- Media reports says Ford's Start could go on sale in 2014.
- The small car is expected to be priced below $13,000.
- Start concept featured a three-cylinder EcoBoost engine.
LONDON — When Ford unveiled its huggable Start concept earlier this year at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show, it hinted that the tiny two-door coupe eventually could replace the long-lived Ka in global markets. The automaker also indicated that the Start's 1.0-liter three-cylinder EcoBoost engine also was headed to production.
A report Thursday from Britain's Autocar says a production version of the Start, priced from under $13,000, could go on sale in 2014, initially in emerging markets such as China, India and South America but eventually around the world, including Europe.
The four-passenger Start concept was designed at Ford's California advanced studio, under the direction of Freeman Thomas, drawing styling inspiration from, among other vehicles, the Porsche 356 Speedster.
At the Start's unveiling in Beijing, Ford described the concept as "an aspirational automobile designed for urban transportation in emerging markets."
The Start concept features snap-on, precolored composite body panels mounted on an aluminum/steel space frame. The car measures less than 146 inches long.
Ford also said in Beijing that the three-cylinder EcoBoost engine "will go into production in the near future." The 1.0-liter engine features turbocharging, direct injection and stop-start technology, and depending on stage of tuning should deliver up to 120 horsepower. It is expected to be offered in a variety of Ford small cars, including the Fiesta, Focus and C-Max.
Inside Line says: The Start has just as much personality as — if not more than — the Fiat 500, with which the current Ford Ka shares its underpinnings. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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thorr says:
01:02 PM, 10/23/2010
We have an old first generation Ka as car number two. I hope the car above will be our car number one in the future. Definitely the most promising design I have seen in a long time.
k55 says:
09:48 AM, 10/21/2010
good decision Ford as I would be ready to buy this yesterday.
Bring it to the USA as is and with a sport version .......so much better looking than either a MINI or the new FIAT 500 /Abarth 500............now hopefuly it will drive as good as either of those.
yamahr1 says:
10:21 AM, 10/20/2010
Fantastic design from Ford. It's the kind of thing the Japanese are utterly incapable of; whenever they try to do something similar, it looks like a goofy cartoon.
1919diesel says:
02:00 PM, 10/15/2010
Beautiful design, brilliantly executed, I hope they find a way to bring this to the USA in limited quantities, it would make a nice domestic alternative to MINI, smart, Scion IQ and Fiat 500. I'm not saying it's for everyone, but it would address one big reason American subcompacts have never sold in decent quantities - lousy styling of cheap looking econoboxes. This thing looks great and if it's 1/2-way fun to drive would be a hit, especially in the larger cities & suburbs.
kurtstwocents says:
08:55 PM, 10/14/2010
Look out Mini, this car is en fuego. This is without a doubt the nicest, most modern looking small car I have seen from any manufacturer. If Ford were an athlete I would accuse it of juicing in 2010. Nice job Ford, now bring us an updated Escape and maybe I won't buy a Subaru Outback next year.
angry_mushroom says:
06:44 PM, 10/14/2010
I remember this from a few months back... apparently our prayers have been answered. Granted it does say "could."