Ford Scraps Plan to Bring All-New Fuel-Efficient Ka to U.S., Says It's Too Small
Despite a solid launch of the new Ka subcompact car in Europe earlier this year, Ford Motor Co. has reconsidered its plan to bring the subcompact to the U.S. and has decided that the car is too small for American tastes.
In an interview with Automotive News (subscription required) published Monday, Ford CEO Alan Mulally said "our view is that Fiesta is about the smallest vehicle that we think will be a real success in the United States."
The Ka, which Ford developed with Fiat, is at 142.5 inches a full 25 inches shorter than the Fiesta, which will go on sale in the U.S. early next year.
However, the Ka is more than 3 feet longer than the popular Smart ForTwo, which measures 106.1 inches from bumper to bumper. Both likely would have been priced the same, starting around $12,000 for the base model.
The Ka is also a few inches longer than its sister vehicle, the Fiat 500, which Chrysler Group plans to sell in America in 2011.
We're disappointed with Ford's decision, because the Ka European motorists can purchase can be had with either of two low-emission engines: a 1.2-liter, 69-horsepower gas-burner or a 1.3-liter, 75-hp turbodiesel.
While the EPA never got a chance to provide a fuel-efficiency rating for the Ka, the gasoline version is said to get about 40 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving, while the diesel version is said to be capable of more than 60 mpg.
The European Ka is produced in Tychy, Poland, while a version sold in Latin America is built in Brazil and Argentina. The model has been produced since 1996 and entered its second generation earlier this year.
- Posted by
- Scott Doggett November 10, 2009, 1:24 PM
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- Categories:
- Chrysler, Emissions, Fiat, Ford, Fuel Economy
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- Ford Ka, Fuel Effcient, Low-Emissions
Big surprise, Ford makes another bad decision. After refusing to bring Fiesta over for years, it's nearly all we hear about from them and one of their "turn around" cars. Maybe we'll see it in a few years when they need another turn around car.
It's a "bad decision" to introduce a car of uncertain success? How many Americans who drive a Ka in Europe come away saying "Gosh, if I had to choose whether to put my $12,000 in a microcompact Ka or a regular compact Focus, I'd certainly choose the Ka!"?
I guess Ford needs to prove the Fiesta can sell and not cannibalize it with an even smaller model. I bet once the Fiesta settles into the American market and the Fiat 500 starts making a name for itself, I wouldn't be surprised if Ford readdresses bringing the Ka to the US.