Ford Confirms that the next gen KA, will be coming to Europe, they better hurry, as the currant car stops soon

Ford Motor will definitely replace its Ka minicar in Europe, a senior executive said.

Production of the current Ka is set to end in April at Fiat's plant in Tychy, Poland. The Ka sold in Europe is based on the Fiat 500, which is also built in Tychy. The model's new generation was developed in Brazil and is based on Ford’s global B platform that underpins the Fiesta subcompact. It was expected to launch in Europe by the end of last year.

Ford of Europe Chief Operating Officer Barb Samardzich wouldn’t give information on the timing of the new Ka’s launch. "It's coming, I can say that," she said on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress tech event here.

Samardzich also wouldn't comment on reports that Ford will add production of the Ka and the EcoSport subcompact SUV at the automaker’s factory in Craiova, Romania, where the slow-selling B-Max subcompact minivan is built. The EcoSport is imported into Europe from India, where Ford also builds the Brazilian-developed Ka under the Figo name.

The new Ka is expected to be larger than the current model sold in Europe, Ford has said it has made "significant" enhancements to adapt the Brazilian-developed Ka for European markets.

Samardzich also declined comment on reports that the company will axe the B-Max. But she said Ford plans to concentrate on selling models in fast-growing segments such as SUV/crossovers.

Ford is launching five upgraded or new SUV/crossovers in Europe in the next three years, including the Edge large SUV and a face-lifted Kuga compact model, both of which are due this year.

Ford sold 48,603 Ka models in Europe last year, down 8.2 percent, according to figures from JATO Dynamics market analysts, making it the No. 12 seller in a segment whose volume grew by 7.5 percent to 1.2 million. The top-selling model was the Fiat 500, followed by the Fiat Panda, VW Up and Renault Twingo.

European sales of the B-Max fell 14 percent to 46,315 in 2015.

Ford of Europe's announcement on Feb. 3 that the company is refocusing its product strategy in the region to improve profitability raised doubts that it would replace the Ka in the low-margin minicar segment. Ford aims for a 6 percent to 8 percent operating margin in the long term in Europe, up from 0.9 percent last year.

NICK GIBBS

AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE

REPORT HERE

The Japfest event will be moving to Silverstone, the home of British Motorsport in April for the 1st Event of the year.

• Europe’s biggest celebration of Japanese cars moves to legendary new venue
• Japfest to be held at Silverstone, the iconic home of British Motor Sport
• Additional new Japfest event also announced for 2016

Britain’s biggest celebration of Japanese car culture is moving to an iconic new home. Japfest, which takes place on April 24^th, 2016, is moving to Silverstone, the home of British Motor Sport, after reaching capacity at its previous venue with over 16,000 attendees and 3,500 cars on display or on the circuit.

“Japfest keeps growing," said event manager Kat Chappell. “We knew that if we wanted to make Japfest bigger and better than ever, then we needed to move it to a larger location with more facilities, and where better could it go than to the UK’s most iconic race circuit, Silverstone?"

The new, more central, venue is a significant part of Japfest’s broader expansion, as the most firmly established series of Japanese car events in the UK. In 2016, Japfest Rock (the new name for Japfest 2) returns to Rockingham Motor Speedway on June 26^th, while a brand new, third Japfest event will also be added to the calendar.

Taking place at the Hop Farm near Paddock Wood, Kent, on September 11^th, Japfest Motorsport Heroes will be a special event celebrating some of the most iconic and significant Japanese cars from the world of motor sport, along with their roadgoing equivalents.

For club members wishing to visit all three of the events, Japfest has put together a Club Early Bird package, with access to them all for just £48 per person, including free camping at Japfest Rock and Motorsport Heroes,  plus a discount on track time at Japfest. Tickets for Japfest are on sale now via the official website atwww.japfest.co.uk

Meanwhile, Japfest promises to be the biggest and best of its kind, a thrilling live event featuring scores of the best Japanese cars in the UK and from across Europe.

Thousands of display cars representing the UK’s major Japanese car clubs will fill the vast Silverstone site and the largest trade and exhibition area of its type will take over the paddock, while there will be a series of all-day track action, including the much anticipated return of the Drift Kings epic winner takes all showdown.

Full details of the show, the cars and the various activities will be announced nearer the date, on the event website, or via the official Facebook page and Twitter feeds.