The hot hatchback has always been a popular car in Europe.
They have somewhat humble origins. A manufacturer takes a small, practical car that it has designed for occasional family use. Into this is strapped a significantly upgraded engine and a load of suspension, braking and styling changes to suit.
In short, the hot hatch is just about all the car anyone would ever need and few things are as quick, point-to-point on real roads.
But like all cars, the hot hatch has suffered from the same increase in heft that afflicts all modern cars. As safety standards become more demanding, cars bulks up – thicker metal, additional strengthening, oodles of airbags – and both weight and vehicle size increase.
Of course, power has risen to match, or even exceed the extra mass. A current Volkswagen Golf GTI has a far superior power to weight ratio than the original car. But that extra weight doesn’t only affect straight line speed.
A hot hatch is as much about the driving experience as it is the pace at which you reach a destination. Being as light as possible only enhances braking and cornering – the hot hatch’s finest qualities.
So it proves with the Ford SportKa. Rather awkward name aside – and not even Ford knows if it’s pronounced ‘Kah’, ‘Car’ or ‘Kay-ay’ – this dinky vehicle is a throwback to those hot hatch days of old.
Ford used the regular Ka chassis, also found under the superb Puma and several versions of the Fiesta. The dreadful 63hp, 1.3-litre Kent engine was replaced with a 93hp 1.6-litre Duratec. Ford upgraded the front brakes and stiffened the suspension too. A unique bodykit and wheels complete the look.
The end result is a cracking little car that is an unreasonable amount of fun to drive. The straight line performance figures aren’t stellar, even if it’s 30% quicker than the regular Ka, but that’s not the point.
No, the SportKa is all about the hot hatch experience. With a wheel pushed out into each corner and an eager 8-valve engine, the SportKa was the choice of the driving enthusiast on a budget.
Even up-and-coming young Everton and England footballer, Wayne Rooney, had a SportKa. If that’s not enough of a recommendation, we don’t know what is. Have you ever seen a more awkward press shot?
Though not the fastest machine on Earth, driving the SportKa is an object lesson in preservation of momentum. If anything, it’s like a modern day Mini, before BMW took over that brand and injected the aforementioned safety bloat.
We can’t think of much else we’d rather take for a blast around a city course. Just don’t mention its convertible sibling…
See more articles on Ford and Wednesday Want.
