Ford Fusion

Ford Fusion
Ford
aka
Production	2006-Present
Class	Mid-size Sedan
Body Style	4-Door Sedan
Length	190.2 Inches
Width	72.2 Inches
Height	57.2 Inches
Wheelbase	106.0 Inches
Weight	3,577 LBS
Transmission	5-Speed Manual 5-Speed Automatic 6-Speed Automatic
Engine	2.3L DOHC I4 3.0L DOHC V6
Power	160HP 156LBS Torque 221HP 205LBS Torque
Similar	Honda Accord Hyundai Sonata Toyota Camry
Designer

The American Ford Fusion is a mid-size car based on the Ford CD3 platform. The Fusion went on sale in October 2005 as a 2006 model, and is a replacement for the largely discontinued Ford Taurus. It is manufactured at Ford's Hermosillo, Mexico plant (Job 1 date of August 1, 2005). Companion versions entitled the Mercury Milan and the Lincoln Zephyr were launched simultaneously. At the 2005 Detroit Auto Show, a hybrid version was announced for the 2008 model year. Ford's Fusion advertising campaign is entitled Life in Drive.

See Wikicars' comprehensive Ford Fusion Review.

Reliability

As a brand new model, the Ford Fusion cannot yet be guaged for reliability.

Safety

The NHTSA gave the Fusion good marks for its safety tests. For front-impact, rollover, and rear side-impact tests, the Fusion received 4-Star ratings, and for its front side-impact test, it received a 5-Star rating. Some of the standard features found on the Fusion include:

• Front and rear anti-roll bars
• Front- and side-impact [[airbag]s
• Supplemental overhead side-curtain airbags
• Occupancy sensors
• Side-impact bars

Photos

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Colors

Colors for the Fusion will vary by trim. You can view a complete list at CarsDirect.com. Here are some of the available combinations:

Exterior

• Alloy
• Black Clearcoat
• Merlot Clearcoat Metallic
• Oxford White Clearcoat
• Tungsten Silver Clearcoat Metallic

Interior

• Camel
• Charcoal Black
• Medium Light Stone

Main Competitors

• Chevrolet Malibu
• Impala
• Toyota Camry
• Honda Accord
• Nissan Altima
• Mitsubishi Galant
• Pontiac G6

Resale Values

Kelley Blue Book states that the Fusion will have a less than spectacular resale value. Specifically, "although a great initial bargain, the Fusion's only downside is its average resale value. While the Ford Fusion should do about as well as its domestic competitors, top Japanese-brand models will return higher resale values over time."

Criticisms

• "...the driver needs some positive control over the six-speed automatic transmission to make this car truly fun-to-drive. There are moments when the tranny is hunting for a gear when it should be confidently downshifting for a corner or upshifting at the torque peak." - The Car Connection
• "The Fusion suffers a bit in that it doesn't offer anti-lock brakes, traction control or side airbags as standard features, and stability control is not offered at all..." - Los Angeles Times
• "If you're looking for a sedan with higher fuel economy figures or more resale value, the Accord and Camry are better choices." - Kelley Blue Book

Current Generation: (2006–present)

The Fusion was originally to be called the Ford Futura, but Ford lost a trademark lawsuit to the Pep Boys auto parts store, which has a line of tires under the Futura brand. American trademark law generally considers a name abandoned if the owner does not use it for three calendar years, and the long history of the name in the Ford line did not impress the court. Ironically, the Futura name is actually still used by Ford Australia, as a trim line for the Falcon. Another choice of name was "Falcon", but that would have caused much confusion with the long-running Australian Ford Falcon. Still that didn't prevent Ford from duplicating the name of the European Fusion, a mini-Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) based on the Ford Fiesta, slotted between the Fiesta and the Focus.

With its launch, the Fusion debuted Ford's new three-bar grille design, which is expected to become the company's trademark look for the rest of the decade. Production volume is projected at 160,000-200,000 per year.

Changes to the CD3 platform from the Mazda6 include stretching it by 30 mm (1.2 in) in width and 55 mm (2.2 in) in length, strengthening it, and modifying the suspension for a more compliant ride. Like the Mazda, the Fusion uses the Mazda-designed 2.3 L Duratec 23 I4 and Ford-designed 3.0 L Duratec 30 V6. All wheel drive and the new Duratec 35 will be options for 2007.

The Fusion is reminiscent of the Mitsubishi Galant and Pontiac G6. The Fusion shares some interior parts such as part of the console and seats with the otherwise unrelated European Mondeo. Both automatic and manual transmissions are available (the latter only with the I4 engine).

The Fusion also became the new body shape for Ford automobiles in NASCAR beginning in 2006, replacing the Ford Taurus. This is the first time that Ford has introduced a new model that went racing in NASCAR at the same time as its launch since the Ford Torino in 1968. It debuted at the 2006 Daytona 500, and won its first race a week later in California.

According to Ford, consumer response to the Fusion has exceeded their expectations. The car fits in a line of sedans by Ford (smallest to largest):

• Ford Focus
• Ford Fusion
• Ford Taurus (the Taurus will remain in production until August 2006)
• Ford Five Hundred
• Ford Crown Victoria

Worldwide

Readers may also be interested to know that a car by the name of the Ford Fusion is also sold in Europe. This is a very different vehicle though. First of all it is only a B-Segment size, based on the European Ford Fiesta. It is a hatchback, although Ford would like potential buyers to think that is in a mini-MPV.

Being based on the Fiesta, the engine options are fairly limited, consisting of the usual 1.4 L and 1.6 L petrol engines, and the 1.4 L and 1.6 L diesel engines. Automatic transmission is only available with the 1.4 L petrol engine. The car is generally not very well liked by European motoring journalists. It is effectively a higher, less stylish and more expensive Fiesta with few advantages other than its more commanding driving position.

Considering this, I wonder why Ford of America decided the Fusion name was a good one for what seems like a perfectly good product.

Awards

The Fusion was nominated for the North American Car of the Year award for 2006.

See also

• Ford Mondeo
• Hurra Torpedo - Band Sponsored by the Ford Fusion

Future engines in the works include: 1. A 2.3 V4 hybird 2. Also a turbo charged V4 engine

External links

• Official Ford Fusion website
• Ford Fusion Photos, Specifications, Forums, and more
• Ford Motor Company
• Ford Fusion future vehicle site
• Ford Fusion Photos

This page uses content from Wikipedia; see Ford Fusion (North America), which includes these contributors.