The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Fun driving at a ‘value price’
FORD of Europe recently revealed the all-new KA+ small car, which delivers outstanding interior space, excellent fuel efficiency and fun-to-drive dynamics at a value price.
Joining Ford’s small-car line-up alongside the best-selling Fiesta, the KA+ provides an attractive new alternative for European buyers who want a stylish, well-equipped and high-quality small car at a price point starting at €13,050 in Ireland.
Expected in Ireland later this year, the all-new Ford KA+ is a 5-door hatchback based on Ford’s global small-car platform, and offers generous space for five people at an overall length of less than 4 metres.
The KA+ is slightly shorter than the Fiesta, but 29 millimetres taller, with an optimised interior that provides class-leading front headroom and best-in-class legroom for rear passengers.
The KA+ provides outstanding everyday practicality with 270 litres of luggage space – enough to accommodate two large suitcases – plus 60/40 split-folding rear seats, and 21 stowage locations for small items throughout the cabin.
Stowage areas include MyFord Dock in the centre of the instrument panel that enables occupants to store, mount and charge mobile devices such as phones and navigation systems, and front door bins that can each hold a 1.0-litre bottle, a 0.6-litre bottle and a small umbrella.
A hidden stowage bin within the end of the instrument panel is only accessible when the driver’s door is open, allowing valuables to be hidden out of sight.
Taking inspiration from Ford’s latest design language, the stylish, well-proportioned exterior features the distinctive high-mounted trapezoidal grille with large, swept-back headlamps.
All KA+ models offer a smart, integrated finish with chrome detailing for the front grille, together with body-coloured bump- ers, door handles and door mirrors.
The interior features an attractive grained finish on the instrument panel and hard-wearing, contemporary trim materials in a stylish dark charcoal colour scheme.
Distinctive chrome accents are applied in tactile and highly visible areas such as the door release handles, centre console control knobs and air vents.
The all-new KA+ features a simplified powertrain line-up based on an efficient new 1.2-litre Duratec petrol engine to offer maximum value to European consumers.
Available with a 85 PS power output, the 1.2-litre engine is derived from the same family as the 1.25-litre engine in the Fiesta.
The state of the art engine features twin-independent variable camshaft timing technology to enhance performance, fuel efficiency and emissions.
Combined with a standard five-speed manual transmission, the 1.2-litre engine has been tuned to deliver smooth and responsive performance, with a broad spread of torque that makes the car easy and fun to drive in both city motoring and on longer journeys.
Fuel efficiency has been enhanced using optimised calibration, low-friction engine oil and regenerative charging, which saves fuel by maintaining efficient charge levels in the vehicle battery by capturing ‘free’ electrical energy when drivers coast or brake.