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Ford Ka Ford Ka (pronounced "Ka" or "K.A.") is a subcompact car from Ford Motor Company marketed in Europe and elsewhere. The European market version is produced at Ford's Valencia plant in Southern Spain. The car was introduced on September 11, 1996 as a small and low-cost follow-on to the Fiesta and Escort. The Ka is based on the same platform as the Fiesta, but with a radically different design. When the Ka was first introduced to the public it provoked mixed reactions due to its original and striking "new edge" ovoid design. The car sold well, and the model range was expanded with the higher specification Ka2, and Ka3 (for the UK market). Later on these models were given more appealing names: the Ka2 was renamed Ka Collection and the Ka3 was renamed Ka Luxury (later LuxuryKa). The Luxury version came with practically unheard of refinements in this sector, including Quickclear heated windscreen, leather seats and standard air conditioning. There was also a Ka Sun Collection with a full length fabric folding roof. Besides the styling the Ka , like it's brethren Fiesta and Puma, was lauded for it's nimble handling. Under Richard Parry-Jones' supervision, the suspension and steering settings allowed for spirited cornering not unlike the Mini. Like Renault's Twingo, the main drawback was the Ka's 1300 cc pushrod 4 cylinder Endura-E engine, a design dating back to the 1960s Kent engine used in the Ford Anglia. Although not very modern, it provided enough torque to allow relaxed if not spirited driving. In 2002 the Endura-E was replaced by the overhead cam Duratec engine based on the same block. Other versions In 2003 the Ka brand was diversified, with the addition of a new SportKa featuring a sporty body kit and a convertible called StreetKa, launched with the help of pop singer Kylie Minogue. Both of these came with a new 1.6L 8-valve Duratec engine producing . The StreetKa is sometimes dubbed as "the poor man's Audi TT" due to its resemblance to that car. However, the StreetKa will be phased out in 2006. The Ka today Nearly a decade on, the Ka continues to be one of the best selling vehicles in the competitive European sub-B segment market. In Brazil, the Ka got a facelift in 2003 and is now slightly different externally and more aggressive than the European model. The main noticeable difference is on the rear, with new lights. The other difference from the European model is the lack of soundproofing, gradually removed each year since 2000 as a way to cut down costs, following what other Brazilian car makers previously did. The current version has no soundproofing at all and is a very noisy car inside, although not as noisy as the ultra-low-budget Chevrolet Celta. External links Ka
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