The all-new Ford KA+ compact car delivers outstanding interior space, excellent fuel efficiency and fun-to-drive dynamics for customers in Europe at a value-for-money price.
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 a price point starting at €9,990 in Germany and £8,995 in the U.K.
“Ford has a long history of offering affordable small cars that are practical, economical and fun-to-drive,” said Jim Farley, executive vice president and president, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Ford Motor Company. “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.”
Consumer demand for value small cars is increasing in Europe, with price, fuel efficiency and comfort among the leading factors in decision making. Sales of 410,000 small cars priced under €13,000 in 2015 accounted for 13 per cent of the small car segment – itself expected to account for 34 per cent of vehicles sales across the region by 2020.
Generous space for five
The all-new Ford 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 4 metres.
The KA+ 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 front headroom of 1,002 mm, rear legroom of 896 mm and rear hip room of 1335mm. The spacious interior delivers enough room for a 2 metre tall passenger to sit behind a 2 metre tall driver.
The KA+ provides outstanding every-day practicality with 270 litres of luggage space – 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. Driver and passengers can stow drinks easily with two cupholders for both the front and rear seat rows.
Taking inspiration from Ford’s latest design language, the stylish, well-proportioned exterior features the distinctive high-mounted trapezoidal grille with large, swept-back headlamps. All KA+ models offer a smart, integrated finish with chrome detailing for the front grille, together with body-coloured bumpers, door handles and door mirrors. A two-piece rear fascia with black insert adds character specifically for European models and also reduces replacement costs in the event of low-speed accident damage.
The interior features an attractive grained finish on the instrument panel and hard-wearing, contemporary trim materials in a stylish dark charcoal colour scheme. Distinctive chrome accents are applied in tactile and highly visible areas such as the door release handles, centre console control knobs and air vents.
Responsive and economical powertrain
The all-new 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 70 PS and 85 PS 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, 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.
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. Both engine options achieve CO2 emissions of 114 g/km, with combined fuel consumption of 5.0 l/100 km (56.5 mpg).**
An additional 85 PS high-efficiency variant is available in certain markets with a raised final drive ratio and unique calibration to deliver CO2 emissions of 110g/km.
Agile, fun-to-drive and comfortable
The all-new KA+ has been developed to deliver agile, fun-to-drive dynamics that match European customer expectations.
To deliver the desired dynamic performance, 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.
Unique tuning for the KA+ Electronic Power Assisted Steering system in Europe 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.
Driving dynamics are further enhanced with a front anti-roll bar for customers in Europe that is 47 per cent stiffer than for customers in Asia and South America. Ride height is reduced by 10 mm for greater body control.
The vehicle also has undergone an intensive development programme to ensure improved comfort and refinement in typical European driving conditions, with a range of measures to minimise wind noise, road noise and powertrain noise levels including:
Following final tuning and development carried out at Ford’s European proving ground in Lommel, Belgium, and during extensive test drives on European roads, the KA+ provides customers with an enjoyable and comfortable driving experience, with best-in-class noise levels of 73 decibels when driving on coarse surfaces at 80 km/h (50 mph).
The KA+ body structure also has been extensively developed to meet European safety standards, with more than 8,000 hours of computer-aided crash simulation undertaken alongside a comprehensive crash test programme to ensure impact performance and pedestrian protection.
To enhance crash performance, nearly 50 per cent of the KA+ body is constructed from high-strength steels, including the floor, front and rear chassis rails, window pillars, front bumper beam and passenger door beams.
Standard safety equipment includes six airbags and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System that can advise drivers with a warning light when a tyre is significantly under-inflated.
Comprehensive standard equipment, with two series choices
Customers can select from two KA+ series options, with a standard 70 PS model, and an 85 PS model that also features:
All KA+ models deliver a comprehensive standard specification including power front windows and door mirrors, remote central locking, Electronic Stability Control with Hill Start Assist, Speed Limiter, and Ford Easy Fuel.
When choosing the 85 PS model, customers can specify a range of attractive optional features including electronic climate control, leather steering wheel with cruise control, heated front seats, DAB audio system, rear parking sensors, power rear windows and heated/power folding door mirrors, privacy glass and 15-inch alloy wheels.
Exclusive and stylish KA+ Black and White special edition versions of the KA+ also will be available for customers to order later this year. The KA+ Black and White editions contrast either a black body colour with white roof and door-mirrors, or a white body with black roof and door-mirrors. Both versions feature black 15-inch alloy wheels and are offered exclusively with the 85 PS 1.2-litre Duratec engine.
“Choosing a compact car should not mean having to compromise,” said Darren Palmer, small car vehicle line director, Ford of Europe. “Our all-new KA+ lives up to the high standards set by our Ford Fiesta, B-MAX and EcoSport compact cars by delivering the style, space, advanced technology and refinement that European customers want.”
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* JATO Dynamics results are based on information provided by JATO Consult, the company's bespoke consulting service. Figures are based on 30 European countries. For more information please visit www.jato.com.
** The declared Fuel/Energy Consumptions, CO2 emissions and electric range are measured according to the technical requirements and specifications of the European Regulations (EC) 715/2007 and (EC) 692/2008 as last amended. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are specified for a vehicle variant and not for a single car. The applied standard test procedure enables comparison between different vehicle types and different manufacturers. In addition to the fuel efficiency of a car, driving behaviour as well as other non-technical factors play a role in determining a car's fuel/energy consumption, CO2 emissions and electric range. CO2 is the main greenhouse gas responsible for global warming.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 203,000 employees and 67 plants worldwide, the company’s core business includes designing, manufacturing, marketing and servicing a full line of Ford cars, trucks and SUVs, as well as Lincoln luxury vehicles. To expand its business model, Ford is aggressively pursuing emerging opportunities with investments in electrification, autonomy and mobility. Ford provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products and services, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 53,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately 68,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 24 manufacturing facilities (16 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and 8 unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.
