Samantha Stevens
The Paris motor show is still a few months away, but car manufacturers are already springing leaks. Whether those leaks are unexpected dribbles or deliberate tap-turning, we don't know, but the latest leaked pic is Ford's new A-segment entry with an old name, the Ka.
The mini micro still has its back wheels at the corners of the car, but that is where the similarity with the old Ka ends. It comes heavily dressed in Ford Europe's Kinetic design, and mirrors the new Fiesta Zetec quite succinctly.
The Paris motor show is still a few months away, but car manufacturers are already springing leaks. Whether those leaks are unexpected dribbles or deliberate tap-turning, we don't know, but the latest leaked pic is Ford's new A-segment entry with an old name, the Ka.
The mini micro still has its back wheels at the corners of the car, but that is where the similarity with the old Ka ends. It comes heavily dressed in Ford Europe's Kinetic design, and mirrors the new Fiesta Zetec quite succinctly.
2009 Fiesta Zetec
The platform, however, is much smaller, its bones borrowed from the Fiat 500 and Panda. Powerplants too, with a 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrol a 1.6-litre diesel TDCi expected, and the rumoured addition of a future ST version running the 500 Abarth's 1.4 turbo.
The Ka will be released overseas early next year, and apparently will make another early appearance in the new James Bond film, Quantum of Solace. The then-new Mondeo XR5 caused a stir in the last flick, Casino Royale, though the thought of Bond shooting bad guys from the weenie window of a Ka is a little comical.
Ford Australia told Wheelsmag that it has no plans to bring the car here, despite the current large car/petrol crisis and skyward rise in light car sales.
"Fiesta is our light car, and it is very successful for us," said Ford's Manager of Public Affairs, Sinead McAlary.
"We had Ka here before, and it didn't resonate at the time. We will keep Fiesta as our B-car entry, and will have the whole range here in the first quarter of 2009."
When asked about the Focus RS, which debuted at the recent British Auto Show, Ford reaffirmed that it will not bring it here, and there are no plans for FPV to produce its own version.
"We never say never," conceded McAlary, "and when the Focus is produced here in 2011 it might give FPV more of an opportunity to do something..."
The platform, however, is much smaller, its bones borrowed from the Fiat 500 and Panda. Powerplants too, with a 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrol a 1.6-litre diesel TDCi expected, and the rumoured addition of a future ST version running the 500 Abarth's 1.4 turbo.
The Ka will be released overseas early next year, and apparently will make another early appearance in the new James Bond film, Quantum of Solace. The then-new Mondeo XR5 caused a stir in the last flick, Casino Royale, though the thought of Bond shooting bad guys from the weenie window of a Ka is a little comical.
Ford Australia told Wheelsmag that it has no plans to bring the car here, despite the current large car/petrol crisis and skyward rise in light car sales.
"Fiesta is our light car, and it is very successful for us," said Ford's Manager of Public Affairs, Sinead McAlary.
"We had Ka here before, and it didn't resonate at the time. We will keep Fiesta as our B-car entry, and will have the whole range here in the first quarter of 2009."
When asked about the Focus RS, which debuted at the recent British Auto Show, Ford reaffirmed that it will not bring it here, and there are no plans for FPV to produce its own version.
"We never say never," conceded McAlary, "and when the Focus is produced here in 2011 it might give FPV more of an opportunity to do something..."
