Ford recently unveiled the all-new Ka subcompact in Europe. Last month Ford's CEO told reporters that the automaker is re-thinking the idea of bringing the small car to the U.S.
Ford has made a commitment to small cars in the U.S. with its upcoming Fiesta and new Focus. The Ka is smaller than the Fiesta. Mulally recently told the Automotive News that the Ka might eventually be sold on our shores, but that Ford needs to figure out a way to make a profit on it.
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Ford May Bring the Ka Subcompact to the US
Comments (16)
Bring the Ka and the girl in front of it. Nissan just dropped a 1.6 Versa to $9999, this would be perfect for Ford to counter with.
Posted by Gary | November 3, 2008 9:12 AM
Posted on November 3, 2008 09:12
Bag the car, I love blondes.
-jOSH
Posted by Josh | November 3, 2008 10:34 AM
Posted on November 3, 2008 10:34
Is the Ka the same as the Mazda 1 that's coming here? If so, then its not needed (or was the 1 the same as a Fiesta?).
Posted by gm0n3y | November 3, 2008 10:53 AM
Posted on November 3, 2008 10:53
The Ka is a great looking small car. I own all Japanese cars so I think I'm objective on the opinion and style of the car. All Ford would have to do is price the car right and ensure the quality and they have a winner.
Posted by John C | November 3, 2008 1:46 PM
Posted on November 3, 2008 13:46
Make a profit? Since when has Ford made a profit? And more importantly, when has that been an important part of their decision making?
Bottom Line; People are abandoning your brand, you need to get them back. Bringing more small cars to the US will begin to do that.
What you should have done, was thought this through a few years back, or even a few months back before things go this bad.
Ford makes me sick, along with other US manufacturers. How could you let everyone else overtake us, in our own country? I'm sure oil companies had a lot to do with the decisions to hold off, and now everyone is paying the price.
Bring us the european versions of the vehicles we want! Bring the Focus RS & similar concepts! There's your profit right there - premium models and features.
Posted by Ryan | November 3, 2008 3:28 PM
Posted on November 3, 2008 15:28
I could not agree more then with Ryan, stop bringing cheap water downed version of quality europe spec cars and just build 1 quality car and sell it all over!
Posted by 5thgear | November 3, 2008 4:59 PM
Posted on November 3, 2008 16:59
Wont make it to the US unless they add a fugly chrome grille.
Posted by WareWolF | November 3, 2008 6:07 PM
Posted on November 3, 2008 18:07
@ 5thgear
North Americans don't pay nearly as much for their vehicles as Europeans. In Europe, the Focus is £12,795 (roughly $19,000). In the US the Focus is $14,995. The Euro Focus is $4000 more and so obvious has $4000 worth of quality.
Whatever car Ford brings from Europe will be watered down unless Americans start paying as much as the Europeans for small cars. The Americans still have the mentality that you pay more for bigger but not for better. This explains why, regardless whether its Toyota or Chevy, the interiors on small cars suck compared to mid and full-sized cars.
Posted by A.J. | November 3, 2008 8:51 PM
Posted on November 3, 2008 20:51
No american hand should touch the design, no maytag grill, no agri interiors, no wood grain.
Just bring it as it is.
And bring some of those managers over as well!
Call it 'Fords contribution to national education'.
AJ: check your taxes before you post. The recent upswing of Dollar/Euro should give Ford some time to test the market at very low costs.
Posted by lowest iq | November 3, 2008 11:07 PM
Posted on November 3, 2008 23:07
I won't be buying one.
Posted by bobby | November 4, 2008 8:20 AM
Posted on November 4, 2008 08:20
Bring the Ka...please. I know it's difficult to make a profit on small cars but so what. They've figured it out in other countries, why can't they do it here?
Auto manufacturers spend millions on market research, engine development, concept cars, advertising, etc but they can't spend money to figure out how to make a profit on their own cars that they already make a profit on in other markets? Sounds stupid to me.
You don't see Nissan, Hyundai, Toyota, or Kia bitching. They just do it. Get with the program or get out.
Posted by D! | November 4, 2008 9:20 AM
Posted on November 4, 2008 09:20
The Ka would be a perfect starter car price it starting at 9,000 and you will have an unbeatable car for the price that no current car company could compete with.
Posted by SteelCity1981 | November 5, 2008 10:22 AM
Posted on November 5, 2008 10:22
Is'nt the Focus small enough? Can a 6 footer even fit in one without his knees wrapped around his throat? Can it even fit a weeks worth of groceries in the trunk without the driver having to ride on the roof? When will this obsession with tiny cracker-jack cars end? I thought we left this behind back in the 80's.
Posted by Mark | November 7, 2008 6:09 PM
Posted on November 7, 2008 18:09
Hey Mark, haven't you heard? The smaller the car you drive, the more hung you appear.
Posted by 426Hemi | November 7, 2008 8:50 PM
Posted on November 7, 2008 20:50
It does not help matters when my package is the only thing that will fit in the car.
Posted by Mark | November 9, 2008 8:46 AM
Posted on November 9, 2008 08:46
LMAO
Posted by 426Hemi | November 9, 2008 1:17 PM
Posted on November 9, 2008 13:17