First unveiled in 1996, the Ford Ka has finally officially entered the second generation. The new generation Ka made its world debut at the 2008 Paris Auto Show and comes with new exterior design, new interior and engines.

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 affordable new Ford Ka is designed to be both cheap to run and kind to the environment. It uses two economical, low emission engines: a 1.2-litre 69 PS Duratec petrol engine and, for the first time on Ka, a 1.3-litre 75 PS Duratorq TDCi turbodiesel.

Both petrol and diesel models are available with sub-120g/km CO2 emissions. The 1.2-litre petrol model, which is expected to be the largest seller in the new range, has cut fuel consumption by 21 per cent compared to the previous 1.3-litre Ka. The diesel model – available on the Ka for the first time – improves economy still further, achieving a combined fuel consumption of 4.2 litres/100km.

Press release after the jump.

2009 Ford Ka

Specifications
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  • Model: 2009 Ford Ka
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Press release

The exciting new Ford Ka is stylish, modern and great fun to drive. It replaces the iconic original Ka, which brought new levels of style and enjoyment to the small-car market when it was launched in 1996.

The new Ka retains all of the qualities which made the Ka brand so popular – compact size, great looks, lively dynamics and fun personality – but presents them in a fresh new package.

With its striking interior and exterior design, outstanding dynamics and unique character, the Ford Ka sets a new standard for affordable small cars. Practical, safe, cheap to run, and friendly to the environment, this bold new model starts a new chapter of the Ka success story.

Stylish and fashionable


With the introduction of new Ka, Ford has extended its kinetic design language to the smallest car range.

The new vehicle has a stylish, fashionable appearance which combines Ford’s latest design thinking with some of the youthful and cheeky spirit which made the original Ka so popular.

Designed for a young target audience who enjoy making a bold statement in their choice of car, the new Ka has the same compact proportions as its predecessor, but with a chunky and expressive style all of its own.

A number of visual cues from the outgoing car ensure that the new design is recognisably a Ka, yet it has the dynamic qualities which mark it out as a member of the kinetic design family.
 

Bold, colourful interior


The interior of the new Ka has a stylish, dynamic design, just like the exterior. The same kinetic design philosophy used to shape the body is applied inside the vehicle, ensuring that the fresh and modern character of the external design is matched by the interior style.

Bold contrasts and expressive colours have been deliberately chosen to reflect the more adventurous tastes of the typical Ka customer. These are combined with some imaginative design details to give the interior a fashionable and fun personality which is quite unique in the B car segment.

The new Ka is practical too, with generous interior space and comfortable accommodation for four adults and their belongings. The high seating position, carefully placed controls and excellent visibility make the Ka a pleasure to drive for drivers of all ages.

Customising your Ka


The young target audience for the Ka enjoy making bold, personal statements through their choice of vehicle. A major effort was put into developing a series of fresh and colourful personalisation options to allow customers to express themselves in their own unique way.

Three striking option packs offer a combination of exciting interior and exterior design treatments based on some highly original design themes.

These packs are complemented by a tempting collection of individual items – from brightly coloured grille surrounds to luxurious leather seats – so that customers can have fun customising their Ka, inside and out.
 

Exciting driving dynamics


The original Ka was renowned for its go-kart like handling, and the new Ka has been designed to be just as fun and rewarding to drive, with the most exciting driving dynamics of any small car.

Ford’s own chassis engineering experts have tuned the suspension, steering, and chassis, with the same meticulous attention to detail which has made Ford a leader in vehicle dynamics.

Final testing was conducted using a combination of public roads, proving grounds and race tracks – including the legendary Nürburgring.

During the engineering process, information was exchanged with the team developing the new Fiesta, and certain components, such as the tyres, were jointly developed for both models.

Economical and environmentally friendly


The affordable new Ford Ka is designed to be both cheap to run and kind to the environment.  It uses two economical, low emission engines: a 1.2-litre 69 PS Duratec petrol engine and, for the first time on Ka, a 1.3-litre 75 PS Duratorq TDCi turbodiesel.

Both petrol and diesel models are available with sub-120g/km CO2 emissions.

