The Crittenden Automotive Library

Ka In The Community

Topics: Ford Ka

Ka In The Community

Geoff Maxted
DriveWrite
December 5, 2013

Unquestionably, these days the Ford Motor Company makes good cars. DriveWrite recently tried a C-Max with the new EcoBoost engine and found it excellent. Now, Ford have decided it is time for the Ka to have a complete makeover and, I‘m sorry to say, I think they have made a mistake. That’s it in the image.

The company today revealed the Ka Concept, the company’s vision for a practical all-new global small car offering advanced technology and clever design to key markets around the world at an affordable price. The Ka Concept, they say, communicates efficiency and precision. Bold, elongated headlamps and a long, lean look with sweeping, curved lines create a sense of movement, according to the blurb but if I’m honest it just looks boring.

The trend these days is for a family resemblance to filter through a model range and that’s the case here but, as concepts go, this is the dullest. When Ford do design well they do it very well, the current version of the Fiesta is a case in point. As it name suggests, it is lively and fun. I don’t get that sense from the photo of the Ka Concept. As a ‘global’ car it may appeal somewhere in the world but in the UK I suspect it won’t be nearly exciting enough.

Ford has justifiably sold more than 1.8 million versions of the ever popular Ka since the vehicle was first launched in 1996. The company reckons that worldwide the small car segment will increase by 35 per cent from 4 million units in 2012 to 6.2 million units by 2017.

Able to seat five comfortably apparently, the Ka Concept is equipped with technology usually found in larger cars. MyFord Dock enables occupants to store, mount and charge mobile devices such as phones and satellite navigation systems; SYNC with Voice Control and AppLink enables drivers to activate apps, play music and make phone calls, while keeping both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. That’s all fine and dandy but it is no excuse for making the outside look so uninteresting.

A production version of the Ka Concept will reach European showrooms in a couple of years. Let’s hope they get back to the drawing board and do a bit of tinkering in the meantime.