stripe across the top of the car and on the sides, along with a glow-in-the-dark colored grille. Inside, that same shocking color is applied liberally throughout, appearing on the dash, doors and seats.

Ka Grand Prix (above): Traditional red and white racing colors make a more subdued impression than the green of the Digital, and the two colors cover all the same features on the Grand Prix. A rear spoiler and white alloy wheels round out the racing-theme.

Ka Tattoo: For Ed Hardy fans, Ford rolls out the Tattoo edition of the Ka with a large decal on the roof and a smaller matching one on the fender. Metallic colors and trim cover the interior, which gets tattoo-like embellishments on the seats and floor mats.

All three special editions will be available on the Zetec model, though pricing has yet to be announced. If we were forced to choose one as our favorite, it would definitely be the Grand Prix, if only by default. Check out the gallery below for high-res shots of each.


[Source Ford]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Ka in the movies

Ford's new Ka mini-car will be making its official debut at the Paris Motor Show in early October, but it already has a bit part in the next James Bond movie. Since the success of Casino Royale and the walk on part played by the then-new Mondeo, Ford has taken up the automotive product placement mantle in all Bond movies for the foreseeable future. Unlike the Mondeo, which Bond picked up from a Caribbean rental car counter, the Ka, which shares a platform with the Fiat 500, will apparently be tossed around by the super spy's feminine counterpart. Ford hasn't given any indication that it will bring the Ka to the US market, but given recent announcements about globalizing its products, a Stateside Ka certainly can't be counted out. In the meantime, we can see if the Ka can fly like an Aston Martin DBS when Quantum of Solace hits theaters in November.


[Source: Ford]

Click above to view high-res gallery of the 2009 Ford Ka

Sure, you've these pics before (though not in high-res), but Ford has now officially revealed its all-new Ka that will be the automaker's big debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show in October this year. Unfortunately, they neglected to release any details about the car, instead throwing out a bunch adjectives like "fresh, funky and fun" and "fashionable, modern" and "youthful and cheeky". None of those confirm what engines will be offered or what kind of fuel economy the car achieves. We do know the Ka will share its underpinnings with the Fiat 500 and be built in the same factory in Poland, so it would be safe to assume that Ford's "cheeky" hatch will use similarly high quality materials and be built tight as a drum, as well. Engine choices are presumed to be 1.4L and 1.6L petrol powerplants and a 1.6L diesel, and a hot ST version using the 500's turbo 1.4L is rumored to be arriving later.

Thanks to the high-res images in the gallery below, we can now inspect the Ka's design inside and out. Its cockpit is very unique, with a number of different textures and contrasting colors to keep it "fresh, funky and fun." Our one worry is how far up the center console the radio has been placed. With those eency-weency buttons, it could be difficult to operate on the move. The exterior is defined by Ford of Europe's now familiar 'Kinetic Design' language, and suits the tiny three-door well. Its proportioned so that the tiny wheels aren't totally overcome by the car's visual mass, and the big headlights that dominate the front fenders in conjunction with the blacked out grille give the Ka an expressive face. Would you say the Ka's a winner, or more importantly, would you consider purchasing it if Ford chose to sell it in the U.S. one day?


[Source: Ford]

The newest Ford Ka has been spotted by Auto Express, and the car in the flesh looks almost exactly like the Ka renderings that Auto Express published a couple of weeks ago. The grille could be a bit smaller than the one in the rendering, but it's difficult to tell without the highlights and chrome. The number of discrete elements in the GT-R-like mouthpiece, though, is the same.

Otherwise, the side swage line looks to be toned down a bit; and in the rendering, the Ford badge on the hatch that doubles as the latch has been replaced by a separate latch and key. Inside, Ford has said the car will outdo the car with which it shares underpinnings, the Fiat 500, and maintain the handling that has made it a European favorite for 12 years. All of which makes this a hot little Ka. Stay tuned for the Paris Motor Show when we see the real deal in person.

[Source: Auto Express]

The Ford Ka has been a prime example that the Blue Oval can be successful at making little cars, even if they kind of look like basketball shoes. After 12 years of service, it's time to shake things up a bit. The next Ka shares mechanicals with the stylish Fiat 500, and after scoping the first unofficial pics from Auto Express, the Ford will be just as cute as its Italian sibling. Designers did manage to heavily differentiate the Ka from the 500, skipping the rounded lines in favor of edgier lines and details that reinforce Ford of Europe's styling language. Think micro-Fiesta, and you've got the picture.

Since it's for European consumption, it'll have no less than three powertrains from the get-go, with a 68 hp 1.2L, a 100 hp 1.4L, and a 1.3L, 50 mpg diesel. Rumor has it that a hotter Ka ST is on its way as well, with 150 hp coming from a turbocharged 1.4L engine. Interior refinement over the outgoing model comes courtesy of better materials and improved ergonomics.

We're still a few months away from the Ka's official unveiling at the Paris Auto Show in September, but we like what we see so far. Besides, if it's good enough for Bond, it'll be good enough for us. The Ka will be produced in Poland and it'll go on sale in Europe by the end of the year.

[Source: Auto Express]

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]

click above image for a few more pics

The new Ford Ka is set to be unveiled next week in Sao Paulo, Brazil, but spy photogs there have already caught the new model motoring around with the current Ka. As you can see from the pic above, the Ka, at least for the Brazilian market, is ditching its current design for something a bit more mainstream. Whereas the current car is eclectic and full of round shapes and curvy lines, the new one is much more traditional with large headlamps and conventional fender flares at each corner. Unfortunately, we think the current Ka is infinitely cooler than this three-door hatch with its unique design. Though even if this car does debut in Sao Paulo next week, we may yet see a different design for the rest of Europe. This may be, however, the quickest way to get yourself into a Fiat 500, as Ford and the Italian automaker are reportedly sharing platforms for both vehicles.

[Source: autoestrada.uol.com.br]