Hard to believe but Ford’s midsize competitor to the likes of the Camry, Accord, Malibu, Altima and Sonata has been around since the 2006 model year. It first appeared in these pages in 2007, November 27th to be precise, in the guise of two 2008 SE models, one with a 4-cylinder and the other with a V6.
Spool ahead to 2010 and we’re got a substantially updated Fusion, one with revised front and rear styling, an even nicer interior and new powertrain offerings including the hybrid model reviewed here.
Ford’s continued evolution of its hybrid technology results in a hybrid system that transitions between gasoline and electric power and back more efficiently and seamlessly. The overall system upgrade allows the Ford Fusion and its Mercury Milan counterpart to operate longer at higher speeds in electric mode. The hybrid vehicles can operate up to 47 mph (I saw 43 mph) in pure electric mode, approximately twice as fast as some competitors. Plus, the city driving range on a single tank of gas is expected to be more than 700 miles. EPA ratings for the Ford Fusion Hybrid are 41-mpg city and 36-mpg highway, better than its Camry, Altima and Malibu hybrid counterparts. (more…)
More exciting auto news on the good, the bad and the ugly that showed up at Detroit. Images once again from Fotog Joe Tori who takes no credit for the “uglies.” All he does is shoot ‘em as they come. And make them picture perfect.
A clean sweep for Ford in the North American Car and Truck of the year awards with the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Transit Connect taking top honors. Both are green versions of conventional internal combustion models. The city-size Transit van will be offered in two full electric ranges (Sorry, no gas stoves offered.) sometime during the second half of 2010. The entry-level model will have 60-mile range on its lithium ion batteries and an optional 100-miler will also be available.
A MAXI MINI? What else would you call the Beachcomber concept with 4-doors, 4-seats and 4-wheel drive shown at Detroit? Unless, of course, you called it a Countryman crossover, a production model which goes on sale in the US in 2011.
So is the GMC Granite concept concrete evidence that GM is going after Scion buyers? The diminutive Granite is low, wide and aggressive. But it features impressive utility in the configuration of doors and seats. It’s powered by a 1.4-liter 4-cylinder mit turbo and teamed to a 6-speed auto trans. Will it make it to production? “No comment” from the General. Yes, says the Carmudgeon. And who you gonna believe?????????
Who can you trust if you can’t trust GM’s Vice Chairman Bob Lutz? Lutz calls the Aveo RS concept a “car guy’s Chevy.” The five-door hatchback is longer and wider and has more space than the current Aveo. It also has 19-inch wheels designed to appeal to car guys and gals. At the Detroit show the RS had a 138-bhp, turbo, 1.4-liter, 4-banger under the hood, same engine that will be offered in the 2011 Chevy Cruze small car. But Lutz says he’s looking for a bit more juice. We’d second that motion if he hopes for emotion.
Will the IQ score highly with young buyers or will they say Scionara, baby. That’s the $64,000 question waiting to be answered as Toyota prepares to beef up the Scion lineup in the coming months. The Scion IC is tiny, barely 10 feet long and seats three. But look for all the iPod, MP3, etc., ect., connectivity that is “gotta have” for youthful drivers these days.
Hocus Focus. Finally, Americans will get a version of the Euro Focus. The current car is on an older platform not shared with the Mazda3 and Volvo S40 and V50 models as it is everywhere else on this planet. But . . . this new and much improved Focus is a 2012 model that won’t go on sale until early 2011. Quality, fuel economy and other improvements will move this new model up the value and price scale resulting in improved revenue according to Ford. And for Ford’s bean counters, that’s something that should not be discounted.
