Ford KA COLLECTION
Fords Improved Ka Collection Offers A Plush and Appealing Citycar Package. Jonathan Crouch Checks It Out
Just because someone opts for one of the smallest cars available, it doesnt mean that they necessarily want to skimp on lifes little comforts. Evidence comes in the trendy shape of Fords little Ka Collection, a key part of a range recently refettled to underline its dominance in the citycar sector.
Four out of every ten sub-Supermini citycars sold at present are
Ford Kas, a trend likely to continue thanks to the installation of a more modern 1.3-litre 8-valve engine under the bonnet. Much of that 40% market share is made up of Ka Collection models, this mid-range £8,595 variant appearing to offer urban motorists the right combination of style and sense. For around £1,500 more than the base Ka variant, you get body-coloured bumpers, chrome-effect kick-plates, special carpet mats, unique interior trim, and leather for the steering wheel and gearknob.
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Thats on top of the standard Ka specification which runs to power steering, central locking, electric front windows, a large format stereo, rear wash/wipe, tinted glass and a height adjustable drivers
seat. Meanwhile, to ensure nobody makes off with your pride and joy, there are high security door locks and a Safeguard immobiliser. If all this kit isnt enough, you can also specify any of a selection of extras at an additional cost. These include alloy wheels, air conditioning, an electric sunroof or a passenger airbag.
All the latest 1.3-litre Ka models swop the ancient Endura-E engine used since the 1996 launch for a far more modern 70bhp 1.3-litre 8-valve unit borrowed from the latest Fiesta. The performance figures for this unit arent much different but, given that most of the engines pulling power is available from just 1,900rpm, the driving experience certainly is.
Youll notice that around town this cars natural habitat of course the need for constant gearchanging is much reduced. Usefully, fuel consumption is improved too. Expect to achieve 43.5mpg on the combined cycle.
"Arriving in one will leave your unmistakable signature wherever you go"
Outside, the Ka looks much the same as ever, but
Ford couldnt resist the temptation to tinker around with the interior. The redesigned instrument panel now houses an electric odometer and a low fuel warning light, while theres a rev counter included on Collection models. As before, Collection spec sits just above Ka and Ka Style, but just below LuxuryKa status. Recent changes include the addition of an automatic wash-wipe for the windscreen wipers and a wider range of optional extras, such as the dealer-fit passenger airbag deactivation and parking distance sensors.
There are also fresh colours and smarter alloy wheel and wheel trim designs. Otherwise the recipe is much the same. The Ka has taken small citycars into a new era pure and simple. Before it arrived, models of this kind were boring to drive, terrifyingly unsafe and certainly not suitable for venturing outside the city limits.
This model has changed all of that and blazed a path that others have subsequently had to follow. Which is just as well. After all, it's predicted that within a few years, the small car sector will account for over 35% of the total European market, with annual sales over 650,000 units greater than they are today. What the Ka has also done in the sub-Supermini citycar segment is to fragment this sector into two halves: those who want to make a lifestyle statement and those who don't. If you like being noticed, the funky Ka still looks chic on the High Street. If you dont, then youre far more likely to opt for a VW Lupo or
Fiat Seicento. If you want a little extra comfort than the Collection can offer, the LuxuryKa may well suit.
In return for £10,295, you get body-coloured bumpers, 14-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, the handy Quickclear heated front windscreen and body coloured electric door mirrors. Remote central locking, a CD player and full Light Cyprus coloured leather seats and trim are also part of the deal, giving a genuinely, well, luxury feel to this plush little Ka. The interior ambience is completed by pale steel dashboard trim that complements the light colours used about the cabin pretty effectively. Whichever Ka you choose, youll be buying into one of the safest small cars on the road today, meeting all current and future safety legislation for front and side impacts.
Packaging is another Ka strongpoint. You wouldn't believe the amount of oddment space and front legroom that the designers have crammed into the tiny cabin. The sheer size restrictions of a car 210mm shorter than the already compact Fiesta had to catch up with them somewhere however, and as you might imagine, the sacrifices have mainly been made around the two sculpted seats in the rear. Still, you can't have everything. Ka buyers will almost certainly have another, larger car anyway. What matters is that the finished product bears the signature of its creators. Just as, come to think of it, arriving in one will leave your unmistakable signature wherever you go.
FACTS AS A GLANCE
CAR: Ford Ka Collection
PRICE: £8,595 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 2
CO2 EMISSIONS: 154g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 104mph/ 0-60mph 13.7s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 35.8mpg / (extra urban) 58.8mpg /(combined) 47.9mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Driver's Airbag / seatbelt 'grabbers'
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 3620/1631/1368mm WHO TO SEE: April 11th 2005
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