New Ford Fusion Brings More Technology, Expected Triple Crown of Best-in-Class Gas, Hybrid, Plug-In Efficiency
•New Ford Fusion is the first sedan to offer gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, each with expected top fuel economy, underscoring Ford's commitment to give customers the power of choice
•With seven must-have technologies, including a Lane Keeping System, adaptive cruise control, active park assist and MyFord Touch®, the all-new Ford Fusion shows how Ford is delivering features customers truly want and value
•Customers can choose from Fusion's widest-ever portfolio of fuel-efficient powertrains including EcoBoost™, hybrid and plug-in hybrid engines; automatic and manual transmission offerings; and auto start stop technology
•Revealed in North America as the midsize Fusion sedan, this all-new car signals the next-generation Ford Mondeo for world markets
Ford's all-new Fusion brings alive the next generation of more expressive vehicles from Ford and is the first sedan to offer gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions – each expected to deliver top fuel economy and an engaging driving experience.
Featuring a sleek silhouette and fresh face, the all-new Fusion is the latest in a series of vehicles from Ford – following the 2011 Fiesta subcompact and 2012 Focus small cars – developed to satisfy customers everywhere who want leading fuel efficiency, helpful technologies and game-changing looks.
'Our vision for Fusion was clear – deliver the very best of what One Ford stands for,' said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president of Global Product Development. 'We brought our global teams together around a blank slate with the charge to develop a midsize car with groundbreaking design and jaw-dropping fuel economy – one that featured technologies to help make our customers safer and better drivers. This car is the result.'
Fusion is revealed in North America in S, SE and range-topping Titanium series and points to the next Ford Mondeo for world markets.
Triple-crown fuel efficiency
The new Fusion is expected to deliver best-in-class fuel economy across customers' choice of gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid sub-segments, following through with the commitment by Ford to be the fuel-efficiency leader – or among the leaders – with each new model brought to market.
Fusion brings the broadest selection of fuel-efficient powertrains in the midsize car segment. It offers hybrid and plug-in hybrid alternatives, a pair of EcoBoost™ four-cylinder engines, a normally aspirated four-cylinder engine, an automatic start stop system to shut off the engine at stationary idle, front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive applications, and a choice between automatic and manually shifted six-speed transmissions.
The 1.6-liter EcoBoost is expected to deliver best-in-class four-cylinder non-hybrid fuel efficiency of 26 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. The 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine – paired with a paddle-shifted six-speed SelectShift Automatic™ transmission, available 19-inch wheels and tires, and all-wheel drive with the ability to send additional torque to the rear – is the Fusion performance option.
The Fusion Hybrid – 2010 North American Car of the Year – continues to innovate and evolve with all-new lithium-ion batteries that save weight and generate more power than previous nickel-metal hydride batteries, while raising maximum speed under electric-only power from 47 mph to 62 mph.
Fusion Hybrid also features an all-new 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder gasoline engine, significantly downsized from the previous 2.5-liter unit while maintaining performance standards.
( posted on conceptcarz.com) This innovative powertrain is anticipated to deliver best-in-class fuel economy of 47 mpg in city driving and 44 mpg on the highway.
Engine : 2.5 L., 4-cylinder
Power: 175 hp
Torque: 175 ft-lbs
Engine : 1.6 L., 4-cylinder
Power: 178 hp
Torque: 177 ft-lbs
Engine : 2.0 L., 4-cylinder
Power: 240 hp
Torque: 270 ft-lbs
6-speed Manual, 6-speed Automatic
Fusion Hybrid fuel economy stands to outperform the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid by 4 mpg city and 5 mpg highway and the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid by 12 mpg and 4 mpg, respectively.
Topping the fuel-efficiency ladder is the Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid, aiming to be the most fuel-efficient midsize car in the world. Arriving this fall, Fusion Energi is anticipated to deliver more than 100 MPGe, a mile per gallon equivalency metric for electrified vehicles. This is 8 MPGe more than the Chevrolet Volt and 13 MPGe more than the projected efficiency of the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid model.
