Ford’s popular European Ka car might be coming to America after all. The Associated Press reports (via Yahoo) that Ford decided to “give the Ka another look due to high fuel prices pushing up demand for small cars and the response to introduction of the Fiesta subcompact.” Perhaps the sudden availability of tens of billions of taxpayer-backed bucks to retool domestic factories for fuel-efficient vehicles had a little something to do with this change of heart. Ford has recently written off $8b worth of previous investments in truck and SUV production lines. It’s currently sitting on $25b of highly explosive long term debt. So yes, a little boost from Uncle Sam (that’s you) would be just the thing to get Ford to sing “Baby you can build my Ka.” Yes, but– can Ford get the kind of price premium for the Ka that Mercedes somehow cons people into paying for the Smart car? CAFE be damned; the idea of driving next to full-size SUVs from the driver’s seat of a Ka-sized car sets my teeth a chattering.
I have always wanted a car that can kill birds and decapitate cats.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Guufs3mdgg
Please NO. We will have to suffer looking at the ugly Fiesta…we don’t need it’s mini0me.
can someone enlighten us poor benighted Yanks as to what the differences between the Ka, the Fiesta, and the Focus, are?
I laughed so hard at the bird one, but the cat one is kinda sick.
@P71:
I think the Fiesta looks quite cute.
@Schwartz:
Length, basically. Ka is 3.6 meters long. Fiesta 4 meters. Focus about 4.4 meters.
The Focus is a Compact (ie. Civic, Corolla)
The Fiesta is a Sub-Compact (ie. Fit, Yaris)
The Ka is a City Car (ie. Smart, iQ)
can someone enlighten us poor benighted Yanks as to what the differences between the Ka, the Fiesta, and the Focus, are?
Focus = Small
Fiesta = Smaller
Ka = Really small
I thought you folks would be cheering this development. Reversing the trend of gargantuan SUV’s is a good thing, isn’t it?
Actually wouldn’t mind seeing the Ka convertible over here…we need to develop a mind-set of embracing small, clever cars like this. Given that something like 85% of the cars I see each morning carry exactly one person (I’m guilty of this, as well), why not do it with smaller vehicles? Heck, even a Ka can be equipped to be a pretty funky and cool little ride. Better that than another craptastic Ram.
I would buy one. There, simple and to the point. I spent some time with the previous generation Ka while in England a few years back. I loved it.
OK, I’ll say it: I’m down with this. Ka is go!
BTW, has anyone else noticed how similar making sense of the Focus, Fiesta, Ka lineup is? Brings me back to the days of Explorer, Expedition, Excursion confusion. Good old Ford.
Thanks to CarShaek and MBella.
Ka = City Car (Smart, iQ) 3.6m = 142″
Fiesta = Sub-Compact (Fit, Yaris) 4.0m = 157″
Focus = Compact (Civic, Corolla) 4.4m = 173″
Personally I think it is great. This is what we need. Not longer, lower, wider, fatter, and thirstier.
The 1st gen Ka was sold down here. Car is SMALL but cute and good looking.
I don’t like the looks of this one. Looks like a Fiesta, when the previous one was very distinctive.
I like the Ka, great little runabout for 2 people or commuter car.
I’d probably just take out the back seat and a make a nice flat floor with hidden compartments.
I’ll take two. (ka ka)
I’m surprised no one has mentioned this yet, but wasn’t this new Ka developed along with the new Fiat 500? If the Ka is produced in America, it could possibly set the stage for Fiat’s return, starting with the 500!!! I really like the Fiat 500 Arbath… what a great looking, distinctive small car!
Fiat’s lineup of small cars is actually quite competitive in Europe, so maybe they are indeed plotting a return, which could be another reason Ford has suddenly had a change of heart.
If I lived in a city and drove a car I would be ready for something the size of a Ka, but for me the problem is that in our rural/suburban area the roads are clogged with trucks and SUVs which are often driven by distracted idiots. Many of these are lifted and riding on monster wheels, which only adds to the terror of sharing the road with them.
I’m down with being efficient, but I’m not willing to lose my life for it. Driving in Ireland this past summer was a pleasure in part because most of the vehicles on the road were small, smaller, and damned small. The Ford Mondeo we rented was far too big and next time I would go for a Golf/Focus size vehicle there.
A nice looking, 2-door hatchback; what’s not to like? Although is it just me, or does the grill look like it is wearing braces?
Is this the same as the Ka offered in Brazil? I can’t see the picture due to being at work.
The Brazillian ka is one of the ugliest cars ever.
Sajeev Mehta : “I’ll take two. (ka ka)”
do… do!
Which is what you’ll “do” in your pants driving this little guy in a sea of SUV’s.
