The Sub-Fiesta hatchback gains two more doors, a higher level of quality and is powered by 1.2-litre petrol engine.
This Ford looks quite familiar… That’s because the all-new Ka+, is based on the Indian-built Figo. The Ka+ has been designed as an A-segment hatchback sitting below today’s B-segment Fiesta and has two more doors than its two predecessors. Although the Ka+ shares the same 2,489mm wheelbase as the Fiesta’s, it is 20mm shorter in overall length and 29mm taller in height. Ford claims sufficient space for both front and rear occupants, plus 21 stowage holes around the cabin to enhance practicality.
The Ka+ is said to have higher levels of quality than the Figo because it needs to be sold in Europe, where consumers are more demanding about how their cars need to be in terms of fit and finish. No pictures of the cabin have been issued officially yet, Can it qualify for Thailand’s Ecocar project? The Ka+ comes with a 1.2-litre petrol engine developing either 70hp or 85hp. In any case, Ford says fuel economy is rated at 19.9kpl and CO2 at 114g/km. This means that the Ka+, in this particular specification, can’t qualify for the country’s Ecocar project.
Don’t even mention the now-defunct Phase I rules which stipulated figures of at least 20kpl and no more than 120g/km. But even if Ford manages to make the Ka+ compatible with Phase II regs – 23.3kpl and 100g/ km – it’s unlikely they’ll do so. Sure, the Ka+ can rival the Honda Brio and Suzuki Celerio, but margins are wafer-thin and Thais usually like cars with roomy interiors. Does that mean that the next-gen Fiesta is going Ecocar? In theory, yes. As Ford is planning to introduce an all-new replacement for today’s Fiesta by next year, it’s highly likely that it could be made in Thailand under Phase II rules.
Apart from having higher sales volume around the world than the Ka+, the Fiesta can compete with other Ecocar-labelled B-segment cars like the Mazda 2, Nissan March, Suzuki Swift and Toyota Yaris more effectively. As well, the current Fiesta has the 1.0-litre Ecoboost engine that can be tuned to meet Phase II rules in the next-generation model. Hopefully, Ford will be able to find a business case for the new Fiesta falling into Ecocar Phase II project. Otherwise it would end up like Chevrolet, which stopped sales and production of the Sonic in Thailand last year.