The next-generation Fusion 1.6-liter is the first automatic-transmission Ford product offered with an automatic start stop system. It shuts off engine power smoothly when the car is stopped and seamlessly restarts as the driver releases the brake pedal, helping Fusion to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by approximately 3.5 percent.
Fusion looks out for you The all-new Fusion offers an unprecedented portfolio of driver assistance and convenience technologies based on sensors, cameras and radar that enable the car to see and respond.
Fusion can help drivers maintain proper lane position, adjust vehicle speed to changing traffic conditions, identify suitable parking spaces and help park, even aiding drivers backing out of parking space where visibility is obstructed. Specific technologies include:
•Lane Keeping System: This class-exclusive technology consists of three elements to help a driver maintain proper lane position. Úsing a small, forward-facing camera behind the inside rearview mirror, the system 'looks' down the road, monitoring lane lines to determine that the car is on course. The system will alert a driver if drowsiness or erratic lane-keeping is detected. The second element warns a driver with a steering wheel vibration if the Fusion drifts too close to lane markings. Finally, lane keeping aid will actually apply pressure on the steering to help bring the car back into proper lane position
•Adaptive cruise control: Úsing forward-looking radar, this system 'looks' down the road when activated, slowing the Fusion when slower traffic is detected ahead. Adaptive cruise control enables collision warning with brake support to help slow the car if the potential of a crash is detected
•Active park assist: Employing sensors, this technology can identify a suitable parallel parking space, calculate the trajectory and steer the car to properly position it within the spot. All a driver need do is operate accelerator and brake pedals
•Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) with cross-traffic alert: Sensors in both Fusion rear quarter-panels are able to detect traffic in a driver's blind spot, providing both audible and visual warnings if traffic – unseen by the driver – is detected. BLIS technology enables cross-traffic alert, warning the driver of oncoming traffic when backing out of a parking space with obstructed views, such as between two large vans
The power of voice The all-new Fusion offers the latest iteration of Ford's award-winning, industry-exclusive SYNC® communications and entertainment system, which enables voice-activated communication through a driver's mobile phone and interaction with the car's audio system.
Fusion also offers the latest version of MyFord Touch®, allowing a driver to interact with vehicle systems through voice control, a touch screen tap or a conventional button.
Both SYNC and MyFord Touch – powered by SYNC – help reduce the potential for driver distraction through voice-controlled functionality, allowing drivers to keep hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
Different, by design 'The previous Fusion was an easy purchase for a customer to rationalize,' said Chris Hamilton, chief exterior designer for the next-generation model. 'Our design goal for the new car was to give the mainstream sedan buyer a top-drawer visual experience, adding some emotional appeal to an already sensible choice.'
These five elements provided direction for the design team behind the all-new Fusion:
•Silhouette innovation: Fusion's sleek profile sets it apart from the powertrain/cabin/trunk 'three-box' designs synonymous with midsize sedans
•Perceived efficiency: Fusion character lines sweeping to the rear and thin roof pillars suggest the car is nimble and light on its feet
•Refined surface language: Fusion demonstrates that a tasteful, well-executed design does not require add-ons or visual clutter
•Technical graphics: Fusion's functional design elements such as headlamps, LED taillamps and polished exhaust tips communicate enhanced technological capability
•New face: Fusion signals the next evolution in Ford global design language for midsize cars and smaller
Inside, the new Fusion offers a sporty, driver-oriented environment with next-generation seating that brings expanded functionality. A higher center console supports the driver-centric theme and yields clever storage for items a driver wants to keep handy.
Additional passenger space was designed-in by moving the instrument panel toward the windshield, contributing to the cabin's airy, open environment. Thinner, lighter frames support the comfortable next-generation seats trimmed with fabric using recycled sustainable yarns.
Craftsmanship plus dynamics equals feel Fusion design delivers on the promise of high visual quality, with improved materials, elevated levels of craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Interior surfaces are softer to the touch and interior and exterior gaps are minimized, while extra care has been taken to upholster or cover each edge and every surface a customer can touch. When the trunk lid is opened, for example, a spring-loaded cover automatically conceals the trunk latch hardware.
