Ford will replace Ka, will be more relevant to Aussies

Ford has announced it’s almost ready to replace its current European Ka, with an new, third-generation replacement.

Originally, the Blue Oval had been scheduled to replace the now eight-year-old Ka last year, but for unknown reasons put those plans on hold, raising concerns that a replacement for the small city-car had been ruled out.

Denying that was the case, Ford of Europe President Jim Farley tols Automotive News:"We absolutely intend to compete in the value segment” and that the presence of a small, entry-level Ford was "very important for the Ford brand."

The original, first-generation Ka was sold in Australia in limited numbers until 2002 but the second-gen version,which shares a platform and engines with the current Fiat 500, was never imported, chiefly because it lacked the option of an automatic transmission.

The new third-gen Euro Ka sees Ford end its partnership with Fiat and go it alone with its own model that’s been on sale since 2014 in Brazil and India.

Based on the Ford Fiesta platform, the new Ka is bigger all round and offers an additional pair of doors, broadening its appeal further.

For the European market the Brazilian car will undergo a comprehensive facelift and receive a European suspension tune.

Under the bonnet, the new Ka will come with a detuned version of the current 92kW 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine that we get with our Fiesta. In some markets a 1.5-litre turbo-diesel will also be offered.

It’s hoped that, like the Fiesta, the small Ka will come with an automatic transmission, potentially the Getrag-sourced PowerShift dual-clutch gearbox that’s already been engineered to work with the small turbo 1.0-litre.

Back in 2013, when the original concept for the third-gen Ka emerged, Ford Australia told motoring.com.au the Ka “wasn’t on its radar”, but with a potential production base moved to Ford’s Chennai factory, the lower cost of production could help build an Australian business case.

If so, Ford will finally have a small car offering to rival cars like the Suzuki Celerio.