The 2000 Ford Street Ka, a touring roadster crafted by Ford's design subsidiary Ghia, made a distinct mark in the automotive scene. Building upon the Ford Ka theme, Ghia had previously ventured into this territory with the Saetta roadster, the precursor to Ford's "faceted styling" that emerged before the Ka's debut in 1996.
The Street Ka embraced the "new edge" design philosophy with extruded aluminum and a bolted-on interior, showcasing a seamless blend of innovation and style. The interior boasted an intriguing detail – devices placed in two transparent rotating spheres, offering a minimalist combination of instruments. A special knob facilitated the rotation of spheres to access radio and CD changer controls or the clock.
Inspiration for the Street Ka concept stemmed from the study of European youth culture and evolving trends in street fashion, music, and film. Filippo Sapino, Managing Director of Ghia S.p.A., expressed how they transformed the already fashionable Ford Ka into an urban, street spider with a distinctive look and feel.
The exterior design of the Street Ka built on the features of the Ford Ka, incorporating the "New Edge" design with smooth sculpted surfaces and crisp intersections. Its body panels were finished in a mauve-tinted silver metallic paint, complemented by a dark blue canvas top. The street-sports car concept featured six-spoke alloy wheels with 17-inch Pirelli racing tires, providing a wider and more performance-oriented stance.
Inside, the Street Ka showcased racing-style bucket seats in dark blue leather. The instrument panel, made of translucent plastic with anodized aluminum accents, featured adjustable gauges, allowing the driver to switch seamlessly between urban driving and track racing. Rotating gauges revealed a chronograph lap timer and a rev counter.
Structural reinforcements, including two aluminum roll bars and bulkheads, enhanced safety and stability within the passenger compartment. The Street Ka was equipped with a 1.7 VVC-litre Zetec engine and featured the suspension and drivetrain developed for the Puma race car.
The Street Ka concept beautifully amalgamated style, performance, and innovation, presenting a testament to Ford's commitment to pushing the boundaries of automotive design.
Source: Denis Orlov "Salon for the Initiated", Magazine "MOTOR" N51 Images: Ford Motor Company
