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  1. Five possible Paris Show stars
  2. Peugeot RC Hybrid concept, Peugeot's hybrid style
  3. Ferrari California, Dreaming in Paris
  4. BMW 7 Series, Techno-wonder
  5. VW Golf, Sensible, yet desirable
  6. Ford Ka, Mini-Fiesta

Ford Ka, Mini-Fiesta

It's fairly irrelevant that the new Ford Ka is based on the underpinnings of Fiat's 500. The Ka does share the 500's overall proportions - and engine line-up - but it takes on a distinctive appearance all its own, with Ford's designers wrapping the mechanicals in a shape reminiscent of a shrink-wrapped Fiesta.

The Fiesta link is no bad thing, especially as our first drive in the Ka's big brother suggests that it shoots straight to the top of the supermini class. The Ka hopes to do the same in the city car segment, though its predecessor didn't do too badly at all with 480,000 examples sold in the 12 years of production.

Along with a cute exterior, the new Ka features a stylish cockpit with loads of neat touches and technology options to appeal to the younger buyer.

Shane O' Donoghue

Tuesday September 2