Ford Ka

The Age

Saturday July 5, 2008

David Morley

Although it shared its mechanicals with Noah's ark, this cheeky little car was a watershed in styling, writes David Morley.

CAR makers often talk about "design languages" when they're describing a particular styling trend they happen to be pursuing at the time.

BMW's current penchant for raised boot lines and sharp, angular flanks is referred to as its "Flame" design language and, whether they know it or not, most car makers have a crack at the concept.

In the case of Ford in the '80s and '90s, the design language was called "Edge", and it gave us, among other things, the angular face of the AU Falcon with its sharply pointed headlights and triangular taillights.

Frankly, it was less of a success than Ford would have liked. In fact, the AU Series II was rushed into production to try to jump-start sales and pretty much every change Ford made to the car's interior and exterior was to soften it and reduce the number of pure geometric shapes.

The Cougar was another Ford to use Edge design and its sweeping architecture was also easy to identify as such. It wasn't an immediate turn-off like the AU Falcon was to many people, but since it wasn't a mainstream offering in Australia, that didn't really make much difference to its fortunes.

Perhaps the car that most successfully used Edge design as prescribed by Ford was the littlest one of the lot, the Ka.

From its pointy details to its overall angled shape, the Ka was what Edge should have been all about.

The whole concept seemed to work much better with the Ka's stumpy little form and its cheeky functionality than it ever did in bigger, more prestigious vehicles.

Inside the Ka, Ford took the design theme to the max with plenty of circular fittings and bold styling statements, particularly in the way the instruments were presented.

From any angle, the Ka was a statement. In some regards it looked like a piece of modern sculpture from the '70s when artists were playing with new (art) materials such as plastics. In other ways it was a purely practical design with an interior that belied its footprint.

But it was all a bit of a facade, because under the skin, the Ka was a collection of ancient technology.

The engine, for instance, could trace its roots back decades and, in an age when double overhead camshafts and multi-valves are the norm, its two-valve-per-cylinder, pushrod design was a true anachronism.

So was the 43 kW of power it produced from its 1300 cc of capacity.

Not surprisingly, Ford never specified the Ka with an automatic transmission, so a conventional five-speed was the only one.

Performance around town was OK, but higher-speed touring, especially when loaded up, could test things. Overtaking? Plenty of planning was required, because there wasn't a lot happening when you put your foot down to go around that caravan and four-wheel-drive.

Handling was, predictably, a reasonably bumpy affair thanks to the Ka's short wheelbase and little wheels, but it was really manoeuvrable and simple to park with its tiny dimensions and good visibility in any direction.

What it lacked in outright performance and size, it more than made up for in personality.

The only catch there is that the fire went out of Ford's passion for Edge styling, which left the Ka (and the AU Falcon) distinctly old hat in fashion terms.

But as an example of how Edge design could work, the Ka is still head and shoulders above the rest and remains an interesting second-hand buy if you can live with its obvious limitations.

Perhaps the biggest of those will be the Ka's crash worthiness. Small cars often come off second-best in crashes with big cars and you need to keep that in mind. At least you got dual front airbags, but anti-lock brakes simply weren't part of the standard package. And that's a shame because it spoils what might otherwise have been a decent car for a younger driver.

On the plus side, the Ka is cheap to run and while its mechanical elements might have come off Noah's ark, at least they're proven and reliable.

While big Edge cars such as the AU Falcon probably turned off a lot of people, the Ka's undiluted cheekiness probably boosted the blue oval's small-car range. Which, if nothing else, proves that what works for one market sector, doesn't always go down too well in another.

Ford Ka 3/5

NUTS'N'BOLTS

? Engine: 1.3-litre, 4-cyl.

? Transmission: 5-man.

? Fuel economy (city/highway): 7.2/5.0 L/100 km.

? Safety rating (Euro NCAP): 3/5

LIKES

? Cheeky shape works well in this market.

? Short overhangs and good visibility mean the Ka is a cinch to park almost anywhere.

? Cheap to run.

? Groovy and fun motoring (for now).

DISLIKES

? Tiny size limits crash safety potential.

? No standard anti-lock brakes.

? Grey bumpers on early models look cheap and nasty.

? Ride quality not its long suit.

? Ancient engine design means minimal performance.

NEED TO KNOW

? Engine design that dates to the '60s is proven but needs oil changes. Skipped servicing can see the oilways block up and the engine destroy itself.

? An engine with a noisy or rattly top end could have camshaft troubles.

? The electronics that control the fuel injection can play up. Jerky progress during gear changes is one symptom.

? A recall for cars built between January and June 2001 was for brake hoses that could work loose and rub on the wheel or tyre. Should have been fixed by now, but check with a dealer.

? If you look at the pricing chart, you'll see the 2000 model is slightly cheaper than the 1999 car. It's because the CD player and the electric sunroof were deleted for 2000, so make sure you know exactly what you're buying.

COMPETITORS

? Mazda2 Probably the classiest of all the littlies. Good crash safety and a clever, funky interior. Easy to park and cheap to run like a small car, but goes and handles like a car one size bigger. Pretty special. 4/5

? Renault Clio Quaintly French in some areas, annoyingly so in others, including the weird driving position. Has plenty of personality, but mechanical maladies not unknown.

More expensive than the Ka. 3/5

? Toyota Echo Along with the Mazda, the thinking person's light car. Not as charming as the Mazda but ultra reliable and will still be worth something come trade-in time.

Looks a bit strange but it's growing on us. 4/5

© 2008 The Age

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