can’t wait for the mid-size car vs Ka crash test video…

ka
ka

“And since the Ka and 500 are such different vehicles, there wouldn’t be too much concern about cannibalizing sales.”
I think this dude was drinking from the same pot of coffee A4 was drinking from this morning.

Ka and FIAT 500 visually are very different. They can not possibly appeal to the same person, unless there is MPD involved. However, both vehicles are versions of FIAT.

Ka-rash

This country needs an enema. Let europe be europe and let us keep our large cars thank you.

Strugle, I agree with part of what you said. There are no laws regulating what car/truck we drive (yet!), but gasoline in my neck of the woods this spring alone went from $1.40/gallong to $2.10. This is 50% rise. Granted $1.4 was anomaly, but I heard that it will be in $100/barrel range in 12-18 months and we will be looking at $3.25-3.50/gallon again. Unless we have longer recession, then bicycle will travel method of choice.

If this were an animal, I would want to kick it… it just looks kickable

They wouldn’t bring it over if it didn’t have the potential to sell. With the Yaris, Aveo, Fit and other cars selling pretty well I don’t see this as a big deal.

Struggle – No one’s telling you that you can’t keep your large cars. You’ll just have to pay the tax on them!

ANOTHER SMALL CAR??? ARGGHHH!!! What is this world coming to?

Why is human memory so short?

Not even a year ago we were paying nearly $5/gal for 87 octane. Yet you’d think that happened 20 years ago with the way people have shifted back over to buying trucks and SUVs again.

The only reason fuel prices are low is because we are in the middle of this horrible recession… and I wouldn’t call $2.25/gal (in my area) particularly low. As soon as things start to stabalize again prices will head back for the stratosphere. $4/gal will be reality again soon enough folks, so you better get ready for it.

Manufacturers are doing the smart thing by building small cars starting right now. There may not be much demand for them initially… but just give it some time and things will take off.

Now if we could get some sporting versions with more than 120hp we’d really be in good shape. Note to the manufacturers, start slapping turbos under the hoods of these things! Just because it looks like a snail doesn’t mean it has to drive like one.

@RaineMan: You are absolutely right. Ford understands this, and that’s why they and Mullally are going to emerge from this crisis smelling like a rose. In the long run (5-10 years) we are going to be looking at $4-$5 gasoline as the New Normal, and automakers have to plan for that reality starting now.

But another point — this article looks like pure, source-free speculation to me. I don’t see any authority at all cited; it’s just bar talk. The Ka could happen, and I for one would be pleased, but nobody’s saying it will.

do re mi KA so la ti do!
… DO, a Dodge, a broke down Dodge,
… RE, a Regal when I’m old.
… MI, yes me, me me me me,
… KA, a Kar that aint so bold!
… SO, Solaras are white bread,
… LA, for LAme Honda Accords
… TI, and A can wake the dead!
… Save your cash and buy a HO
(ho ho ho …)

Zeeck:

kicking small animals eh? Sounds like you were born w/screw loose.

Many criminals, including serial killers, start out w/hurting small animals.

From time to time, I’ll see a Ka with Mexican plates in the San Diego area. looks OK for what it is. Ford needs a subcompact, but I don’t need to drive it.

Borat: $4 Gas was the reason the wife let me buy a Vulcan

JJT, did she raise payout on your life insurance along with it?

JJT, aren’t you allergic to rice?

Raineman exactly. Wait you nay sayers will be screaming to get into one when gas goes back to Normal and by that it means you can just forget about $4 a gallon that will be cheap in comparison.
The reality is China and India will be using exponentially much for Fossil Fuels with their Huge Car industry as well. So where is all the Oil gonna come from? Start looking for prices that will eventually rival Europe’s $10 , $15 or even $20 a gallon. I’d Love this car even more if it were Electric
And let Dolt’s like Struggle tell their doctor their going to be permanantly late getting to their appoint since they either could’nt afford to put gas in the Earth Moving SUV, or they’re park on the side of the road (out of Gas) because they we’re trying to chance it with a low tank! , or just be like the Mass of Dummies like you did’nt know (when you were told) and sit there complaining about the price of gasoline.
I’ll laugh my Head off at ya. For Not being Logical. If Spock were here and Then he’d BE saying the same thing. Your Illogical will get you No where!