'The holistic goal of our craftsmanship process is to see that Fusion not only delivers a superior visual experience but also feels like quality to the customer,' said Adrian Whittle, Fusion chief engineer.
Key contributors to how the Fusion feelsare the ride and handling components that maximize vehicle dynamics.
'This really is a driver's car,' said John Jraiche, program manager. 'Fusion is even more fun to drive with specially tuned electric power-assisted steering (EPAS), a MacPherson strut front suspension and an all-new premium-level multilink rear suspension – comparable to Audi and BMW configurations.'
Careful tuning by Ford's vehicle handling and ride team has yielded a Fusion with a dynamic character that will please a well-seasoned enthusiast while increasing the confidence level of less-experienced drivers.
Fusion interior quiet reaches a new level with acoustic underbody shields and weight-saving sound-absorption material; both minimize road and powertrain noise while boosting aerodynamic efficiency to help save fuel. (concept carz) The all-new model adds content such as a full-perimeter hood seal to be among the midsize sedan segment leaders in giving drivers a quiet ride.
Fusion Hybrid and Fusion Energi models also are equipped with active noise control. This feature uses the audio system to mitigate extraneous road noise while enhancing powertrain sounds.
Strength and safety Fusion is designed with customer safety in mind. Engineers increased its body strength by 10 percent, using more high-strength steels such as boron, and added dual first-row knee airbags and adaptive front airbags that vent and tether to conform to a specific occupant's size, position and seatbelt usage.
The Fusion safety team targeted top-of-the-line ratings in each public domain safety benchmark, including National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ratings, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick and top ratings in world markets where the car will be sold.
The most prominent example is Fusion's front-end architecture, as the same car must face simultaneous – and seemingly conflictive – standards across regions. The car's front end is equipped to meet head-on and offset barrier standards for North America while still conforming to European standards for pedestrian protection – thanks to hours of computer modeling and 180 validating crash tests.
Fusion will be produced at Ford's Hermosillo, Mexico, manufacturing facility, soon adding production at AutoAlliance International Plant in Flat Rock, Mich. The car will appear in Ford showrooms in North America and South America later this year. Mondeo will be introduced next year in Asia and Europe.
Source - FordFord Fusion Certified As America's Most Fuel-Efficient Midsize Sedan
• All-new Ford Fusion is America's most fuel-efficient midsize sedan after being certified by the Ú.S. Environmental Protection Agency to deliver 47 mpg city, 47 mpg highway, 47 mpg combined in hybrid model
• Ford Fusion Hybrid beats Toyota Camry Hybrid by 8 mpg highway, 4 mpg city
•New Fusion offers greatest powertrain range of all midsize sedans with five engines, including two EcoBoost® options and hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants for true power of choice
The all-new Ford Fusion is the most fuel-efficient midsize sedan in America with an EPA-certified 47 mpg city, 47 mpg highway and 47 mpg combined fuel economy rating for its hybrid model.
Fusion Hybrid tops the Toyota Camry Hybrid by 8 mpg highway and 4 mpg city, and delivers the highest-ever fuel economy numbers in city and highway driving for a midsize sedan. (concept carz)
'The new Fusion is part of our plan to offer vehicles with the very best quality, fuel efficiency, safety, smart design and value,' says Alan Mulally, Ford president and CEO. 'We are absolutely committed to class-leading fuel efficiency as a reason to buy Ford vehicles, with customers able to choose the fuel-efficient powertrain that best fits their lifestyle.'
Power of choice: Two EcoBoost engines, one hybrid, one plug-in hybrid The all-new Fusion brings the widest range of powertrain options to the Ú.S. midsize segment.
Fusion offers hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants and two fuel-efficient EcoBoost® four-cylinder engines for customers. In addition, Fusion is available with Ford's patented Auto Start-Stop system, which automatically shuts off the engine at stationary idle to help save customers even more fuel in stop-and-go city driving. Fusion is available in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations with both six-speed automatic and six-speed manual transmissions.
