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- All new Ford Ka priced from £7,995
- Improved economy and sub-120g/km CO2*
- Affordable personalisation options from £300
- Diesel engine now available
All new Ka is available with 1.2 69PS petrol and 1.3 75PS diesel engines, sub-120g/km CO2 emissions and a host of big car features. There is a wide choice of specification and trim options, each with comprehensive and imaginative equipment levels.
STUDIO from £7,995
The Studio model provides small-car buyers with an affordable and stylish package. Standard features include Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS), height-adjustable steering wheel, ABS brakes, driver and passenger front airbags, headlamp courtesy delay system and body-coloured bumpers. Six speakers, CD radio with MP3 compatibility and AUX-in connector also come as standard on all models.
STYLE from £8,495
Style boosts Ka's specification with powered and heated body-coloured door mirrors, electric front windows with driver-side one-touch up and down, body-coloured door handles, remote/central locking, driver seat height adjust and 50/50 rear split seat, rear headrests and driver seat memory function.
STYLE + from £8,995
Upgrading to the Style + adds air conditioning and heated windscreen.
ZETEC from £9,495 (£10,195 for 1.3 TDCi)
Expected to be the most popular choice, Ka Zetec will account for more than 40 per cent of sales. Additional features to the Style+ include 15in alloy wheels, front fog lamps, remote central locking, upgraded instruments and trip computer, as well as theatre dimming interior lights. The optional 1.3 diesel engine offers lower CO2 emissions and even better economy.
Ford of Britain’s marketing director, Mark Simpson, said: “We're really excited about the launch of the all new Ka. It gives us a great opportunity to appeal to an even wider audience and keep the Ka as Britain's top super-mini.”
An array of personalisation options is also on offer from £300. Full price list including all options is attached.
Series Studio 1.2 69PS
CO2 119g/km
Combined mpg 55.4
On-the-road price £7,995
Series 1.2 69PS
CO2 1199/km
Combined mpg 55.4
On-the-road price £8,495
Series Style+ 1.2 69PS
CO2 119g/km
Combined mpg 55.4
On-the-road price £8,995
Series Zetec 1.2 69PS
CO2 119g/km
Combined mpg 55.4
On-the-road price £9,495
Series Zetec 1.3 TDCi
CO2 112g/km
Combined mpg
On-the-road price £10,195
To arrange a Test Drive in the new Ford Ka please Click Here
AS NEW starts go, they don’t get much more successful than this! Lifestyle Europe launched their new website just two weeks before the judges picked it as number one in the Car Dealer Ewards – and the dealer group couldn’t be happier.
The firm’s winning website was produced by G-Forces – whose marketing director Tim Smith sits on the Ewards judging panel – and it was only launched at the beginning of October.
Lifestyle Europe has nine sites across Kent and Sussex with franchises for Ford, Mazda, Renault, Isuzu and Subaru. The company is run by managing director Peter Isted and chairman Marc Matthew after the pair launched the firm following a management buy-out of the HMG Group in 2001.
‘It’s good to know that this Eward was voted for independently,’ said Isted, pictured accepting his Eward from the editor. ‘We’re delighted with the work G-Forces have done for us, but it’s nice to know that the other judges had to allocate their points to our site for us to pick up the title. We’re delighted.’
And Isted is right – the site wouldn’t have secured the number one slot without the points from the majority of the judging panel and it certainly impressed our web experts.
HPI’s automotive director Daniel Burgess said: ‘LifestyleEurope.co.uk is an example of a stylish website that provides real impact and fantastic user content.’
All judges were impressed by the clear and clean appearance that is easy to understand and interact with. The use of sound and animation was singled out for praise as was the large amounts of pictures of stock.
Isted explained huge emphasis is placed on this with each dealer in the group given targets for the amount of cars they’re expected to upload each month. ‘Staff can’t add a car without a minimum of six pictures and they can add up to nine,’ he explained.
‘We know it’s important for the site to be fresh and up-to-date so our dealers are given targets for the number of cars they must upload – some have to put on 60 a month.’
The website is co-ordinated by the firm’s group IT manager Carys Jukes, who Isted singles out as instrumental in the new site’s success. ‘She has been so dedicated to getting it look the way it does,’ he says.
Jukes was tasked with coming up with a more professional offering to the outgoing website with an emphasis on search engine optimisation that would catapult the group up the rankings.
Isted, and his management team, also wanted to be able to modify the site in-house rather than rely on an outside agency.
‘The original site had just got too complicated and we’d added to it and chopped and changed too much, so with the new one we had to take a step back and start again to get it right,’ explained Isted. ‘I think we’ve done that.’
So, just how important is the internet to the Lifestyle business? Absolutely vital, says the MD. ‘You only need to look at the fact that we employ a staff member full-time to look after the website to see the importance we place on the web,’ he explains.
‘We’ve doubled our spend on it this year and cut back on local press advertising which wasn’t working for us. A good 75 to 80 per cent of customers say they used the website before coming to see us and that’s a huge number of people.’
