Designed to meet the growing demand for cars that are small, practical and fuel-efficient enough for increasingly urban environments, particularly in emerging markets, a production version could be launched as early as 2014.

Ford believes that the sub-B compact vehicle category (into which the Ka falls) is set to explode in the coming years (by 35% from 2012-2017 alone) and that demand will be driven by consumers in emerging, highly urban markets such as Brazil.

But rather than build a bare-bones runaround with little or no creature comforts, the Ka Concept — which was developed by Ford Brazil — boasts ample seating for five (despite its diminutive size), air conditioning, smartphone docking station and the Ford SYNC telematics and infotainment system as standard.

Of the car, which was unveiled at the company’s Northeast Industrial Complex in Camaçari, Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford said: “Ford has a long history in Brazil, bringing development, jobs and growth to the region. As an integral part of our global growth strategy, we are committed to bringing world-class products to Brazil and to helping the region create global vehicles for the rest of the world.”

Ford hasn’t confirmed what is under the hood, but expect it to be a small, turbocharged fuel-efficient EcoBoost unit. And although the car is just a concept, and therefore a signpost for the direction of future models in that category, expect a strikingly similar production version to hit South American streets within the next 12 months.