NF500 / new ford ka

Over 500 people have been hired at the Fiat car factory in Tychy, Poland, in the past six months in order to meet production demands for the new Fiat 500.

According to Fiat Auto Poland spokesman Boguslaw Cieslar employment in the factory may as much as double when the new Ford Ka starts rolling off the assembly lines.  When the factory reaches its target capacity in 2009 it will turn out half a million cars a year, becoming one of the largest Fiat production sites in the World.

This year’s plan envisages the production of 366,000 units, 58,000 more than in 2006.  The factory turned out 205,000 cars during the January-July 2007 period, 16,000 more than in the same duration last year.

In autumn the new 500 will hit Fiat dealerships in Germany, Spain, Portugal and Poland, and next year in Britain and other markets.

With all the talk of the “retro battle” between the Fiat 500 and the new MINI, or at least of how Fiat can benefit from the success of the MINI and learn from BMWs approach, the Ford Ka has been a little overlooked.  Until this week, when Car Magazine’s online publication posted more (rumoured) details of the upcoming budget Ford, which has sparked a fair bit of interest (and indeed, this very article).

The article itself doesn’t offer very much by way of new information, but does tie together some previous reports and rumours in a neat, easily digestible package.

The reason this could be of interest to Fiat 500 fans is the fact that the new Ford Ka is based on the Fiat 500 platform, and Car claim it will also mimic the baby Fiat in almost every other way.  Same engines, different tuning packages, a convertible, a larger “SUV” variant.  Basically everything the 500 will do, the Ford Ka will do.  But cheaper.

And here’s the reason we feel the Ka, not the MINI, Beetle, or any other cool car is the one to watch with regards to the success of the 500.

Very few dispute the Fiat 500’s looks, charms, and unique appeal.  But Ford have also been raising their game in terms of quality and style recently, winning over many with their latest Mondeo as the best vehicle Ford have made in a long time.  If the Ka can carry on that trend of quality and style then it could grab sales from Fiat as the sensible, budget equivalent of the 500.

True, the Fiat is retro and chic, while the Ford Ka will without doubt go for a modern, even futuristic style.  But in the same way some knocked the Beetle for being a “Golf in a skirt”, the 500 may be seen as Ka in a pretty frock.   And if you do want to continue the MINI - 500 references, the unique platform of the MINI was a strong selling point for BMW.

I guess the question is, “for what price style?” and Fiat will have to be careful to continue to get the balance right when the Ford hits the scene in 2008.

The Wall Street Journal has published a thoughtful, and perhaps thought provoking article on the new Fiat 500. Focusing on how and where it could succeed and fail, and what could be the making or breaking of the new small car.

The article draws attention to the juxtaposition of Fiat, known for their finesse in producing small low cost cars, their factory in Tychy Poland and the relatively cheap labour, and the concept of making the 500 a “Premium Small Car”, charging an excess for style and individuality in the process.

They draw the obvious comparisons between the Fiat 500 and the MINI Cooper, both small cars, both offering a unique style, character and history, but being produced by very different companies. The 500 being built in Poland on a platform shared with the low-budget Fiat Panda and forthcoming new Ford Ka, while the MINI is produced in the UK, with relatively high production costs, on it’s own purposely developed chassis by parent company BMW, who hold a reputation for production larger premium vehicles.

You can read the full article on the Wall Street Journal Website here.