The first generation Ford Ka subcompact three-door hatchback was officially released to the public in September 1996, and in 2003 it was joined by a roadster version called StreetKa.
In 2005, the car underwent a small update, after which it was mass-produced until 2008, giving way to a model of the next generation (in Brazil, its production continued until 2013 in a slightly modified form).
The "first" Ford Ka is a European A-class car, available in two body styles - a three-door hatchback and a two-door soft-top roadster.
Depending on the modification, the length of the small car is 3620-3650 mm, the width is 1631-1679 mm, the height is 1368-1409 mm, and its wheelbase and ground clearance are 2452 mm and 140 mm, respectively. In the "traveling" form, the "American" weighs from 820 to 962 kg.
For the first generation Ford Ka, a wide range of gasoline four-cylinder engines with distributed fuel injection were offered, which were installed in combination with a 5-speed "mechanics" and drive wheels of the front axle.
The car was equipped with a 1.3-liter unit, generating 50-70 horsepower and 97-106 Nm of peak thrust, and a 1.6-liter engine producing 95 "mares" and 135 Nm of torque.
The basis for the original embodiment of the Ford Ka is a front-wheel drive "bogie" with an independent McPherson configuration at the front and a semi-independent suspension with an elastic transverse beam at the rear (plus there are stabilizers "in a circle").
The compact car has a rack and pinion steering with hydraulic booster, and a hydraulic brake package with a vacuum booster, front disc and rear drum devices (some versions were equipped with ABS).
"Ka" of the first generation stands out for its excellent handling, high maneuverability, tenacious brakes, economy, original design, balanced suspension, reliable design, affordable service and ergonomic interior.
But it also has negative qualities - a rigid chassis, a cramped interior, especially in the rear, a small trunk and sluggish dynamics with a 1.3-liter engine.
