The Fiat 500's underpinnings couldn't have been used for making a cuter car but that is not necessarily good news for Fiat. Its dream run has the potential of turning into a fully-fledged nightmare by a car like the Ford Ka. The first-gen Ford Ka looked plain and simple but the second-gen that the spy shooters have captured looks a whole lot different.

Changes all round for this tiny hatchback. The new front fascia gives it an appealing stance while the lamps both front and rear fills it with life. The fog lamps have moved up closer to the hood, might be mistaken for indicator lamps. The two-tone paint doesn't look all that nice in digital but might work in flesh, you never know. On the whole, it's not looking good at all for Fiat.

On the inside, Ford can definitely do entirely away with the florescent and black color scheme, black and red/orange would be more like it. The gear lever has found itself a new home, now nesting alongside the A.C vents and CD player, which provides easier access to the driver so that he won't use one hand to steer for far too long. The costs are reduced too, as the dashboard extension serves as a housing for the knob freeing up some space along the way.

Auto Express reported last month that three engine options will be available, a 63bhp 1.2-litre and 100bhp 1.4-litre petrols, plus a 1.3-litre Multijet diesel, same as the one the Italian uses at present.

From a distance, the new Ka looks like a tricked-out 500 with new headlamps and two-tone paint. But the point of making this car is to use Fiat's platform to make a superior car. Ford has put the mules through a grueling test program and there are a lot of chances for them to come up on top. Little or nothing was wrong with the 500, and only a comprehensive test drive post-launch will give a clear idea on what really distinguishes these two cars.

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