Ford StreetKa: Happy birthday Henry. On Monday, Ford marks its 100th birthday and to mark the occasion we spent a week testing their latest funky entrant, a convertible in line with its early models, but far from a car for the masses, writes Michael McAleer.
There's no doubting Ford's credentials in the mass market and its historic and current contributions not only to motoring but also to everything from mass production and assembly lines through to town planning and tourism. Without its contribution in making the car accessible to the general public, travel and consequently our landscape could have been very different.
Ford can claim to have a hand in changing society, yet like every firm that's managed to make it through the last 100 turbulent years, has managed to change with it as well.
Henry Ford's idea of a universal car for all has increasingly been replaced by specialised cars for particular segments, sub-segments, micro-segments.
Into this marketing-mad world comes Streetka, a niche player in an increasingly niche-driven car market. Its target audience is mainly female, with 70 per cent of sales expected to be to women. Ford hopes the Streetka will be this summer's ultimate high-street fashion accessory.
Indeed the original Ka was an avant-garde entrant in the supermini class when it was launched in 1996 and while Ford bosses try to come up with a replacement model, the Streetka will form the basis of attempts to hold its retro ground until the new line arrives.
Yet this is not just a Ka without a roof. The track is wider, the wings and arches are more extreme, the lights more rectangular, and the rear end is short, stocky and altogether more attractive.
While the Streetka was designed by Ford's Ghia studio in Turin, its production has been contracted to Pininfarina.
At its Italian plant where, incidentally, Peugeot's 306 convertible was built, plans are to build 10,000 to 12,000 a year, with the chance to put out 20,000 if the car takes off. Early signs are that it may just prove a hit. A limited first edition model sold out in Britain within three weeks, and we can expect Ford to limit production in order to maintain demand.
The Streetka builds on the Ka's quirky lines (described in last week's Emissions as akin to a "sumo wrestler in a wet-suit") and attempts to make them even more retro. Roof up and it looks quirky, if a little cramped. Roof down and it's roadster-like, with more than a hint of a mini-version of the Audi TT about this car (that is to its credit).
Yet all this talk of design is not to degrade its performance. It may be small and svelte but it packs a punch. This is a car that will spend most of its days zipping around town, so the power from Ford's 1.6-litre 94 bhp Zetec engine offers a nippy, if not lightning fast, performance. In particular the low torque power - kicking in around 1,500 rpm - means that when around town, it's quick to respond when called upon.
In fact, in terms of driving, we were very pleasantly surprised by the power and fun this car offered. With a top speed of 108 mph and a 0-62 mph of 12.1 seconds, it's no slouch, if really more fun than sporty.
The mechanical highlight of the Streetka is Ford's widely used five-speed manual transmission, with shift throws shortened by 15 per cent for a sportier feel. It's sharp, precise and enthuses you to play around.
In terms of handling and ride, we found the old Fiesta chassis offers beautiful handling characteristics on the Streetka.
Yet, for all the advances in engineering in the last 100 years, in many ways the basics have not changed beyond recognition from Ford's first engine. So what motorists want to know is, what's it like to live with?
First thing to note - it attracts a lot of attention. While this may be due to the fact there are very few on our roads at present, the amount of adulation it received suggests Ford may be on to a winner in terms of design. In particular, female motorists couldn't keep their eyes off it. In traffic it won long lingering glances, and as much as we hoped they were staring at us, unfortunately the adoring looks didn't follow us as we moved away from the car.
However, if the exterior reflects some of the best in roadster design lines, the interior is base-level supermini. Ford say the interior colour is "the fashionista's favourite shade, largely black". We're not a "fashionista", so all we can say is that the plastic dash does a great disservice to the car.
If the Streetka's interior-exterior contradictions were reflected in its owners, it would be driven by those who dress in the latest high-street fashion, but wear St Bernard Y-fronts and a string vest underneath. Beauty in Streetka world is only skin deep. In particular the "glovebox" has the level of finish and closing clasp that's more like a lunchbox than what you would expect in a car with a price tag over €26,000. All the plastic catches including the locking storage box mounted between the seats and even the locking petrol cap on the rear rump, seem like they would not last two weeks of general use. Competitors such as Mini, Citroen and Peugeot have achieved far superior finishes.
Another annoying feature is the lack of a handle or cabin release for the boot. Though admirably spacious - capable of holding a shopping spree load of 214 litres - it can only be opened via a button on the key fob. A minor but niggling complaint.
So 100 years on, the Streetka reflects the changing market strategies of the car giants, breaking the market into small containable units and adding value (and profit).
Externally the Streetka is a hit, if a little pricey. Inside and you wonder what all the fuss is about. If you do opt for a Streetka, make sure you pull over regularly and take a walk around the car to reassure yourself why it was you bought it. It's a high street fashion accessory, and seems to be priced as such. The downside is that like anything in the high fashion arena, it may suffer from a limited shelf-life as new funky competitors come on stream.
So would Henry approve? Well, it's a far cry from his mass market principles, yet it symbolises the flexibility of Ford to adjust to the changing market demands and its ability to be both funky and innovative while catering for the mass market with its base models. Of that Henry would now doubt be proud. Here's to another 100 years.
FACTFILE:
ENGINE: A 1,597cc straight 4-cylinder SOHC 8V, developing 94 bhp at 5,500 rpm and 135 Nm of torque at 4,250 rpm.
PERFORMANCE: A top speed of 108 mph and a 0-62 mph of 12.1 seconds.
SPECIFICATION: Driver and passenger airbag, radio/CD standard, with side airbags, air-con optional.
FUEL: Urban: 26.6 mpg. Extra-urban: 44.1 mpg. Combined: 35.8 mpg.
PRICE: €26,275 to €28,975.
THE COMPETITION
Ford StreetKa. 1,597cc; 12.1 (0-62); 108 max speed; 94 bhp; 35.8; €26,275.
Citroen Pluriel 1.6i 16v. 1,587cc; 12.6 (0-62); 117 max speed; 115 bhp; 42.8; €23,500.
Peugeot 206CC. 1,587cc; 10.7 (0-62); 120 max speed; 110 bhp; 40.1; €23,850.
Mini Cooper. 1,598cc; 9.2 (0-62); 125 max speed; 115 bhp; 42.2; €22,700.
MG TF 115. 1,588cc; 9.2 (0-62); 118 max speed; 115 bhp; 39.8; €29,650.