Ford Ka: New pictures

The carmaker is set to launch the new model at the Paris Motor Show in October, 12 years after the original version was launched.

While some aspects of the new model mirror the previous version, the new launch has a distinctive face and more “chunky” features. The original Ka, which launched in 1996, proved a success for the blue-oval brand, with production exceeding 1.4 million units. Ford said it hoped the supermini would attract retail first-time buyers as the original version also fared well in that market. "We are very excited about the launch of the new Ka", said Roelant de Waard, chairman and managing director, Ford of Britain. "The original has been a huge hit in the UK with a sales record of over 480,000 – 80 per cent of which have been to retail customers, and many of those first-time buyers. “I'm confident that the latest design will prove just as big a hit.”