Ford’s flying Start

By Sam Hardy

23rd April 2010

Is this a fresh Start for the Ka? You’re looking at Ford’s vision of how the city car of tomorrow could look!

It’s called the Start Concept, and it made its debut at the Beijing Motor Show last week. Designed by Ford’s California-based styling studios, it boasts a striking body made from lightweight composite materials, and matches its good looks with a hi-tech 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine that drives the front wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox.

Inside, cabin functions can be controlled by an iPhone – or any other smartphone. Add a fun driving experience, and the Start looks like the ideal city transport to take on the MINI and Fiat 500.   

However, if you believe that this is the next-generation Ka, think again. Ford bosses are keen to point out that despite the short overhangs and curvy shape, this isn’t a new Ka. Instead, this concept points the way to how a future global model will look. And rather than Europe, the company says it has been designed for use in ever-expanding ‘mega cities’ – hence its debut in Beijing.

The big news for British drivers is the Start’s engine. It’s the latest example of Ford’s EcoBoost system, and is a direct-injection turbo powerplant that’s been jointly developed with PSA Peugeot-Citroen. Although power figures haven’t been revealed, Ford says it offers the same performance as a normally aspirated 1.6-litre petrol engine – so expect up to 110bhp and 0-60mph in 10 seconds, but with emissions below 100g/km.

This unit will appear in the Fiesta and Focus MkIII ranges next year, plus the new C-MAX people carrier. But what can else can we learn from the Start? Well, its clever use of materials will be applied to European Fords in the future. The Start’s body panels are made from lightweight, pre-coloured recyclable composites, while the chassis is a hybrid of aluminium and steel. A totally enclosed underbody helps to improve airflow underneath.

Inside, the emphasis is on simple shapes that can be easily manufactured. The instrument panel’s pod-type cluster is designed to simply be swapped from left to right-hand drive, while the modular construction of the dashboard and one-piece rear seats help to cut production costs.

However, the cabin is hi-tech, too. Owners can plug in their smartphones, and thanks to the firm’s MyFord Mobile Concept, the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning settings can be set via voice control. It also imports all phone contacts and navigation tools, and the icons are displayed on a large central screen.