Ford Street Ka going into production?

[WhipLash]

Could it be true? Is the Ford Street Ka going into production? Has aonyone seen the latest issue of Autocar? Is it the Street Ka pictured on the front for £12,000???

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[Phil]

Ford of Europe GmbH and Industrie Pininfarina SpA today (February 27, 2001) announced that they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the engineering and manufacture of future niche vehicles, starting with a production version of the Ghia-designed Ford StreetKa Concept.

"Our new partnership with Industrie Pininfarina is good business in the aftermath of our European restructuring," said Ford of Europe President and Chief Executive Officer David Thursfield. "Using their specialised capabilities and expertise for niche products like the StreetKa makes more sense than it would for Ford to invest in low-volume production capacity. This allows us to maximise our resources to achieve our product-led transformation strategy with both high-volume models and niche derivatives."

The Ford StreetKa concept has received enthusiastic public response since its debut at the 2000 Turin Motor Show, and the decision to proceed with a production version follows a detailed feasibility study by Ford's European product development group.

"With the StreetKa Concept, we were looking for a public reaction, and we certainly drew a crowd whenever we showed it," said Martin Leach, Ford of Europe's vice president of product development. "Our decision to go ahead and produce the StreetKa with Industrie Pininfarina is another signal of our intent to connect with customers in contemporary, exciting ways, and exemplifies the spirit we're striving to infuse into the Ford range - exciting new products that are transforming the Ford brand in Europe."

[Phil]

Production Target 2003

True to the concept vehicle, the production version of the Ford StreetKa will be based on the popular Ford Ka. Ford is targeting 2003 as the timing of the street-sports car's public introduction.

"It is too early to reveal specific attributes of the production vehicle," said Leach, "but we are determined that it will be faithful to the spirit of the Ghia-designed concept vehicle on display at Geneva."

"Inspiration for the StreetKa concept came from studying the diverse European youth culture and the constantly evolving trends in street fashion, music and film," added Leach, "We have taken the already fashionable Ford Ka and given it an urban, street spider look and feel."

Ford and Pininfarina - a new relationship

The production version of the Ford StreetKa marks the beginning of a new relationship between Ford and Industrie Pininfarina SpA, one of the automotive world's most respected experts in the engineering and manufacture of exciting niche vehicles.

The StreetKa production programme will be headquartered at Industrie Pininfarina's development and manufacturing facilities in the Turin area.

"This important first step in our relationship with Ford of Europe is a good example of the how the Pininfarina Group is expanding its portfolio of services to OEMs," said Sergio Pininfarina, Chairman and Managing Director of Pininfarina."

StreetKa Concept - design elements

Ford StreetKa Concept was designed and built by Ford's Ghia SpA design studio in Turin, Italy.

Exterior body panels are finished in a mauve-tinted, silver metallic paint and these are complemented by an easy-fold, fully concealed canvas top. Six-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in 17-inch, specially sculpted Pirelli racing tires give the vehicle a wider, performance stance. Modified headlights, new fenders and bumpers add even more uniqueness to the street-sports concept.

The interior features two, racing-style bucket seats trimmed in dark blue leather. The instrument panel is constructed of translucent plastic with anodised aluminium accents. Unique driving gauges include an analogue speedometer and radio/CD controls that can be rotated to reveal a chronograph timer and a rev counter.

The structural reinforcements on the interior and two aluminium roll bars add to the full safety and stability of the passenger compartment. Two aluminium bulkheads are positioned at the front and rear of the compartment and are connected by four longitudinal extruded beams that also function as concealed seat tracks.

Ka's Vibrant Character

Introduced in 1996, Ka was the first Ford vehicle to feature a sharper, more precise design treatment with smooth, sculpted surfaces and clean, crisp intersections - what would become known as Ford's New Edge design.

Source : Ford