The new Ford Figo sedan debuted last week on the New Delhi Auto Show in India. The Figo will be launched on the Indian car market in 2015, and it previews the Ford Ka sedan for the China car market. The Ford Ka sedan and Ford Ka hatchback will hit the Chinese auto market in Q4, debut is expected for the Guangzhou Auto Show in December.
The Ford Ka will be manufactured in China by the Changan-Ford joint venture. It will be positioned under the China-made Ford Fiesta and will battle mainly with the hugely popular Chevrolet Sail. Price will start around 50.000 yuan en end around 70.000 yuan ($8200-11.500), giving Ford an entry in a very important segment of the Chinese auto market for the first time.
There will be two engines available: a 1.0 liter three-cylinder Ecoboost with 80hp and a 1.5 liter four-cylinder with 111hp, both mated to a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic. Earlier on we heard the Ka was going to get a 1.3 as well but that engine seems off the table for now. The Ka will come as a five-door hatchback or a four-door sedan.
The Chinese name of the Ka will be Jiayi da (嘉逸达), which is best translated as ‘Ka up’ (as in ‘cheer up’).