Ford Ka (2009): more photos and details

By Tim Pollard

First Official Pictures

08 September 2008 17:40

Ford has issued more details and photographs of its Ka city car, the Blue Oval's twin of the cutesy Fiat 500. The new Ka will – for the first time – be available as a diesel in the shape of the 74bhp 1.3-litre TDCI model, which can muster a very sensible 67.2mpg on the combined cycle.

But don't forget that few 'mini buyers pick diesel in the UK; an oil-burning city car's price premium appears larger and economy gains smaller when compared with bigger cars, making diesel babies like hens' teeth.

So most people will buy the petrol Ford Ka?
It seems so. That means the 68bhp 1.2-litre Duratec petrol – but both models will 'be available with sub-120g/km CO2 emissions'. Worrying phrase 'available with'... sounds like some petrol models (sportier ones?) may tip over the 120g/km benchmark.

Still, the new petrol Ka is said to be 21 percent more economical than the outgoing 1.3-litre Ka.

When can I buy a new Ford Ka?

We'll see the new Ford Ka at the Paris motor show on 2 October 2008, before the first production models tip into showrooms at the end of 2008.

You'll be able to pick between four different trim levels – Studio, Style, Style + and Zetec – and the Ka finally catches up with the 21st century as it can now offer niceties such as Bluetooth, USB ports and (a Ford speciality, this) heated windscreens.

The new Ka is big news for Ford; it has built 1.46 million of the original and a third of those found homes in the UK. Small wonder that it's the Ford with the highest brand loyalty among customers – a perfect way to trap impressionable young buyers into the Blue Oval...

For CAR's full first official pictures story on the new Ford Ka, click here

By Tim Pollard