While chatting to Car Dealer, Isted produced a half-inch thick marketing report that listed huge amounts of statistics on the website. He explains it is produced monthly for the directors and goes to show how key the web is to the firm.
‘Who’s emailed in, when the busiest and quietest days are for traffic and how many people have visited the site are all included – this all helps us plan our next step online,’ he says.
Traffic is increasing too. Despite the latest figures only detailing stats prior to the new site launching, they still showed a 20 per cent increase in traffic. What helps drive this traffic is the huge amount of information provided on the site. Ewards judges were particularly impressed with the detailed listings for the cars that include the ability for customers to make the dealer an offer and work out finance calculations on the page.
So, how did the firm plan the new site? One of the hardest parts of getting things right online is knowing what you want, but Isted said they had clear objectives.
‘We did a large amount of research and looked at a number of other car dealer websites when planning ours,’ he explains. ‘G-Forces helped us out immensely too in terms of the homepage look and putting the branches that feed off it in place. The web is going to become so important to the car trade in the years ahead.
‘At the moment there are still people out there that can’t turn a computer on let alone log on to a website, but you only have to look at your kids to see how important the web will be in the future. My children – I have four – are always online and that shows how things will grow.
‘If car dealers aren’t online then that’s ultimately going to cause them to falter and will be inherent in their downfall. It’s as simple as that in my book.
‘We know how important the internet is and it’s why we’ve invested in the new site. The team has put in a lot of work recently, so winning this Eward means a huge amount to Lifestyle Europe. We get really passionate about things like this and are delighted to win.’
Our headline sponsor Motors.co.uk says: ‘The Lifestyle site is bright, colourful and very lively. It’s great that when you click through to the franchise you want from the group’s homepage it brings up special offers and other really useful information. It’s a very good site.’
To see the site in full please visit Lifestyle Europe
Ford is announcing a new investment programme at its high-tech Bridgend engine plant in Wales to produce next generation low CO2 1.6-litre, four-cylinder petrol engines.
This latest investment totals £70 million for the plant, where this year employment rose to over 2,000 for the first time in its 28-year history.
Investment at Bridgend has amounted to £315 million in the last five years alone. This additional investment increases the plant's production capability to almost 1,000,000 units per annum. Today's announcement includes Welsh Assembly Government support of £13.4 million.
Investment in global technology
The new 1.6-litre engines will go into production within two years and demonstrate how Ford is meeting future global customer needs by delivering affordable and relevant new technology. They will be among the first of a new generation of global petrol powertrains, known as EcoBoost, featuring turbocharging and direct injection technology.
Ford EcoBoost petrol engines will deliver improved fuel economy and emissions without compromising driving performance and providing an alternative route to hybrid or diesel efficiency.
Compared with current larger displacement petrol engines of similar power, these new engines are expected to provide up to 20 per cent better fuel economy, 15 per cent lower CO2 emissions and superior driving performance.
EcoBoost engines will join the existing Ford ECOnetic range of frugal, ultra-low CO2 diesel engined vehicles launched this year – the Focus ECOnetic (115g CO2/km), the Mondeo (139g) and all-new Fiesta (98g) capable of over 76mpg (European Drive Cycle)*. A new Ford Ka ECOnetic has also been confirmed.
Bridgend's expanding plant
The last new engine added at Bridgend plant was a premium 3.2-litre power unit in 2006. Used by Volvo in its vehicles, the compact in-line six-cylinder engine (SI6) is assembled on a Bridgend line that also produces V8 units and features flexible technology – enabling operators to switch between different products. The SI6/V8 flex line installed in 2004 represented a £245 million investment.
This illustrates the breadth of production at Ford Bridgend: four-, six- and eight-cylinder petrol engines with capacities ranging from 1.25 to 4.4 litres, which will be supplemented by this important new low CO2 engine.
John Fleming, Ford of Europe chairman and CEO, said: "We're pleased to be able to invest further in the Ford Bridgend facility. The Bridgend team will play an important role in delivering these new engines, which add an innovative ingredient to petrol engine technology and deliver a combination of low emissions and efficient performance that will be vital to meet future customer needs around the world."
For more information about the Ford range please visit Lifestyle Ford
Ford's latest models are tuning in to the digital future by offering a wider choice of the latest in-car entertainment technology.
The Ford Mondeo, S-MAX and Galaxy are now available with Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) radio and USB ports to plug in a flash drive 'memory stick' or an audio source such as an iPod.
With DAB radio and USB connectivity, Ford's large cars join the Focus, C-MAX and Kuga ranges which introduced the features earlier this year. Ford Mondeo, S-MAX and Galaxy are now equipped with DAB as standard on Ghia, Titanium, Titanium X and Titanium X Sport derivatives, while other series offer DAB radio as an option.
Markus Pazina, Ford navigation and connectivity engineer, said: “Our latest DAB systems and connectivity options provide Ford customers with digital sound quality from a broad choice of media. We have paid special attention to making the systems simple to operate, so that drivers can access the music they want safely and with a minimum of fuss.”
