Our colleagues at autoblog.it had a test drive in Bologna of the new Ford Ka, an essential model for the brand’s 2009 range and a key to surviving the current economic climate, keeping a city car on offer.

It appears that designing this new Ford Ka could have been a difficult task, with a starting point of the Fiat Panda which has created a leap in fantasy in terms of style. The front is where you most notice the design changes.

While the look is generally less chic than the Fiat 500, this city car has its own personality with some crazy colours available (though we recommend avoiding the more bizarre options) and a cutesy look that puts a small on your face.

Continue reading: We road test the new Ford Ka

From the Polish facility at Tychy, where the Fiat Panda and Fiat 500 are manufactured, the first example of the second generation of the Ford Ka has emerged (seen here with the lovely Olga Kuruylenko). With the new small car, Ford hopes to improve on the already excellent results achieved by the previous version, made in more than 1.4 million units in 12 years of its career. The car will be assembled in about 120,000 units a year.

Ford has invested 210 million euros in the project, necessary to create the extra 1000 jobs and to implement the latest paintwork systems that are environmentally friendly. After its world presentation at the Paris motor show, the new Ka will be commercialised in the main European markets by the end of the year.

Continue reading: Ford Ka II: production commences

Ford’s got one thing on its side here and that is no traditions to preserve, no sentimental style to introduce to the market. This car wants to be modern - and wants to be wanted. Not so difficult for a cabriolet, especially if it has a nice look. But Ford is leaving no room for risk-taking and will develop a folding hard top for the open air version of the Ka.

It will be a CC, basically, and will be different from Fiat’s offering. The 500 will be a hymn to romanticism with a traditional soft-top as an ode to its roots. Ford will likely have to give up the back seats to accommodate its ambitious plan. This is, however, only a question of space, as sports style will be left to the ST.

Source | Auto Express

Continue reading: Ford Ka cabriolet to have folding hard top

Finally, after a series of spy shots and rumours, the first official photo of the Ford Ka has come to light, right from the hands of the company.

The scoop comes from Tom at AutoExpress and CarTribe who in September should release an article dedicated to the new little one from Ford. Judging from this first shot, the new citycar generation has a nice look, totally different from the Fiat 500, so no suicides on the market will occur.

We’re waiting for other details and pics, but for the moment we’ve been left with a good impression.

Continue reading: Ford Ka: first official photo

These photos likely come from the Polish facilities at Tychy, where the Fiat 500 and the Ford Ka are assembled. The Ford can be seen here before it has been completely revealed, with the intention of distinguishing itself from its Italian cousin. Similarities with the latest generation Ford Fiesta are evident, courageous in its choice of chrome features and interiors.

Continue reading: Ford Ka: spy shots from the factory

The engines of the new Ford Ka are heating up in preparation for its Paris debut. Cologne’s citycar, which will be made in Tychy together with its cousin the Fiat 500, will encounter a competitve sector, where various choices (including that of Turin) expanding throughout Europe will be giving it a run for its money.

Either for the cold or to avoid curious photographers stealing important first details, the new Ka continues to go around all wrapped up, leaving a difficult job to the imagination. The stylistic direction will follow that of the new Ford Fiesta which we saw in Geneva (and which left us with a good impression): Kinetic Design had a spy as seen by photos published almost exactly a week ago.

And under the wrap? Many aspects will be shared with the 500, including the Euro 5 1.4 petrol engine, 100 bhp and 1.3 Multijet bhp. But that’s not all: given the clamour provoked by the Abarth 500, it looks as if Ford could be taking seriously the idea of a sporty range, composed of Ka ST and Ka RS, which would give a new expression to “Abarth” of “Abarth esseesse”.

Continue reading: New Ford Ka: cold spy photos

The next Ford Ka has a hard work to face: it must try not to be cannibalized by the charming Fiat 500, which provides the technical basis for the small german citycar.

The only way to gain popularity and face adequately the italian rival, is impressing a peculiar styling to the body, and it seems that Ford Europe will take the right decision: the 2009 Ford Ka will keep very close to the Ford Verve concept’s lines (headlights, air intake, belt line).

We are sure it is a necessary choice for keeping the distance between the two citycars, all the more so since the Fiat 500 won the “Car of the Year 2008″ award.

Continue reading: Ford Ka 2009 spied