Ford is planning a September launch for a new five-door Ford Fiesta-based B-segment ‘value’ hatch, called Ka+ which is likely to be built in India.
The model, set to be priced from about £8000, will be built in just one body style and is intended to appeal to buyers in the lower reaches of the small-car market, where Ford bosses say demand has more than doubled in the past two years.
The Ka+ will offer what Ford says are its established small-car values of robustness, cabin quality and good handling, while excusing the company from excessively cheapening its long-time class leader, the Fiesta, itself nearing replacement in 2017.
The Ka+, whose arrival “may not necessarily” signal the demise of the existing three-door Ka, is closely related to a four-door design study called the Ka Concept shown in Barcelona in 2013. However, the company denies that the model will be built in Brazil, which was one suggestion at the time.
The most probable production source is Gujarat in India, which already makes the company’s Fiesta-related Ford Ecosport compact SUV.
Described by Ford bosses at the Geneva motor show as “very roomy”, the Ka+ has been under careful development for several years, and is the company’s way of avoiding the poor quality and consequent adverse publicity that accompanied early versions of the EcoSport SUV from the same source.
Ford’s European president and chief executive Jim Farley believes aggregate sales of the Ka+ and Fiesta could drive sales forward by 20% or even 30%, but insisted this is not the only reason for the launching a second model.
“A second B-car - which we don’t want to portray as merely cheap - allows us to focus more intelligently on what buyers require in this part of an explosively expanding class,” he said. “It’s a better way to serve the segment.”
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Once again...
Now we have a car that is going backwards in terms of trend and desirability, it is a myth to think that the ordinary motorist want a car that look like a smaller version of a stablemate, in the past you had the KA, Puma, Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo all with a different face but the same blue Ford badge, which was very sensible as people identifies the badge regardless of the same styling so why not set them apart? It is the same we see with the Vignale brand- why oh why are these people still in their jobs??
Factczech wrote: ....it is a
You're harking back to what, for me, was a golden age of Ford exterior design. The 'New Edge' styling was very appealling to me: Ka, Puma and Focus looked very different, but at the same time you could tell they were related. It was a far superior approach to the Russian doll ethos all manufacturers seem to want nowadays.
Segment
xxxx wrote: It's not in the
Yes it is. It's not as big as a Fiesta, and it costs the same as the cars you mention. Direct rival. The Euro Ka has been caught out because this market wants the choice of 5 doors too.
oh no it doesn't, it says B segment
It says in story "A second B-car" which is the Fiesta Size Segment. Where does it mention "It's not as big as a Fiesta"?
Segments
LP in Brighton wrote: Yes,
I'm not sure the classes are blurred, there's a difference between a cheap small car, majoring on price and practicality and a trendy small car, an urban runaround, where style and trendiness is more of a consideration, and where the back seats are often never used. Vauxhall, for example have the Viva as their "cheap" small car, Adam as their "trendy" small car and Corsa and their "regular" supermini!
Mikey C wrote: LP in Brighton
I'd agree with this. I see a lot of Sanderos on the road and I assume that this is the market Ford are after, even though the Ka+ may be slightly smaller. I would have expected to see more Vivas around than I have done, though. Incidentally, I think Vauxhall may have shot themselves in the foot with Adam sales: The revised 3-door Corsa, with its Adam-esque front and interior would seem to offer enough personalisation for most people in a better value, slightly more practical package.
catnip wrote: Mikey C wrote:
I've so far seen one Viva but dozens of new Corsas, they seem to be flying out of the showrooms, often in some questionable colours. I can only assume that's down to price, because while the new Corsa is a good car, I don't think its a class leader.
Ford Figo
Yup, this is already on sale