The new Ford Ka makes a cameo appearance in the new Bond movie. In a scene that is almost certain to take on iconic status, we see Daniel Craig emerge from one wearing a pair of powder blue swimming trunks.

No, hang on, that was the sea in Casino Royale. The Ka moment in Quantum of Solace comes when Olga Kurylenko screeches up in a metallic gold model and tells Bond, through the open passenger window, “Get in” - possibly the most unignorable command ever issued from the front seat of one of these loveable urban runabouts.

Bond does get in and, as a pursuing moped looms in the wing-mirrors, there ensues what I suppose we should refer to as a Ka chase through the streets of Bogotá, or possibly Vienna, or maybe Marseilles (I tend to get a bit confused during Bond movies, finding the plots even harder to understand than the key factors behind the global economic downturn). And, remarkably, quite against the run of things for cars in Quantum of Solace, the Ka emerges from this sequence entirely unscathed.

There isn't a mark on its perky, new, forward-tilted shape. It doesn't get totalled against a brick pillar, collide with a house or burst into flames while plunging from a jetty. It doesn't even have to suffer superficial paint damage by sideswiping that prying moped-rider across the pavement. Bond, with selfless respect for a brand new version of a hugely popular motor, simply gets out and does the job by hand.

In this, the film graciously extends the Ka a more dignified fate even than Bond's Aston Martin DBS, which has a gruesome time of it up an Italian mountain in the opening five minutes and ends up without a door on the driver's side. Don't you hate it when that happens? Next to some freelance spoiler deciding to run a key down the side, it's the most irritating thing that can happen to your Aston, instantly dropping the residuals by a truly depressing amount.

Still, as far as the Ka is concerned, what an advertisement for this whippy four-seater. You just can't buy that kind of positive exposure for your product. Except, of course, you can buy it, and Ford now seems to make a point of doing so. (In Casino Royale, Craig appeared briefly at the wheel of a rented Ford Mondeo - a shock for Bond purists but a breakthrough for the brand, producing a new sociological category for marketing departments to toy with: Bondeo Man.)

Interestingly, Kurylenko goes for a plaincoloured Ka rather than one of the many personal options available. Then again, perhaps the dealership in Bogotá/Vienna/Marseilles, though it had managed to find her a new Ka well before the official rollout date, wasn't able to show her the full options range at that point. Capitalising on the Ka's status since 1996 as the kind of car that people don't merely own but grow uncommonly fond of, you can choose to tattoo your Ka with stick-on hearts and leaves and pick out Day-Glo inserts for the seat covers. Or you can get it in red, with broad white grand prix stripes down the roof and bonnet.

If all this reminds you of the Fiat 500, it's meant to. The new Ka was built in partnership with Fiat. The interior is less fancy than the 500's, the dashboard less soft, more Ford. But it's chunky and durable and it's clear that we are looking here at a huggable city car - not just for the 500,000 owners of earlier Kas who may be fancying an upgrade, but for anyone who finds the cult of the 500 a little cloying or ersatz.

The only remaining uncertainty is how to pronounce “Ka”. A recent presentation to the press produced three pronunciations in as many Ford executive speakers. We got the robust and obvious “car”, but also “cah” - like “cat” without the “t”. And finally there was “kay”, as in Peter. The choice appears to be yours.

It's not important, anyway. The main thing is that, if you ever need to shake off someone nasty on a moped in the narrow streets of Bogotá/Vienna/Marseilles, you're in the right vehicle.

Top speed: 104mph

Acceleration: 0-62 in 13.7 seconds

Average consumption: 43.5mpg

CO2 emissions: 154g/km

Eco rating: 8/10

One careful owner: Camille

On the stereo: the John Barry Orchestra

In the glovebox: guns, ammo

Bound for: the harbour

Buy it because: the name's Ka

Marks out of 10: 9

Price: from £7,645