JoselCordero- The world is coming to realize that you are probably not the demographic for this particular car.

Borat: … so THAT’s why the idea met such little resistance.

Not allergic to rice, though I prefer pasta

Pasta will come in form of Chrysler. Vulcan is pure rice.

20 years ago when I would fly to Europe and get into a cab or rent a car I would think, “Wow how small can these get.” “You will never see these become popular on American roads….They are deathtraps.” And the corniche roads were lined with roadside memorials to prove it …for those who played chicken on a passing maneuver and lost to a truck.

20 years later, at least in my neck of the woods – metro Chicago – the unthinkable has happened…. Americans have started to see the late and have embraced smaller cars. The Mini doesn’t look so “mini” or “out-of place” any longer.

It is not just fuel economy that is driving the acceptance of “small” when it comes to personal vehicles. It is congestion on roads and parking. At least in Chicago where metered parking on the street is at premium – up to $5 per hour. Many public garages have limited spaces that will accomodate full size SUVs. And there is no more room to build new parking garages, no more money or room to build new roads.

According to a neighbor of my folks, who owns the oldest Benz dealer in Chicago, they cannot give SLs away but have waiting lists for Smart For Twos.

The reality is that the average American who drives the average car currently designed for the US market, with engines having displacement greater than 2200 cc, simply cannot afford $5 per gallon gas.
It would be a different story if more than 15% of the US population used public transport to commute, as opposed to the 50% of EU residents who commute by public transport.

The irony is that in Eastern Europe, with all the new road construction, the new fad is to drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 or an Audi Q7 with the V8. Then again those vehicles cost about $120,000 with registration there so even $7 per gallon unleaded or $10 per hour parking won’t upset the few who can afford those cars there.

Nothing else is selling these days. American manufacturers risk getting left in the dust if they don’t come out with something that will appeal to all the college grads that are lucky enough to land good jobs and have no affliction of nostalgia for “big and old”.

Show me a high performance version and I’d consider it. Eventually my Neon and RaineMan’s Beretta are going to grenade like Michael Waltrip’s Toyota did on Saturday night. I’d commute in one of these, but only if I had enough power to steer clear of situations involving larger vehicles not to my liking.

i’m happy with these little cars, if they make up a high enough percentage of cars on the road…but i don’t feel safe being the one guy in a tiny toy car surrounded by expeditions and H2s…for example, i came very close to buying a honda fit this year, but i’ve backed off since then, and one of the reasons is simply safety…the drivers in this town are sh!t and i don’t want my safety to be dependent on them not hitting me…

now if the playing field was even, and everybody was driving these things, that wouldn’t be so much of a concern…but it’s that dbag talking on his cell phone while flying through a red light in a truck that worries me…my first car, a honda prelude, met an F150 once (his fault)…the F150 owner drove his truck home, i didn’t drive my car home, it was winched onto a flatbed and never driven again…

that said, i hope these little cars take over and it becomes more safe over time to drive them, due to fewer gas-sucking behemoths on the roadways…

Power, or grip, Johnny? I guess if you had too much grip, you might get beer all over the floor, so power may be more in your favor.

Beatus, I learned that lesson many moons ago. The secret is to make sure your can foamy fits snuggly in the cup holder and never attempt any spirited cornering until you’ve had at least two swigs.

DEATH TRAP!!!!!!!!!!!

While I feel for all the people who love their large cars (I personally love fuel guzzling V8 Mustangs, but don’t own one), what we in this country need to realize is that at some point we won’t be able to afford to throw away fuel like we do.
And as for Europe being Europe Struggle, they’re way ahead of us in many ways (Including the use of diesel).

