SPY PICS: Fiat and Ford collaborate on Ka

OK, it looks like Kiff from Futurama, but the next Ford Ka pictured here will probably be a much more appealing machine without the weird camouflage.

According to the overworked, undernourished spy photographers at Carparazzi, the next Ka will be built on the same platform as the Fiat 500. Fiat and Ford commenced work on the joint venture just two years ago, except Fiat was already well advanced on the new 500 when Ford approached the Italian company.

The delay in getting the new Ka to market can be blamed on the need to build production robots to build the Ford's interior. Fiat's factory at Tychy in Poland will build both cars and the same three engines fitted to the 500 will also be offered in the Ka. Those are 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4-litre engines. The last is a DOHC engine. All three comply with Euro 5 emissions legislation.

Looking closely at the pics, the Ka appears to retain a clamshell bonnet, although the styling is different from the 500's. In fact, the 500's sheet metal seems to be substantially altered for the Ka, with the Ka exhibiting much more of a wedge style and lower waistline around the door mirrors. It will likely incorporate many of the styling cues seen in Ford's Verve concept, that is likely to form the basis for the next Fiesta as well.

The car pictured here was snapped at the Nurburgring, coincidentally on the same day the Fiat 500 was launched to an adoring press contingent at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

-- with Carparazzi