Ford unveils global small car concept `Ka’ in Brazil

Ford Motor Co, the No 2 US car maker, has unveiled the new concept `Ka', a global small car aimed at consumers in emerging markets across the world.

Ford Ka, which envisions a robust, cleverly designed and fuel-efficient new choice for urban consumers, will strengthen Ford's portfolio of offerings in the fast-growing global compact cars market.

Chief Executive Alan Mulally's pet project, the `Ka' , a four-door, five-passenger hatchback showcased at the company's Camacari plant in Brazil on Wednesday, will be introduced in Brazil next year.

Ford Motor Company executive chairman Bill Ford opened the ceremony at Ford's Northeast Industrial Complex in Camaçari before an audience of consumers, media and employees.

Bill Ford was in South America to celebrate the company's 100-year anniversary in Argentina later in the week.

Designed with many features normally reserved for more expensive vehicles, the Ka concept car  offers ''class-leading fuel economy, a roomy interior with comfortable seating for five, best-in-class air conditioning, and a host of useful technologies such as a central docking station for mobile devices and Ford SYNC.''

The Ka features many global Ford design cues, including the trapezoidal front grille and detailed surface lines, elongated headlamps, sweeping curved lines moving from the front of the vehicle to the rear, a roofline that rises from the rear to the trunk lid and large tail lamps.

It also features a best-in-class interior design with quality craftsmanship, including a shoe console side stowage that complements a device-docking station that will serve as the driver's connection point to the world of mobility.

The Ka, which offers a more robust package of features and amenities that are important for compact car buyers, is expected to be launched in 2014. Ford will eventually bring the `Ka' to other emerging markets, including China.

Ford did not reveal the price of the global Ka but said the current Ka costs between $10,000 and $12,000 in Brazil, compared with $17,000 to $26,000 for the Fiesta. The current Ka is sold in Europe and South America.

The global Ka will rival the Volkswagen Polo, Fiat Uno and Chevrolet Onix, Ford said.

The `Ka' concept is the second vehicle developed by Ford Brazil after the highly successful EcoSport compact utility. The `Ka' will place Ford in a strong position to serve customers in all markets with a full family of vehicles.

''Ford has a long history in Brazil, bringing development, jobs and growth to the region,'' said Bill Ford. ''As an integral part of our global growth strategy, we are committed to bringing world-class products to Brazil and to helping the region create global vehicles for the rest of the world.''

The global Ka, which shares components and an underbody with the Fiesta and EcoSport compact crossover, represents the latest test of Mulally's `One Ford' plan.

The Ka concept vehicle will address the growing global demand for sub-B compact vehicles, a segment that is projected to increase to approximately 6.2 million vehicles by 2017, according to Ford.

The sub-B compact vehicle segment is expected to grow by 35 per cent between 2012 and 2017, far outpacing the industry growth rate by 12 percentage points, largely on the back of surging demand from urban consumers in developing countries.

Ford expects 44 per cent of the market for `sub-B' cars to be in South Asia and South America.

Based in Dearborn, Michigun, USA, Ford Motor Company manufactures or distributes automobiles through 65 plants across six continents and employs about 180,000 people worldwide.