The Ford Ka concept has been revealed in Brazil, previewing an all-new city car designed for emerging and fast-growing markets around the world.
Developed by Ford Brazil, the car maker describes the sub-Fiesta-sized Ka concept as “a strong precursor to an all-new global compact car” that could launch as early as next year.
A rival for the likes of the Mitsubishi Mirage and the Nissan Micra, Ford claims the five-door, five-seat Ka concept offers class-leading fuel economy and air conditioning, and features a central docking station for mobile devices and its Sync connectivity system.
The Ka’s styling draws on Ford’s global design DNA, incorporating its signature trapezoidal grille, elongated headlights, a raked bonnet, sweeping profile lines and large tail-lights.
Ford says the production version of the Ka concept will give the company a strong contender in the entry-level city-car segment, which is projected to grow 35 per cent (three times the rate of the overall market) to 6.2 million vehicles by 2017.
The Ford Ka concept is the second vehicle developed by Ford Brazil following the subcompact EcoSport SUV, which launches in Australia at the end of the month.
Ford launched the original Ka city car in Europe in 1996. It was introduced to South America the following year, and was redesigned for that region in 2003. Ford launched a new Ka for South America in 2007, which was unrelated to the second-generation Fiat 500-based model that launched in Europe in 2008.
The first-generation Ford Ka was sold in Australia between 1999 and 2002 but failed to make a serious impact on the market.