The 1.2-litre petrol model, which is expected to be the largest seller in the new range, has cut fuel consumption by 21 per cent compared to the previous 1.3-litre Ka.

The diesel model – available on the Ka for the first time – improves economy still further, achieving a combined fuel consumption of 4.2 litres/100km.
 

Safe and secure


The new Ka may be a small vehicle, but it has been engineered to meet Ford’s strict in-house safety design guidelines.

At the heart of the vehicle is the bodyshell, which has been developed to provide an incredibly strong, stable crash structure to protect passengers in case of an accident.

The bodyshell is combined with an Intelligent Protection System (IPS), which integrates airbags, restraint systems and seating technologies to provide a highly effective occupant safety system.

Ka choice


The new Ford Ka is available in two series – Ambiente and Titanium – each offering an outstanding combination of value and equipment.  To complement these two models, there are a number of carefully tailored option packs to provide customers with maximum choice when specifying their vehicle.

Specify the Bluetooth®-enabled Connectivity Kit, and the Ka comes equipped with Bluetooth® mobile phone connectivity, a USB port to play music files through the sound system and steering wheel controls.

Combine this with one of the superb six-speaker CD sound systems, and the new Ka provides all the necessary equipment to keep its passengers connected and entertained.

Unique among vehicles in the small-car segment, the new Ka also offers heated windscreen and heated seats, invaluable for safe and comfortable driving in cold winter conditions.
 
Development and production

The new Ford Ka has been developed as part of a joint venture agreement with Fiat. The vehicle is produced at the modern Fiat manufacturing plant in Tychy, Poland, sharing the production line with the Fiat 500 model.

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Exterior design


With the introduction of new Ka, Ford has extended its kinetic design language to the smallest model in its passenger car range. The new vehicle has a stylish, modern appearance which combines Ford’s latest design thinking with some of the youthful and cheeky spirit which made the original Ka so popular.

Designed for a young target audience who enjoy making a bold statement in their choice of vehicle, the new Ka has the same compact proportions as its predecessor but with a chunky and expressive style all of its own.

A number of visual cues from the original vehicle ensure that the new design is clearly a Ka, yet it has the dynamic qualities which mark it out as a member of the kinetic design family.
 

Friendly and fun character


A primary objective for the design was to maintain the friendly and fun character of the original Ka, and graphical elements are combined at the front and rear to create an identifiable face for the vehicle.

At the front, the prominent trapezoidal lower grille – a key kinetic design feature – forms the Ka’s mouth, while the large swept back headlamps are its expressive eyes; the button nose is provided by a large Ford oval above the grille. Together these elements give the new Ka an attractive, smiling face which welcomes drivers to the vehicle.

A similar approach is taken at the rear. Here, the bold tail lamps form wide, open eyes, the tailgate handle effectively becomes the nose, and the bumper – with a trapezoid set into its centre – represents the mouth.

Kinetic design elements


While its distinctive face and chunky proportions give the new Ka its own unique personality, the vehicle embodies elements of the same kinetic design form language already seen in recent Ford products such as the Mondeo, Kuga and Fiesta.

With full surfaces spanning taut, dynamic feature lines and a confident, athletic stance, the design of the new Ka sends a clear message about the vehicle’s excellent driving dynamics.

Important elements of the kinetic design language featured on the vehicle include bold wheel lips, wide rocker panels and strong shoulders supported by a spear-shaped undercut line which sweeps up through the door handles towards the rear lamps.

The characteristic shape of the kinetic design window line – the daylight opening graphic – is also featured, although in this case the shape has been adapted to incorporate the bold window graphic from the previous Ka, with its distinctive curve of the glass at the C pillar.
 
At the rear of the vehicle, kinetic design graphics such as the tailgate glass with chamfered lower corners are combined with some other powerful visual cues from the original Ka.  These design cues include the softly curving shape of the tailgate and the sculpted shape of the roof with a spoiler integrated into its trailing edge.

Fresh exterior colours


The youthful, cheeky character of the new Ka is also reflected in the range of exterior colours which have been selected for the vehicle.

