The third-generation Ford Ka has been
spotted on the road near Ford’s engineering center in Cologne, Germany.
Rumors had been circulating that the Ka was
being axed from the line-up but, although that’s clearly not the case, it will
take a fresh approach. Rather than a fashion-focused three-door like the first
two version, the next Ford Ka will be five-door only and promises to focus on
value for money and space.
Ford
Figo, being the 80 percent contributor of sales of Ford vehicles in India, was
launched in 2010
Unlike the existing model, which shares its
platform with the Fiat 500, the new Ka will be sold globally. It will also be
based on the Figo – a budget hatch sold in developing countries that shares its
underpinnings with the previous-generation Fiesta.
An inside source told us: “One Ford [the
company’s global product strategy] gives us a chance to draw on what’s going on
around the world and for our next city car we won’t be reinventing the wheel.”
In order to justify its place in the Ford
line-up, and take on the likes of the VW up!, the new Ka will need to be
lighter and more fuel-efficient than the Fiesta.
There
are going to be some exterior changes like the front bumper, head and tail
lights, new alloy wheels and the special edition badges
Speaking exclusively to us, Andrew Fraser,
Ford’s head of petrol engine development, explained: “The old Fiesta platform
will need remodeling. By shortening it and using thinner-gauge steels where
possible, we should be able to make it much lighter.”
As you can see from the spy shots, the
bodywork has been redesigned, so as not to resemble the bug-eyed Figo, or the
old Fiesta. Our spy photographer also spotted a new Fiesta following this test
prototype, and it appeared much larger than the disguised Ka.
The
bodywork has been redesigned, so as not to resemble the bug-eyed Figo, or the
old Fiesta
In terms of engines, a diesel model is
unlikely, to keep costs down and give the car global appeal. So the most obvious
candidate is Ford’s new three-cylinder EcoBoost petrol engine, which even in
non-turbocharged from can produce up to 79bhp.
A two-cylinder petrol engine has already
been ruled out. “We thought about using Fiat’s TwinAir engine,” Fraser told us,
“but we were already deep into development with the EcoBoost.”
The new car is scheduled to debut in around
eight months, which points to a reveal at the Geneva Motor Show.