Ford’s turbodiesel Fiesta in Europe gets over 60mpg! I’ve heard numbers as high as 65! Meanwhile, that retarded little ForTwo gets what… 36 here in the states? (Though again, the European disel version gets 70 or so…)

My only prayer is that in our rush to save on fuel, we won’t skip on the fun factor. I’m all for saving on fuel but not when I’m getting to 60 miles an hour in 20 seconds…

I was saving for a Mustang GT, but when gas prices hit over 4 bucks a gallon, and me being a working college student I couldn’t afford to switch to a sub 20 mpg (Yeah… if that) car from my 30 or so mpg Neon.

I bought a 60-70mpg motorcycle and never looked back.

yes ford do whats right . bring it here cause as long as its can kick the iq from toyota .. ecoboost version lol the base model should get mid 40s

Bankruptcy-

Besides being a douche, you can read a bit more into ‘large car’ than just gas mileage, or excursion sizes..

Tell you what, we’ll see how safe you are, and smart for that matter in a small collision between
something like this and my Accord…even. Let alone in a real crash.

My point, if you could figure it out, is that being like europe in every way (like this administration wants us to be) isn’t always a good thing. There are vast differences and we’re being forced to change a bit too rapidly.

Quit being stupid. Good luck with that.

Struggle, is your only argument against small cars like the Ka the fact that it won’t do as well as larger cars in collisions? If so, don’t buy one if you don’t feel safe in it. I believe in giving Americans choices, offer me the large cars, trucks and SUVs we have now (Though better mileage would be nice…), and offer me hybrids and small gas/diesel cars like the Ka and Fiesta. Americans will figure out what’s best for their individual needs and budgets (And as you’ve pointed out, their safety).

Bankruptcy had a very good point when he pointed out that with emerging markets gobbling up more and more oil the trend for gas prices is UP and not down, so why not offer Americans smaller more fuel efficient cars? If we don’t want them we won’t buy them, and you can always run them over in your Accord to your hearts content. But when (Not if) gas prices go up again you will see less and less people buying pickups and SUVs as status symbols and buying more fuel efficient vehicles. My die hard Dodge friend sold his wifes Durango to buy her a Honda Fit and a scooter for himself (just to drive to work) to save on gas.

That said, nobody said we should be just like Europe in every way. But I’m all for stealing some of their good ideas (Of which I would say they have a lot when it comes to transportation).

Struggle Size matters this is true in a collison. But you can build a small car to take at least a good whack in a reasonable accident and be ok. But if your a driver prone to constantly getting himself or herself in bad traffic situations then maybe your better with the bigger car for safety.
Tell you what I have driven Tractor Trailers for a Living (Past Tense) their the biggest thing on the road- they could crush everything on the road in front of them like a tank in the hands of the wrong driver including your beloved Large SUV.
But TT too offer the driver some protection but and in other instances No protection in certain collison situations and roll overs. This is common when a Tractor Trailier Jack Knifes.

I am all for computer assisted driving in vehicles that people warrant a need for it: Bad Driving Record, Substance or Alcohol Abuse where they just got rein stated, etc, etc. and definitely Road Rage Offenders. This is going to be a feature sooner or later before we get to cars and vehicles we’ll put on autotpilot to take us to the places we want to go fastest, safest, and most affordably.
I am all for people getting the most work and things done in life that they can do safely and reasonably

Yeah, Bankruptcy has some good points, but apparently I am a dolt cause I don’t get on the lemming bandwagon and follow the trend of knee jerk reactions to things like oil prices.

I have only been in one accident, a rear end that I got hit. So, saying I drive poorly or cause accidents is incorrect. Some people will sacrifice DECENT safety to save a few bucks. I choose not to. But if our choices dwindle due to enviro-friendly speculation, then my choices are limited.

And btw, my SUV is a Honda Pilot. Not quite the gigantic people mover you assume I drive.

