New Ford Ka+ (UK)
Ford announced the UK launch of their new Ka+ city
car, which is going to be slotted right beneath the best-selling Fiesta in
their range.
The new Ford KA+ is available for the first time in
five-door guise only, offering “outstanding interior space” for five passengers
in a sub-four meter-long body along with a fuel-efficient 1.2-litre Duratec
petrol engine.
The engine is derived from the 1.25-litre petrol
found in the Fiesta and is available in two versions: 69 hp and 84 hp. A five-speed manual gearbox is the only option. Fuel economy is rated
at a combined 56.5 mpg UK with the CO2 emissions rated at 114 g/km.
The new Ka+ is only marginally shorter than the
Fiesta but 29 mm taller, with Ford reckoning it’s able to fit a two-meter tall
passenger behind a two-meter tall driver. Boot capacity is rated at 270 lt while
practicality is taken care off by no less than 21 stowage solutions throughout
the cabin.
The European model features a unique chassis setup
which includes new springs and dampers, a rear torsion beam axle, a
re-engineered front subframe, a new setup for the power steering while the
front antiroll bar is now 47 per cent stiffer than the one in the Asian and
South American models and the ride height has been reduced by 10 mm for better
handling.
Other differences from its Asian and South American
brothers include things like improved door seals, Fiesta-sourced hydraulic
engine mount for more refinement, additional sound deadening, new rear
suspension bushes and extra aerodynamic fins for the door mirror mounts for
less buffeting.
The new Ford Ka+ is now available in the UK,
starting from £ 8,995. Customers will be able to order a Black and White model,
like the ones shown here, later this year.