The choices include a number of bold solid and metallic colours which are unique to the Ka, and which are in tune with the car’s fashion-driven target audience. The colour palette was developed around a series of strong pastel shades, and also features two striking pearlescent colours: the sparkling white “Piste” and the luscious magenta “Blush”.

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Interior design


The interior of the new Ka has a stylish, dynamic design, just like the exterior. The same kinetic design philosophy used to shape the body is applied inside the vehicle, ensuring that the fresh and modern character of the external design is matched by the interior style.

Bold contrasts and expressive colours have been deliberately chosen to reflect the more adventurous tastes of the typical Ka customer. These are combined with some distinctive design details to give the interior a fashionable and fun personality which is quite unique in the small car segment.

The new Ka is practical too, with generous interior space and comfortable accommodation for four adults. The high seating position, carefully placed controls and excellent visibility make the Ka a pleasure to drive for drivers of all ages. Convenient stowage for everything from iPods and mobile phones through to coins and sunglasses ensures that the interior has a place for everything.
 

Imaginative details


The kinetic design approach is reflected in the contoured forms, strong dynamic lines and full surfaces evident on the main interior features. The upper instrument panel has a slim, wing-like section, and flows into the centre console with its bold graphic elements and distinctive Ka badge.

Strong trapezoidal shapes are incorporated throughout the interior as a recurring design theme, featuring on the centre console, steering wheel, seat fabric and door trim.

The most striking aspect of the design is the glossy white finish of the centre console bezel and door pulls. This finish provides a strong contrast to the surrounding interior trim, and is an interpretation of the modern materials used in many popular consumer items. On Titanium models the treatment is extended to the instrument cluster shroud and steering wheel spokes, and the parts have a stylish pearlescent white colour.

Design details, some with an almost cartoon-like quality, add to the personality of the interior.  Features like the distinctive, exposed instrument cluster surround complement the attractive contouring at the top of the centre console.

The simplistic swivelling air vents are a prominent feature of the dash panel. Shaped like the top of a juice squeezer, they need to be held much like a bowling ball to adjust their direction.

Bold colours and contrasts


The bold use of colour and contrast extends to the wide choice of interior trims and fabrics.  Two interior environment colours are available – a dark blue-grey and a lighter khaki colour – complemented by a broad range of seat designs tailored to match both the interior environment and the different exterior colours.
 
The seats feature bright fabric inserts using contrasting colours, including some vibrant pastel shades. Ambiente models have patterned inserts using contemporary graphics; the Titanium series uses plain colours to emphasise the strong contrast with the other interior finishes.

This attention to detail is extended to the quality and texture of the materials used throughout the cabin. The main upper instrument panel moulding has a surface texture which simulates a natural fabric like linen, while the material is specially designed to retain its attractive matt finish through the life of the vehicle. Trim gaps have been minimised in all places to reinforce the impression that the interior belongs to a much more expensive vehicle.

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Ka choice


The new Ford Ka is available in two series, each offering an outstanding combination of value and equipment. To complement these two models, there are a number of carefully tailored option packs to provide owners with maximum choice when specifying their vehicle.

Combine this with the exciting exterior and interior personalisation packs, and it’s clear that every Ka customer will be able to create a stylish and individual vehicle to call their own.

The Ambiente model provides small-car buyers with a highly affordable and stylish package, combining excellent comfort and safety with generous levels of equipment. Standard features include:
•    Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS)
•    Height-adjustable steering wheel
•    ABS brakes with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
•    Driver and passenger front airbags
•    Comprehensive instrument cluster with rev counter and trip computer
•    Headlamp Courtesy Delay system
•    Electronic immobiliser
•    One-piece folding rear seat
•    Body-coloured bumpers
•    14-inch wheels

The high-series Titanium model is distinguished from the Ambiente by its body-coloured door mirrors and door handles, and by its comprehensive selection of standard comfort and convenience features. Additional equipment fitted to the Titanium includes:
•    Air conditioning (with pollen filter)
•    Remote central locking (with retractable key fob)
•    Power front windows
•    Electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors
•    High series instrument cluster, trip computer, steering wheel and gear knob
•    Theatre dimming interior lights
•    Front fog lamps
•    15-inch wheels