Struggle got ya. My older sister wanted one a Honda Pilot and my SIster in Law has one. I rode in it with my brother when I visited and they traded her Pathfinder for that. Not bad. So No Honda makes alot of Great Environmentally and Reasonable Cars. I’d say even the leader in overall value. I think Toyota is there and Ford is getting pretty darn close considering the New Fusion Hybrid do 41 MPG. Had a Honda Accord indirectly and it drove beautifully. Unfortunately it did get into an accident a Rear ender and let me tell ya brother Fortunately no one was in the back seat at the times of the accident that my father and sister were in, They both walked away unharmed nerves shaken though. However, if there were any occupants in the back seat they would have either been seriously hurt or Killed. I took pictures of the car-what was left of it and the car that hit it. A Huge Cadillac.( Drunk Driver)

Number one on my list of hybrids: Ford Fusion

Agreed on the Accord rear end thingy, but it probably would be better than a Ka.

Sorry if I came across too harsh bro….need coffee as it seems.

The Fusion Bankruptcy mentioned gets 41mpg, and that’s a full or mid-sized car right? Plus they make hybrid versions of the Ford Escape and I don’t know about Honda, but there may be a Pilot hybrid already around or being planned. So while these new hybrids might be expensive that’s only because the technology is new, isn’t Honda coming out with a 19 grand hybrid?

The technologies new, but not all the new fuel efficient cars are Smart ForTwo sized. I don’t see how your choices are being limited. What you’re forgetting is we Americans aren’t willing to sacrifice on our comfort, and someone will always provide larger vehicles even if the technology driving them changes.

IMHO, we should have very slowly started raising MPG limits a LONG time ago. Because the only reason we have these “knee jerk” reactions is we get greedy every time gas is cheap and flip out when gas prices skyrocket (Anyone remember the 70s?).

Understand your comment 2WheeledSpeed. I think Struggle will see the popularity of these cars as Gas Prices Soar once again. And Struggle Sorry for my earlier Insult at you and You’d be right in a Ka VS Accord VS Cadillac Crash would’nt want to imagine it. The Accord would come out better for sure- It has grown too.
But a KA would definitely do better than a say a Motor Cycle would and actiually a Whole lot better in most crashes.
Now take in Mind the fact that most people can go the entire length of a car’s ownership and NEVER get into an accident. You also have to admit that eventually everyone dies. SO no matter what you do or insure its only temporary. The dilemma here are what are you willing to give up if you feel you are spending more than you need to. People do and then again do NOT realize that they are at Risk at having any number of things happen to them each and every day they are alive. to mention a few Cancer, Poison, being shot at, Heart attack , slip and fall. and numerous of other sort of misfortunes that can result inevitably toward Death and or dismemberment.
I think one has to relate one’s abilities at driving to feel as if they have the safeness in not only their abilites and the car’s limited abilities Vis-a- vis size, handling characteristics, quickness, to avoid accidents and the ones that can potentially cause them.

Anyone can be caught off guard given the alertness of the driver through distraction or what have you.
I think car manufacturers like Volvo and every other manu. will eventually have computers to take over the cars functions to avoid and or minimize the severity of an accident. Also I think would be cool and totally possible is have an instant on computer monitor that detects when the driver has fallen asleep at the wheel and this happens all the time. No one wants to see them wipe out traffic by going into the opposing lane of traffic or just wipe themselves and the vehicles occpuants out over the side of a mountain or into a Concrete Overpass pillar. Concrete wins everytime guaranteed.
That a vehicle will know where its at and that the driver is asleep asume control, slow down, pull to the side of the road or rest area and park till the driver reawakes and when they come too. Its smacks the **** out of them for driving tired. No but does everything I told you and lets them know they did fall asleep and that the vehicle took over at of the time and date. This way everyone goes home Alive.

Borat:

My Vulcan was built in nebraska

Also could you imagine the performance you could get out of a Eco-Boost V-6 in one of these bad boys 375 HP would make this look like a Missle

NOBODY says saving money has to be boring Ford would have a speedy little car putting a powerful turbo-4 (Would a turbo V6 fit into something so small?) into this thing. I’m hoping they do.

