Rumormill: Could the Fiat-Chrysler deal yield a North American Ford Ka?

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.

[Source: The Detroit Free Press]