New Ka: first official pictures of Ford's baby

01/08/08

Ford's new city car begins sale in the UK early next year and will cost from £7500

This is the new Ford Ka, which gs on sale here early next year. These first official pictures show strong design similarities with the new Ford Fiesta, although there are also touches to link it back to the current, 12-year-old Ka.

Ford says the new car is based around the ‘kinetic design’ form language evident in other just-launched models. The interior is very different, using bold, expressive colours. The changes will have been driven by the need to attain good-as-it-gets crash protection for occupants and pedestrians, an area where the current Ka trails rivals by some margin.

Even though it dates from the mid-1990s, the Ka remains an engaging car to drive, thanks to a chassis developed from the Fiesta. Its successor will share its platform and running gear with the Fiat 500, although Ford have promised that it will be tuned so that it has its own, distinct driving feel.

But that signals that the Ford won’t grow much bigger than it is now, although we can expect its packaging to improve, giving a roomier cabin and a bigger boot. But where the Fiat 500 is premium priced we can expect the Ka to be cheaper, costing from £7500. Some 1.4 million Kas have been sold to date.

Buyers get the first sight of the car in the metal at the Paris Motor Show in October – the place the original was unveiled back in 1996.