•
Claude Lobo (Ka) •
Pininfarina (StreetKa) }} • 3-door
hatchback • 2-door
convertible (StreetKa) • 3-door
van }} •
Petrol: • 1.0 L
Endura E I4 flex fuel (Brazil) • 1.3 L
Endura E I4 (until 2002) • 1.3 L
Duratec I4 (from 2002) • 1.6 L
Zetec I4 • 1.6 L
Zetec I4 flex fuel (Brazil) }} }} The first Ford Ka was introduced on September 11, 1996, as a small and low-cost addition to the Ford range. Developed under the BE146 development code, it was based on the Mark 3
Ford Fiesta platform, but with a completely different exterior design. The design borrowed from
Ghia's "Saetta" show car, a roadster designed by Filippo Sapino. The Ka evolved from concept vehicles to production with minor changes. The large, one-piece, moulded bumpers and wheel arches made the vehicle more durable and easier to repair. The vehicle was manufactured on the existing Fiesta production line in Almussafes, Valencia, minimising new model investment costs. The chief program engineer was Kevin O’Neill. The designer of the car was
Chris Svensson of
Sunderland, who had designed a similar-shaped car when at the
Royal College of Art in 1992. When the Ka was first introduced to the public, it provoked mixed reactions due to its unusual
New Edge design, overseen by
Jack Telnack and executed by
Claude Lobo. Besides the styling, the Ka, like its sister cars
Fiesta and
Puma, was lauded in the motoring press for its handling. Under
Richard Parry-Jones' supervision, the suspension and steering settings allowed for hard cornering and high levels of grip, providing strong handling characteristics. At launch, the Ka was created as a single model with a number of production options, including
air conditioning,
power steering, height-adjustable driver's seat, adjustable position rear seat with head restraints, passenger
airbag,
central locking, and power windows. However,
anti-lock braking was only added as an option, and not until January 1997. The car's main drawback was the 1,300 cc
overhead valve four-cylinder Endura-E engine, a derivative of the Valencia unit used in all the previous generations of the Fiesta and based on the older "Kent" design, which dated back to the 1960s. Although not very modern, it provided enough torque to allow relaxed if not spirited driving. In 2002, the Endura-E was replaced by the overhead-cam
Duratec engine, with claims of improved fuel efficiency and increased refinement, mostly caused by taller gearing on the cars without air conditioning.
Endura-E engine specs (Ka) 998 cc (Brazil): • Power output - 53HP (5250 rpm) • Torque - 77.2 Nm (4000 rpm) • Bore - 68.68mm • Stroke - 67.40mm • Redline - 5450 rpm • RPM Limit - 5675 rpm
1297 cc: • Power output - 60HP (5000 rpm) • Torque - 104.0 Nm (3500 rpm) • Bore - 74mm • Stroke - 75.5mm • Redline - 5450 rpm • RPM Limit - 5675 rpm For the first three years of production, all models had black plastic bumpers to minimise parking damage to paintwork in city environments. These bumpers contained a stabiliser to prevent UV degradation, which made them unsuitable for painting because the paint would not adhere properly. Since many owners wanted body-coloured bumpers, they were introduced in 1999 using different bumper mouldings (without the stabiliser). The Ka proved highly profitable for Ford despite its low selling price, largely due to low development costs. In 2006, Ford sold 17,000 cars in the United Kingdom. In
Australia, the Ka was introduced in October 1999 and was on the market until 2002. It was unsuccessful; fewer than 2,000 were sold per year. This was partly due to the lack of an
automatic transmission, which is preferred by a large proportion of Australian car buyers. The Ka was also sold in
New Zealand between 1999 and 2004, and was replaced by the newer Fiesta.
Markets United Kingdom The Ka was the best-selling car in its class in the United Kingdom for a number of years and commanded around a fifth of the city-car market. The UK model range originally consisted of the base version, the Ka, and the higher specification Ka2, which standardised a number of the options listed above. The Ka2 badge was fitted by dealers. The Ka3 was introduced later. Power steering was added to the base Ka after the first year. Concurrent with the introduction of body-coloured bumpers, Ka2 and Ka3 were replaced by Ka Collection and the LuxuryKa (later Ka Luxury). The Luxury version came with a Quickclear heated windscreen, leather seats and interior trim, and standard air conditioning. A "Ka Blue" special edition was also launched in the UK with dark blue bumpers and a silvery-blue dashboard insert, rather than the standard models' silver. The Ka Sun Collection with a full-length fabric folding roof was also added to the range during the summer. Unique to the UK was the Ford Ka Van variant, produced for
BT Group and featuring a bespoke flat plywood floor with rubber overmat and white-ply covers instead of rear windows. A further line-up revision gave Ka the following trim levels in the United Kingdom: Studio, Style, Style Climate, and Zetec Climate. In 2005, the Sublime model was introduced featuring special leather interior and features not found on other models. It was produced in only very small numbers and is now one of the most sought-after Kas. The SportKa was also added to the range. With the car's impending replacement, in May 2008, a Finale special edition with distinguishing features such as roof decal and black wing mirrors was made available.
Latin America From the 1997 launch, and until 2001, the Latin American Ka was substantially similar to the European Ka, differing only in levels of equipment and trim. The main differences from the European model were the very short gearing for the
manual transmission (the only transmission available) and the lack of
soundproofing, which had been gradually removed annually since 2000 as a way to
cut down costs, following the practice of other Brazilian car makers at the time. In 2001, the Latin American Ka received a midcycle facelift, which left it slightly different, externally, to the European model. The most noticeable difference was at the rear, where the number plate was moved from the bumper to the boot (trunk) lid, and the rear lights were made much taller.