Your right 2WheeledSpeed I think only the Eco-Boost 4 Cylinder is gonna fit. That’s a mighty small front hood the smallest I have ever seen. But I am sure the Eco 4 would definitely not disappoint. and AWD? lol
Now I am pushing it or am I?

lol, you MIGHT be pushing it with the AWD, it would be nice but I think the bean counters would give it the thumbs down. Still, I have no problem with FWD if the torque steer isn’t too bad.

Bankruptcy, I think your idea of computers in the driver’s seat will be much more than nannies to us. I think they will be driving us to our destinations. You get in your car, sit down, read a book, work on your laptop, eat your lunch, watch a movie, sleep, make love, check out the scenery, talk on the phone, change your clothes, whatever you want to do other than driving. The sad part is, those of us who like to drive won’t be able to anymore. The good part is, though, we can do other things we like, and we’ll probably be much safer doing those things. But horsepower and handling and other things that make driving fun will not be selling points of cars anymore. Instead, it will be amenities, internet connection, MPG, comfort and styling. Sad, sad day. But I feel it is inevitable.

beatusmongous I think you’re forgetting that people already do all those things while driving…

The day they take my steering wheel (or handle bars on my bike) and let the computer take over is the day I go postal.

I’m not forgetting, 2Wheel. Not at all. But at least at that time, driving won’t distract people from doing what they really want to do anymore.

And I’m right there with you about going postal. Demolition Man, anyone? Might be time to mothball your favorite sports car or muscle car…

I think I’ll mothball my ninja 250 once I buy my next bike, imagine how easy it would be to zip through computer controlled traffic on a small bike like that!

On a side note… imagine if these computer controlled cars are internet capable and get hacked or get a virus? No need to cut someones brake lines if you can pay someone to hack their car and drive it into a wall!

My future ex-wives better not expect alimony…

No I don’t think computers like from Terminator will be allow to control everything we do 2 Wheel.
I think we could have an option to have the system on when we need it , passively to make sure we don’t get into trouble, and take over when we can’t drive. But just think of all the lives it would save. other than the ones you guys take after going postal. . But please before you go postal do so in a nice way and just kill yourself. Just Kidding. I think you both know what i mean. Yeah I hear you on the AWD option but what I was really hoping for. Was if it I got like cut off on the road way. I would want the option to turn my KA into Starscream the Transformer then pick up the offending motorist and and throw his or her car in nearest swamp and continue on my way. No harm no foul

Now seeing a little Ka tossing say… a Dodge Ram into a swamp would be something I would definitely want to see! Think we could do something similar for my bike? I HATE people tailgating me!

Yeah I know Terminator-like computers controlling everything is probably unrealistic, but it wouldn’t suprise me if some people would want that technology in their cars since our public transportation sucks in this country. So maybe you’re a little tired but you need to get home? Let the car drive you home! Plus some people just shouldn’t be driving period.

And as for going postal, I mainly confine my list of targets to people who tailgate me, people who put exhaust tips so big I can fit inside them on their cars, and the guy at my school who drives a Toyota but put a SS badge on it…

EGGcellent! I love this small car’s looks. Please God, make it happen.

Yeah would’nt that be somethin if a KA say I’ll handle this, and could even have several tools to use in maybe helping a near by wreak in an auto accident have the JAWS of Life or better yet just rip open and Unopenable wreakage and Pluck the occpants from the vehicle. All while Listening to my favorite CD and having sex in my KA lol. Of course I’d have to charge those for saving there lives. (maybe) if they were nice. And there to have it a Ka Transformer is more than meets the eye. Especially one that could turn into a Decepticon that could like Turn itself into a Jet Fighter an Fly me over Rush hour to bring me down like a Harrier Jet for Happy Hour!

Sorry use Wreck instead of Wreak. Wreak is something that well Wreaks or smells really Bad. Wreck is an Accident and that is what I meant to say above

Wreck is an accident.

Wreak is an action verb meaning to inflict.

Reek is when something stinks.