Option packs and features


Ka customers can specify a wide range of attractive option packs and individual features to tailor the vehicle to their own personal requirements. Some of the key packs and features are:
•    Bluetooth®-enabled Connectivity Kit – including USB port, Bluetooth® capability and steering wheel with control switches
•    Music Packs – featuring a Radio-CD with MP3 compatibility and six speakers (Advanced pack includes a subwoofer with separate amplifier and upgraded speakers)
•    Seat Upgrade Pack – includes four-way adjustable driver’s seat, tipping driver’s seat with Easy Entry and memory function, passenger seat with under-seat stowage, and 50/50 split rear seat
•    Exterior Style Packs – featuring alloy wheels, privacy glass and fog lamps (depending on series)
•    Heated windscreen
•    Heated front seats
•    Automatic climate control
•    Leather seat trim
•    Panorama fixed glass sunroof (available 2009)
•    Rear parking sensors

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Driving dynamics


When the original Ford Ka was launched, it was immediately praised for its go-kart like handling and its lively driving experience. The new Ka is true to that heritage, and has been designed to be fun and rewarding to drive, and deliver the most exciting driving dynamics of any small car.

Ford’s own vehicle dynamics experts tuned the suspension, steering and chassis to ensure that the new Ka embodies Ford’s DNA, delivering the same acclaimed driving quality as the larger models in the Ford range.

The car’s ride, handling and steering all benefitted from the meticulous attention to detail which has made Ford a leader in driving dynamics.
Natural, responsive steering

To achieve the natural, responsive steering which plays a key role in making the new Ka such fun to drive, the engineers made a series of important changes. These included adding a rear anti-roll bar, updating the front anti-roll bar, stiffening the suspension bushes and mounting points, and modifying the responses of the steering system components.

Springs and dampers were then selected and tuned to suit these new chassis settings, so that the precise steering would be complemented by balanced, sporty handling and a taut, well-controlled ride.

Final testing was conducted using a combination of public roads, proving grounds and race tracks – including the legendary Nürburgring.

During the engineering process, information was exchanged with the team developing the new Fiesta, and certain components, such as the tyres, were jointly developed for both models.

Powertrain


The new Ford Ka is available with a choice of two powertrains: the responsive and economical 1.2-litre 69 PS Duratec petrol engine, and the refined and efficient 1.3-litre 75 PS Duratorq TDCi diesel engine. The engines are mated to a smooth-shifting five-speed manual gearbox.

Both petrol and diesel engines are ideally suited to the cut and thrust of city driving, with a broad spread of torque and lively performance.

Ford powertrain engineers have tuned the calibration of the engines to ensure they respond swiftly and accurately to throttle inputs, providing the driver with precise control and an excellent performance feel.
 

Sporty gearing boosts fun


For customers who prefer an even more responsive and entertaining drive, the petrol version of the new Ka can be specified with a shorter final drive ratio (3.73:1 instead of 3.43:1).

The revised gearing boosts acceleration in all gears, providing the driver with more eager responses and a sportier feel, and making an ideal match for the vehicle’s agile and confident handling.

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Chassis, brakes and active safety


To help achieve its class-leading driving dynamics, the new Ka employs chassis systems that have been meticulously tuned by Ford engineers to deliver the same acclaimed driving quality as the larger models in the range. The vehicle also uses advanced braking and stability systems to help achieve outstanding levels of active safety.

Electric power-assisted steering


All new Ford Ka models are fitted with speed-sensitive Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) as standard.

The phasing of the steering system components have been carefully refined by Ford engineers to ensure that the Ka has the natural, quick steering responses and precise feedback which help make the vehicle so enjoyable to drive. The steering is also pleasantly light and easy to use at low speeds.

A major advantage of the EPAS system is that it delivers significant benefits in fuel economy and CO2 emissions. The system only operates when steering assistance is required, thereby reducing the power it consumes from the engine and the fuel it requires. This compares favourably to a traditional hydraulic pump, which operates continuously once a car’s ignition is engaged.

