The new KA+, Ford’s mini/compact vehicle, has gone on sale. Ford claims it delivers outstanding interior space, excellent fuel efficiency, and fun-to-drive dynamics at a value-for-money price from €13,050 ex-works.
Joining Ford’s small-car line-up alongside the best-selling Fiesta, the KA+ provides an attractive new alternative for European buyers who want a spacious, well-equipped and high-quality small car at an attractive purchase price that also delivers low running costs.
Ford says the new KA+ is a 5-door hatchback based on Ford’s global small-car platform, and offers generous space for five people at an overall length of less than four metres. It is slightly shorter than the Fiesta, but 29 millimetres taller. The interior features seats, door panels and roof headliner that are optimised to provide class-leading space - Ford boasts the spacious interior delivers enough room for a two-metre tall passenger to sit behind a two-metre tall driver.
The KA+ also provides great every-day practicality with 270 litres of luggage space. That’s enough to accommodate two large suitcases, plus 60/40 split-folding rear seats, and 21 stowage locations for small items throughout the cabin.
Stowage areas include MyFord Dock in the centre of the instrument panel that enables occupants to store, mount and charge mobile devices such as phones and navigation systems, and front door bins that can each hold a 1.0-litre bottle, a 0.6-litre bottle and a small umbrella. A hidden stowage bin within the end of the instrument panel is only accessible when the driver’s door is open, allowing valuables to be hidden out of sight.
“Ford has a long history of offering affordable small cars that are practical, economical and fun-to-drive,” said Ciarán McMahon, managing director of Ford Ireland. “KA+ is true to that tradition, packing a huge amount of value into a compact car that delivers agile driving dynamics and a comfortable interior with class-leading front headroom and rear legroom.”
The KA+ features a simplified powertrain line-up based on an efficient new 1.2-litre Duratec petrol engine to offer maximum value to consumers. Available with a choice of 70PS and 85PS power outputs, the 1.2-litre engine is derived from the same family as the 1.25-litre engine in the Fiesta, and features twin-independent variable camshaft timing technology to enhance performance, fuel efficiency and emissions.
Combined with a standard five-speed manual transmission, Ford claims that the 1.2-litre engine has been tuned to deliver smooth and responsive performance, with a broad spread of torque that makes the car easy and fun to drive in both city motoring and on longer journeys.
Fuel efficiency has been enhanced using optimised calibration, low-friction engine oil and regenerative charging, which saves fuel by maintaining efficient charge levels in the vehicle battery by capturing ‘free’ electrical energy when drivers coast or brake.
In Ireland, customers can select from two KA+ series options, with a standard 70 PS model (Studio ) priced from €13,050, and an 85 PS model (Zetec ) available from €14,650 ex-works.
Standard specification on the Studio model includes: 15” steel wheels; body-coloured bumpers; chrome upper grille; front fogs and daytime running lights; AM/FM Radio with device dock; speed limiter; trip computer; perimeter alarm with remote central locking.
For €1,600, the KA+ Zetec adds: Manual air-conditioning; 15” alloy wheels; Ford SYNC with AppLink; leather steering wheel; cruise control; and MyKey.
Low rolling resistance tyres and enhanced aerodynamic details, such as an optimised front lower spoiler lip and grille openings developed during more than 200 hours of wind tunnel testing, also contribute to improved efficiency. engine options achieve CO2 emissions of 114g/km, with a claimed combined fuel consumption of 5.0 l/100km (or 56.5mpg ).
Ford says the new KA+ has been developed to deliver agile, fun-to-drive dynamics that match customer expectations.
To deliver the desired dynamic performance, Ford says that the KA+ features a unique chassis specification with specially developed features including springs and dampers, rear torsion beam axle, brake pads and tyres, and a re-engineered front sub-frame.
It also claims unique turning for the KA+ electronic power assisted steering system delivers a faster 2.6 turn lock-to-lock ratio and speed sensitive assistance, resulting in lighter steering at low speeds and more feedback at higher speeds to make city centres easier to negotiate and country road driving more rewarding.