StreetKa and SportKa In 2003, the Ka brand was diversified, with the addition of a new
SportKa featuring a sporty body kit, wider track with stiffened suspension and redesigned 16" (40 cm) alloy wheels. Both models came with slightly widened bumpers front and rear with integral fog lamps. A convertible model called
StreetKa also appeared, launched with the help of Australian pop star
Kylie Minogue at the
Paris Motor Show. It featured a manually folding
soft top or an optional detachable
hardtop (on the Winter Edition). StreetKa was designed and built by
Pininfarina (the 2000 motor show concept was designed by Ghia, Turin) in Italy, and all StreetKas have sill plates inscribed "Pininfarina". Pininfarina produced 37,076 StreetKas between 2003 and 2005. The build quality of the Streetka was far superior to the standard three-door Ka, with improved rust proofing. StreetKa came in two equipment levels, basic and luxury. The Basic had cloth seats and air conditioning was an option. The Luxury featured leather seats with matching leather door-card inserts, heated seats, a Thatcham approved alarm along with Ford's PATS immobiliser, air conditioning, and heated door mirrors. Options included upgrading the single CD/radio to an in-dash six-disc CD/radio and additional rear speakers beneath the rollover bars and a heated windscreen, standard on winter models. All models featured remote-control central locking with remote boot release, driver and passenger air bags with passengers air bag deactivation, electric windows and door mirrors, electric headlight aim adjustment, antilock brakes, power steering, front fog lights, racing Puma aluminium gear knob, electric hood cover release, and a tachometer. The engine used in StreetKa (and SportKa) is called a Duratec, but it is of South American origin, where it is known as the Zetec Rocam. StreetKa features
MacPherson struts front and rear and uses unique wider front lower arms (wishbones), giving it exceptional handling. The only exterior panels shared with Ka are the bonnet and the headlights, the latter of which appear different due to the front bumper covering them partly to change their shape. The interior shares most parts with Ka, except the StreetKa has its facia painted blue rather than silver. Its seats are mounted lower than Ka's and it has aluminium effect detailing. Both the StreetKa and SportKa received a new 1.6-litre
eight-valve Duratec petrol engine, whereas Ka, Ka Collection, and LuxuryKa retained the 1.3-litre Duratec petrol engine. The SportKa was noted for its surprising advertising campaign, "The Ka's Evil Twin", denouncing the Ka's traditionally perceived "cute" design. The StreetKa ceased to be officially on sale in late 2006. A pink version was produced to promote the 2004
Thunderbirds film, and was supplied by Ford to the movie producer. The
Thunderbird movie cars were unveiled at the
Birmingham Motor Show. Only eight Pink StreetKas were produced by Ford for the film, five in right-hand drive and three in left-hand drive. All were signed by Sophia Myles (Miss Lady Penelope). The matching StreetKa dress designed by Bruce Oldfield of Ford was later sold in an auction during London Fashion Week to raise money for
Barnados. In 2005, all Ka models, including the SportKa and StreetKa, received a slightly updated interior, bringing the cabin back up to date, while still retaining the look and feel of the original. The SportKa continued to be available until 2008.
Motorsport A Ford Ka rally championship was created in 1998. It has proved to be one of the most popular junior rally championships (Ford Ka Rally Cup) in the UK and Ireland. In 2007, Luke Pinder won the BRC Silverstone Tyre 1400 Championship in a Chris Birkbeck Ford Ka. A Series based on Ford KA Mk1 1300cc (produced between 2002 and 2008) exists in UK as EnduroKA
Ka Rally Car Built by the
Ford Motorsport (
Ford TeamRS) works at
Boreham,
Essex, The Rally Ka was designed as an entry-level vehicle to compete in a one-make series as part of the British Mintex rally championship. The Ka Championship in 1997 had just four cars in the debut Granite City Rally event. In 1998, 15 competitors undertook the Mintex challenge. Ford's Boreham airfield facility provides a complete build service for competitors wishing to rally Ka. Most of the parts supplied are concerned with strengthening the car for rallying. Uprated engine mounts and suspension bushes are all included, as is a front strut brace. Aluminium sump and fuel tank guards, OZ Rally wheels, and a Safety Devices bolt-in roll cage are all either fitted by the Boreham works or supplied to individual teams. Performance-enhancing modifications are limited to the addition of a Rally spec
engine control unit, camshaft and 4-into-2-into-1 extractor set attached to a free-flowing exhaust. This combination lifts power to , and to cope with it, competitors are encouraged to fit the optional uprated drive shafts with larger CV joints. A limited-slip differential and heavier clutch plate are also available. A competition brake package consisting of Mintex pads gripping vented front brake rotors and stronger rear drums is homologated for Rally Ka. Replacing the original shock absorbers is a set of four remote-reservoir Proflex coil-over struts adjustable for compression and rebound damping. These are allied to a lowering kit and adjustable spring platforms to give Ka competitors a wide range of suspension settings including ride height. Inside, the Rally Ka is all business. In true rally fashion, gone are all but the essentials - the two central eyeball vents are replaced by a tachometer and auxiliary gauge. Even the replacement panels in the dashboard, which support the fire extinguisher button and extra switches and gauges required in a rally car are listed in the Boreham parts schedule. A deeply dished rally steering wheel, competition seats, and harnesses are all supplied from the kit, and replacements are not allowed. ==Second generation (2008)==