Everyone said Ford should build it and now it is ready to hit the road. Streetka, the Ghia-built star of the Turin Motor Show in 2000, has evolved from concept car to production reality. Unveiled in September at the Paris Motor Show, Streetka will go on sale in spring next year.
A modern interpretation of the traditional two-seater roadster inspired by classics like the MG Midget and Frog-Eye Sprite, Streetka offers fun, open-air driving in a stylish yet affordable two-seater package. Its head-turning looks remain faithful to the original Turin show car, and exemplifies Ford’s plans to develop unique spin-off niche models from mainstream lines.
Designed by an in-house team lead by Ford design chief Chris Bird, Streetka has been engineered from the ground-up in a new relationship with the renowned Italian design house and coachbuilder, Industrie Pininfarina. Working closely with Ford, Pininfarina has taken Streetka from show car plinth to production reality in around 24 months.
Although clearly based on the icon Ka hatchback, Streetka effectively sits on a bespoke engineered structure, is powered by a new 95PS 1.6-litre Duratec engine and has had its suspension and steering tuned for sporty, dynamic driver appeal.“The Streetka is the jewel in the Ka crown. There’s nothing out there that matches its looks or appeal - it’s a sure-fire winner,” says Paul Thomas, managing director, Ford Motor Company Limited.
Styling : Bold, effervescent and stylish enough for Kylie
Head-turning lines of Turin show car replicated for production
Clean roof-down lines uncluttered by door frames and B-pillar
Twin integrated roll-over hoops for occupant protection
Streetka looks identical to the Turin show car because Ford’s original design brief was to exactly replicate the lines of the one-off concept car, with modifications limited to making it a safe and road-legal road car.
From confident, striking visage to pert rear end, Streetka possesses a unique style and character. Its polypropylene body-coloured front bumper – slightly slimmer than the show car’s for enhanced aerodynamics - flows into a pair of exaggerated wheel arches, framing angular headlamp units and integrated fog lamps.
The rakish windscreen has been shortened to enhance Streetka’s roadster appeal, while the doors boast frameless windows that do not impede on the car’s clean roof-down lines. There’s no B-pillar either, enhancing Streetka’s uncluttered looks – a pair of integrated steel roll-over bars that sit behind the driver and passenger seats are the only projections above Streetka’s waistline when its hood is stowed away.
Streetka’s sassy behind is just as eye-catching. The re-engineered boot lid features a centrally-mounted brake light and reversing lamp. The lid curves down to meet the bumper that flows around the bold wheel arches and creates an aerodynamic spoiler – a feature not seen on the concept model – that enhances Streetka’s high-speed stability.
The other striking feature of the rear bumper is the pair of recessed two-part light units. Dedicated Streetka badges are located just ahead of the rear wheels and the brightwork scuffplates on the door sills are inscribed with the Pininfarina name. Streetka rides on six spoke 16inch alloy wheels, generously shod with 196/45 profile tyres that have been specifically developed for Ford.
Interior : Bespoke and loaded with tactile touches
Bespoke cabin with sporty highlights
Simple manual roof folds away in less than half minute
High level of luxury equipment with wide range of options
Streetka’s interior ambience and simplicity is complemented by unique details that befit its status as style flagship of the iconic Ka range. Predominantly ebony black, the cabin is peppered with jewel-like brightwork touches like the Puma-inspired aluminium ball gear-knob, metal-look bracelets on the arms of the leather-clad steering wheel and the aluminium framing of the oval clock.
Engineering : Italian flair complemented by Ford demanding safety levels
Liaison with Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina a Ford first
Heavily modified chassis with high degree of structural integrity
Transforming Ka into Streetka required modifying every external body component, bar the bonnet and front headlight assemblies. Working closely with Ford, Pininfarina’s engineers used computer-optimised design to build in a high degree of torsion stiffness into Streetka’s chassis to compensate for the lack of hard roof.
Text and photos courtesy of Ford Motor Company