The steering is a rack and pinion design requiring 3 turns lock-to-lock; the new Ka has a turning circle of just 9.2 metres, providing outstanding agility and manoeuvrability in city driving.
 

Suspension systems


While the new Ka uses a conventional suspension design with MacPherson struts at the front and torsion beam axle at the rear, it has been comprehensively tuned by Ford vehicle dynamics specialists to deliver class-leading steering, handling and ride.

The primary focus was on the rear suspension, which features a lightweight folded sheet steel torsion beam with double acting telescopic hydraulic dampers located beneath the floor of the bodyshell. To achieve their objectives, Ford engineers significantly increased rear roll stiffness by adding a new anti-roll bar to the rear axle, while also stiffening the bushes in the attachment points.

The front suspension was also modified to complement the changes at the rear. The MacPherson strut system has a transverse lower control arm anchored to an auxiliary crossbeam, and an anti-roll bar connected by rods to the shock absorbers. To help achieve quick, precise steering responses, Ford engineers uprated the anti-roll bar and utilised stiffer bushes at the front and rear of the lower control arm.

Working closely with equipment suppliers, Ford engineers then tuned dampers and springs to match the revised chassis settings, so that the precise, responsive steering would be complemented by balanced, sporty handling and a taut, well-controlled ride.

The characteristics of the damper top mounts and spring bump stops were also uprated, using the same detailed approach which has made Ford a leader in vehicle dynamics.

During the engineering process, information was exchanged with the team developing the new Fiesta, and certain components, such as the tyres, were jointly developed for both models.
 

Brakes


The braking system on the new Ka features front disc and rear drum brakes, with an advanced ABS anti-lock system fitted as standard to all models. Both petrol and diesel vehicles use 240mm diameter front discs, with ventilated discs specified for the diesel version; 180mm drum brakes are fitted to the rear of all models.

The braking system features two independent crossover hydraulic circuits with servo assistance to provide safe, consistent braking with short stopping distances.

The ABS system has four active sensors, four channels and a hydraulic control unit with eight solenoids, helping the vehicle to maintain the maximum braking effort even with each wheel close to locking.

ABS is supplemented by an Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) system, which distributes the braking force between the front and rear wheels, taking account of the available grip and brake pad efficiency. The EBD system helps to prevent the rear wheels from locking and maintain the balance of the vehicle under heavy braking.

Active safety features


As part of a comprehensive approach to active safety, the new Ka offers a comprehensive range of braking, traction control and stability systems to complement the vehicle’s outstanding handling and road-holding characteristics.

In addition to the braking systems described above, Ka customers can specify a sophisticated Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) module which provides a number of functions to enhance vehicle stability and safety.
 
The main features are:
•    ESP – The ESP system helps the driver to control the car in a potential skid situation when stability is at risk. Using sophisticated sensors to assess whether the vehicle is approaching an understeer or oversteer condition, the system restores stability by applying brakes to individual wheels and reducing engine power. Ford engineers worked with the system suppliers to calibrate the ESP system to suit the excellent handling characteristics of the new Ka. This ensures that the system is only activated when required, and any intervention is as gentle as possible. This enables drivers to enjoy the vehicle’s outstanding dynamics without unnecessary interference from the stability program.

•    Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR) and Engine Drag torque Control (EDC) – The anti-slip system provides automatic traction control in low-grip conditions, working at all speeds. When the ABS wheel sensors detect wheel spin, the system either reduces engine torque (if both wheels are spinning) or applies the brake to an individual wheel (if a single wheel is spinning), much like a self-locking differential. The EDC system takes over if the driver changes down abruptly in low-grip conditions, restoring engine torque and preventing skidding caused by wheel lock-up.

•    Hill Start Assist (HSA) – The hill start assist system helps drivers to pull away smoothly during a hill start. It uses the ESP sensors to identify a hill-start situation, and when the brake pedal is released, the system maintains pressure on the front brakes for about two seconds, allowing the driver to set off without the vehicle rolling backwards. The system is also activated when the vehicle is facing downhill and reverse gear is selected.

•    Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA) – During emergency stop conditions, the HBA system uses the ABS control unit electronically to boost brake performance and ensure that maximum retardation is achieved – whatever pressure the driver applies to the brake pedal.

