Creating an automotive design icon is quite a challenge. If it were an easy thing to do, I’m sure every car maker would have one. But of course it isn’t and therefore they haven’t. All the more surprising then that a major manufacturer like Ford should stick a dagger through the heart of its little Ford Ka - which stood every chance of achieving (some would argue it already had) cult iconic status.
Let’s look at the evidence. What are the basic ingredients that make up an automotive icon? First and foremost: individual and distinctive design. The original Ka had this in spades. Its charming, cheeky-chappie styling was like nothing else around. Ford designers themselves must have been pretty chuffed with themselves as they even used the Ka’s shape to define the K-A logo.
Next add a generous helping of character. Aside from the Ka’s cute and stylish looks, it was a hoot to drive. It arrived at a time when Ford’s engineers had really hit a sweet spot in tuning their chassis. Witness the Fiesta, Puma and the 1st generation Focus which followed soon after.
The toughest part of the equation is longevity. A true icon has got to stand the test of time and outlast all of its rivals. The Ka lasted 12 years without a major facelift, and in recent times, this is exceptional. OK, I know there was the StreetKa version and then the SportKa but, to me, these merely served to prove the validity of the original concept.
Ford had two choices on how to proceed. Either acknowledge that the Ka was something special and apply subtle changes (Kinetic dialect?) to update the design while still retaining the essence of the original (see Audi TT) or deny the baby Ford’s status, stick rigidly to the Kinetic design language and end up with the bizarre compressed Fiesta cum Corsa that is the all-new Ka. I think the former option could have resulted in a car that could almost match the appeal of the Fiat 500 that shares its platform.
Still, Ford is not alone in treading this disappointing path. Any takers for a charmless Twingo?
I agree that it is rather sad that the new Ka’s styling has been totally divorced from that of its predecessor. However, standing on its own merits it’s actually quite a sharp little number. And judging from the number of positive comments made during various recent road test reports, including Graham’s N.C.N. appraisal on 29-Oct-08, the new model would appear to be a high quality sweet-handling car.
If I were currently in the market for a car in this category my decision would be split equally between the Ka and the Fiat 500 due to brand loyalty in both camps… (In the sixties I owned an original Fiat 500 Combi Estate, and in the seventies I owned a Lotus Super Seven and an Elan Sprint, both of which were powered by Ford based Lotus/Cosworth engines)
However the Fiat would currently get the nod because I could (and would) opt for an Abarth version. However, if there were an ST/RS Ka available, I would have to think long & hard!
AlfaMartini | 10 Dec 08 - 9:54