The Ford Mondeo, S-MAX and Galaxy – as well as the all-new Ford Fiesta on sale this month – also come with a USB port, so that drivers can listen to their choice of music or other audio files stored on memory sticks, MP3 players or mobile phones.
When this type of digital source is connected to the USB port, drivers can browse audio files via the centre screen and on the display (where Convers+ fitted) between rev counter and speedo using the car's steering wheel-mounted controls. Certain key functions, such as track number selection, can even be operated using the voice control feature.
Apple iPod players can be linked by a special connector (available from Ford dealers), which enables full control of the iPod’s functions using the main audio system controls.
The DAB audio systems provide a wider choice of radio stations with a sound quality free from the type of interference which can affect traditional AM and FM broadcasts. Drivers can check coverage and reception of DAB stations in their area at getdab.com.
DAB AUDIO SYSTEMS
What is it?
In-car audio capable of receiving digital radio broadcasts, delivering high-quality sound.
How to get it
Standard for Ford Mondeo, S-MAX and Galaxy models on Ghia, Titanium, Titanium X and Titanium X Sport derivatives.
Available as an option on Ford Mondeo Edge, Zetec and ECOnetic, Ford Galaxy Edge and Zetec, and Ford S-MAX Edge and Zetec.
What's the cost?
£300 for Sony DAB CD and £500 for Sony DAB 6CD versions.
USB CONNECTIVITY
What is it?
USB port located in the glove box or centre console of the car allows drivers to play MP3 audio files, and also provides an in-car charging facility. Drivers can access digital audio from a range of devices connected through the USB.
How to get it
Available as an option on all Ford Mondeo, S-MAX and Galaxy models where Sony DAB CD/6CD or navigation systems are fitted. On all-new Fiesta, USB comes with Bluetooth and voice control package.
What's the cost?
£50 on three large cars.
£200 for USB, Bluetooth & voice control on new Fiesta Zetec, Zetec S & Titanium models.
For more information about the Ford range please visit Lifestyle Ford
Colourful option packs help all-new Ka owners stand out from the crowd
Three striking design themes: Digital, Tattoo and Grand Prix
Collection of exciting equipment options also available
Ka-crazy customers who want to make their new 'pride and joy' stand out from the crowd will be able to choose from a tempting array of option packs when the new model hits the road in January 2009.
Three factory-fitted packs have been specially developed for the all-new Ka, offering a combination of exciting interior and exterior designs based on very different themes:
Ka Digital
Vibrant ‘street fashion’ style, using a fresh, high-contrast green as the base colour. The exterior pack features patterned body stripes and solid green grille surround and door mirror cappings. The interior pack includes seats with patterned inserts and green headrests, green door panels, and a solid green finish to the centre console bezel, door pulls, instrument cluster shroud, steering wheel and the rings around the air vents. Finishing touches include a gear knob and handbrake handle combining green leather with an aluminium finish, and velour floor mats with green stitching.
Ka Grand Prix
An exciting motorsports theme with a chequered flag motif based on either a red or white exterior colour scheme. The exterior pack comprises patterned body stripes with solid colour grille surround and door mirror cappings, and can be combined with a rear spoiler and white alloy wheels. The interior pack features red seats with an embossed white pattern and white headrests, red door panels and red leather trim on the steering wheel. A gear knob and handbrake combining red leather with an aluminium finish, and velour floor mats with red stitching complete the package.
Ka Tattoo
A fashionable and fun tattoo design with a heart at its centre, created in bold metallic colours. The exterior pack includes a large decal of the tattoo logo on the roof and a smaller decal on the fender. The interior pack features seats with silver-grey fabric inserts and the tattoo logo embossed on the backrest, silver-grey headrests and door panels, and anthracite leather trim on the steering wheel. Velour floor mats with silver stitching and embroidered tattoo emblem round things off, along with a gear knob and handbrake combining anthracite leather with an aluminium finish. There is also a unique leather seat option which has a special metallic finish on the insert panels and an embossed tattoo emblem.
All three option packs are available on the standard Zetec model only and prices will be announced closer to the on sale date.
Extensive Ka personalisation choice
There is also a full range of options that can be ordered individually, and these include:
- Chrome door handles and tailgate handle, and chrome exhaust trim
- Leather seats with a choice of colours to match light or dark interior environments
- Leather steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake
- Unique centre console storage unit with elastic nets, finished in a choice of coordinated colours
- Premium velour floor mats with Ka logo
- Body-colour rear spoiler
- 14-, 15- and 16-inch alloy wheels in a range of styles, including a white 15-inch design
“The new Ford Individual range for the Ka provides customers with a very attractive choice of high quality, factory fitted parts to customise their vehicle,” said Bernhard Mattes, Vice President of the Customer Service Division, Ford of Europe. “Using its bold design as their starting point, our designers have created a unique selection of features for the cheeky new Ka, giving owners an expressive array of interior and exterior options.”
For more information about the Ford range please visit Lifestyle Ford