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Engines and transmissions


The new Ford Ka goes on sale with a choice of two powertrains: the responsive and economical 1.2-litre 69 PS 8-valve Duratec petrol engine, and the advanced 1.3-litre 75 PS 16-valve Duratorq TDCi diesel.
 
Both petrol and diesel models are available as environmentally friendly low carbon sub-120g/km CO2 versions, so that they can benefit from the financial incentives available in many major European markets.

The two engines satisfy Euro Stage IV standards. The diesel engine can be specified with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) which almost totally eliminates particulate emissions (selected markets only).

Both the 1.2-litre petrol engine and 1.3-litre turbodiesel are fitted with a 5-speed manual gearbox.

The engine calibrations and overall driving quality and smoothness of the powertrains were optimised by a team including Ford ‘performance feel and driving smoothness’ specialists.

1.2-litre 8v Duratec petrol


The 1.2-litre Duratec petrol engine is designed to deliver spirited performance, without any compromise to fuel economy.  The engine is an 8-valve SOHC design that has been tuned to deliver high torque at low engine speeds, providing excellent responsiveness and driveability.

The engine incorporates advanced technologies to further enhance efficiency, including phased sequential multipoint injection and a drive-by-wire, electronic throttle control system; an active knock sensor optimises ignition advance under all operating conditions.

The ignition coils are grouped together in a single block with very short high voltage cables, resulting in a reduction in spark plug wear, improved cold starting, and a reduction in the risk of disturbance to on-board instruments.
 
Engine performance has also been enhanced through the use of a high-turbulence combustion chamber, together with convergent/divergent intake ports and revised camshaft profiles.

Operating refinement and 'Sound Quality and Vibration' (SQ&V) has been improved by optimising the performance of both intake and exhaust systems, reducing crankshaft vibrations through computerised selection of the main bearings, and by adopting a special engine mounting system which minimises the transfer of engine vibrations to the body.

To minimise exhaust emissions, particularly during cold starts or on short journeys, the catalytic converter is welded to the side of the exhaust manifold within the engine bay. This allows the catalyst to reach operating temperatures more rapidly, thus reducing emissions before the engine warms up.

1.3-litre 16v Duratorq TDCi diesel


The 1.3 litre 16v Duratorq TDCi engine delivers outstanding fuel economy, smooth torque delivery and refined performance.

The engine is an advanced direct-injection design using second generation common rail fuel injection. It uses a Borg-Warner fixed geometry turbocharger with waste gate and intercooler, with an electronically controlled Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) and cooling system.

The engine is compact and light, with an overall weight of just 130 kg. It features four valves per cylinder operated by twin overhead camshafts with maintenance-free hydraulic tappets.  The cylinder head is equipped with highly efficient directional intake ports to ensure an optimum fuel mix despite the engine’s small bore.
 
To achieve smoother, quieter combustion, reduced emissions and increased performance, the common rail injection system divides the main fuel injection into multiple smaller injections.  Its electronic control unit adjusts injection strategy continually in relation to the current engine rpm, torque demand and coolant temperatures.

The 1.3-litre diesel delivers excellent environmental performance thanks to an emissions control system which features an electronically triggered EGR valve managed directly by the engine control system, a heat exchanger to cool re-circulating exhaust gas, and a close-coupled catalytic converter.

The Duratorq engine can also be specified with DPF, which almost totally eliminates particulate emissions, and which requires no maintenance during the vehicle’s life (selected markets only).

Transmission


Both the 1.2-litre Duratec petrol and 1.3-litre Duratorq TDCi engines are mated to a reliable and robust 5-speed manual gearbox.

The compact transmission offers a light, smooth gear change through careful attention to minimising the inertia of the driven clutch plate and the introduction of new seals. The gearbox casings, developed using advanced computer analysis, are light yet display high noise absorption efficiency.

The gearbox features a dual-cable shift mechanism that provides a swift, accurate gear shift, and which prevents engine vibrations from being transmitted to the dashboard-mounted gear lever. A collar mechanism on the gear lever is used to prevent reverse gear being selected inadvertently.