2009 Ford KA: Official Details and High-Res Image Gallery

At 00:01 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) Ford officially lifted the veil over its all-new KA. We are aware that the embargo was breached earlier today, but these are the first high-resolution photos of Ford's new city car that will make its global debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show in October. Moreover, we have additional images of the 2009 KA that you can check out right after the jump.

As we told you in our previous post on the new KA, Ford did not reveal a single piece of information in its press release, so we'll have to wait until September to learn all the details and especially, the engine line-up. What we do know is that the new KA is based on Fiat's highly successful 500 which in turn uses a shortened version of the Panda's platform. However, the two cars are totally different in design and unless you're blind, there's no way you'll mistake one car for another. -Continued

The only visible shared component that we found by comparing pictures of the 500 and the KA, are the A/C controls on the centre console. Overall, the new KA looks fresh in and out. It may feature a less radical design than the first-generation KA, but on the other hand, it's also less polarizing.

PRESS RELEASE: FRESH, FUNKY AND FUN, INTRODUCING THE ALL-NEW FORD KA

Paris Show debut for all-new Ford Ka
Bold, fashionable and stylish design
Full of youthful and cheeky Ka spirit
Exciting successor to the iconic original

The exciting new Ka, Ford's fresh, fun and funky small car, will take centre-stage at the 2008 Paris Motor Show in October. The all-new Ford Ka brings new levels of style and enjoyment to affordable city cars. Twelve years after the original Ka was launched to great acclaim, its successor captures the same youthful and cheeky spirit. The new model retains all of the qualities which made the Ka so popular -its compact size, great looks, lively dynamics and fun personality- but presents them in a fresh new package.

Stylish Inside and Out: Ford designers have given the new Ka a fashionable, modern appearance based around the company's 'kinetic design' form language. A number of visual cues provide a connection to the original Ka, but with its distinctive face and chunky proportions the new model has its own unique character. The interior of the new Ka also has a stylish, dynamic design, combining bold contrasts and expressive colours which reflect the more adventurous tastes of the typical Ka buyer.

Rebirth of a Design Icon: The new model is destined to continue the considerable success of the original Ford Ka, which is widely considered to be an automotive design icon. Launched at the Paris Motor Show in 1996, the Ka was immediately praised for its exciting "New Edge" styling and class-leading driving dynamics. Throughout its 12-year life the Ka has remained tremendously popular among small-car buyers, inspiring fierce loyalty from its owners. In total, Ka production has exceeded 1.4 million vehicles. Further information on the new Ford Ka range will be released in time for the Paris Motor Show in early October 2008.