Still, my neighborhood is abundant with feral cats…
Huh. I don’t see what the big deal is. Here in New England, we have tons of “Ka”s.
Quasimondo:
“I thought you folks would be cheering this development. Reversing the trend of gargantuan SUV’s is a good thing, isn’t it?”
Yes, but…
It is a valid consideration that bringing in alot of these really tiny city cars too fast may cause a problem because the big SUVs are still out there.
My commute is 25mi. each way down 1 road (basically a straight line) with the average commute speed being about 70-75MPH in moderate traffic. The Smart Car, and this Ka, were not really designed with that in mind.
Lots of Tahoes and Excursions and Ford F-350 Super Duties going 60+MPH. That would make me nervous in a really tiny car. Oh wait, I drive a 2004 xB. Never mind then :)
In your scenario, where gasoline prices drive the Ka to U.S. market, SUV’s will not be a threat, they will be beached.
“Is this the same as the Ka offered in Brazil?”
Ford is talking about the next generation 2009 Ka which is rolling out next year and shares a platform with the latest Fiat 500. Initial production is to be in Poland on a line shared with Fiat. Jalopnik has photos, etc. here:
http://jalopnik.com/394184/2009-ford-ka-revealed
Isn’t it interesting how GM paid $2B to get out of it’s marriage to Fiat, and now Fiat is doing quite well indeed?
To all those people saying they would be SCARED to drive a Ka due to all the big, bad, trucks and SUVs out there – grow a pair, will ya! How on Earth did folks get by 25-30 years ago driving Toyota Corollas and VW Rabbits around? Typical American cars back then were just about as big and heavy as todays trucks and SUVs, and the little cars were a whole LOT less safe.
I certainly have no fear at all driving my ’74 Triumph Spitfire around, and that makes a Ka seem like an S-class Mercedes by comparison. The trick is, pay attention to what you and those around you are doing and don’t hit anything!
The Ford Ka commercials reminded me of the similar one about the Mazda 3 and a dog.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=850T-wgG-8Q
It’s not as violent as the Ford Ka, but the Mazda 3 still manages to defend itself.
THANK YOU, krhodes1! I’m so sick of this “I’m going to get killed driving a small car with SUVs on the road” crap. Few of us can count a family member that has been flat-out killed in a automobile accident in the first place. A larger car is NOT a substitute for denfensive driving, which saves countless more lives than driving an oversized vehicle.
And don’t get me started on the people who say, “I need an overpowered engine so I (or my wife) can merge onto the freeway safely.” For cryin’ out loud, learn how to use an onramp properly!
Okay, that’s all my ranting for today, folks…
This could be fun for calls in to Car Talk. It could be a “Who’s on First?” routine.
Caller: “Hello. I’m having a problem with my Ford.”
Tommy: “What make is it?”
Caller: “A Ford Ka”
Tommy: “What kind of Ka?”
Caller: “A Ford”
Tommy: “A Ford what?”
Caller: “A Ford Ka”
Tommy: “I know it is a Ford Ka. What model is it?”
Caller: “A Ka”
Tommy: “Not type… the model. Like Taurus or something”.
Caller: “It’s a 2008 Ford Ka”.
Tommy: “I know.. what what Ford Ka is it?”
… and continue ad nauseum.
Buzzdog> You have to remember most people dont’ know how to row their own gears….
No, I think the “fear and loathing of SUV’s” is not necessarily misplaced; to a cellphone-blabbing soccer-mama in an Expedition, a Ka might appear to be as insignificant in the visual field as a motorcycle – and there are many fatalities of motorcycle riders where the person who made the left turn in front of them made the claim that “I didn’t see him”. Bike’s headlight being on in daytime, too.
Those commercials for the SportKa are downright evil…love them
@MBella
The Ka is a City Car (ie. Smart, iQ)
The Smart is 3 feet shorter than the Ka, the iQ is still 2 feet shorter. Comparing the Ka to the Smart would be like saying an Aveo is roughly the size of a Mercedes S-Class.
Size-wise, the closest thing to the Ka on the US market now is the Mini.
@Robstar
Is this the same as the Ka offered in Brazil? I can’t see the picture due to being at work.
No, the Brazilian Ka is a different beast.
Mk1 European Ka: Based on shortened mid-90s Fiesta platform
Mk2 European Ka: Based on Fiat 500/Panda platform
Brazilian Ka: Based on shortened last-gen Fiesta platform
A friend of mine in San Francisco insisted that he sees Kas on the street. I told him he was crazy. Then he gave me this link:
http://www.sanfranciscoconvertible.com/?q=article%2Fford-ka-street-cabriolet-rental-san-francisco