'Ford is bringing power of choice to midsize sedan buyers,' says Mark Fields, president of The Americas. 'More than 2 million customers this year will purchase midsize cars. Our new Fusion delivers the fuel savings people truly want and value, with technologies that cost two to three times the price on some German sedans.'
Fuel economy numbers for the remainder of the Fusion lineup are:
• 1.6-liter EcoBoost: 25 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, 29 mpg combined
• 2.0-liter EcoBoost: 22 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, 26 mpg combined
• 2.5-liter: 22 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, 26 mpg combined
• Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid: Projected 100-plus MPGe (miles-per-gallon equivalent)
The Fusion equipped with the 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine is available with Ford's patented, fuel-saving Auto Start-Stop system, which smoothly shuts off engine power when the car is stopped and seamlessly restarts as the driver releases the brake pedal. This feature, available for just $295, improves fuel efficiency by 3.5 percent and reduces emissions.
Fusion Hybrid features two additional innovations to help deliver industry-best fuel efficiency: Ford's patented SmartGauge® with EcoGuide that coaches drivers for top fuel efficiency; and ECO Cruise, a greener cruise control functionality that helps optimize powertrain elements for convenient yet economical highway travel.
Fusion Hybrid achieves a top speed of 62 mph in electric or EV mode and also has Active Grille Shutters, which make the car more aerodynamic at highway speeds to improve fuel efficiency. An underbody with aerodynamically designed panels provides even better fuel efficiency.
The full Fusion range delivers visual quality through improved materials, elevated levels of craftsmanship and attention to detail. To deliver its world-class driving dynamics, Ford engineers equipped Fusion with a specially tuned electric power-assisted steering system, MacPherson strut front suspension and all-new multilink rear suspension that is comparable to the setups found in more expensive Audis and BMWs.
'Fusion is a driver's car,' said Raj Nair, group vice president of Product Development. 'We have carefully tuned this car to reward the driving expert and flatter the novice.'
Ford's quietest midsize sedan ever, Fusion Hybrid models are equipped with Active Noise Cancellation, which uses the audio system to mitigate powertrain noise.
Technology you can use The all-new Fusion offers an unprecedented portfolio of driver assistance and convenience technologies using sensors, cameras and radar to enable the car to 'see' and respond.
Fusion can help drivers maintain proper lane position, adjust vehicle speed to changing traffic conditions, identify suitable parking spaces and practically park itself – it can even aid drivers backing out of a parking space in which visibility is obstructed. Specific technologies include:
• Lane-Keeping System: Úsing a small, forward-facing camera behind the inside rearview mirror, this system 'looks' down the road, monitoring lane lines to determine that the car is on course. The system will alert a driver if drowsiness or erratic lane-keeping is detected. The second element warns a driver with a steering wheel vibration if the Fusion drifts too close to lane markings. Finally, Lane-Keeping Aid will actually apply pressure on the steering to help bring the car back into proper lane position
• Adaptive cruise control: Úsing forward-looking radar, this system 'looks' down the road when activated, slowing the Fusion when slower traffic is detected ahead. The system can help slow the car if the potential of a crash is detected
• Active park assist: Employing sensors, this technology identifies a suitable parallel parking space, calculates the trajectory, and steers the car to properly position it within the spot. Drivers operate accelerator and brake pedals
• BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert: Sensors in both Fusion rear quarter-panels are able to detect traffic in a driver's blind spot, providing both audible and visual warnings if traffic is detected. BLIS technology enables cross-traffic alert, warning the driver of oncoming traffic when backing out of a parking space with obstructed views, such as between two large vehicles
The all-new Fusion also offers the newest version of Ford's award-winning SYNC® communications and entertainment system, which enables voice-activated communication through a driver's mobile phone and interaction with the car's audio system.
Fusion is available with the latest version of MyFord Touch®, allowing a driver to interact with vehicle systems through voice control, a touch screen tap or a conventional button.
Both SYNC and MyFord Touch – powered by SYNC – help reduce the potential for driver distraction through voice-controlled functionality, allowing drivers to keep hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
Fusion equals growth The midsize car segment is the fastest-growing segment in America this year. Overall Ú.S. industry sales are up 15 percent in 2012, while midsize car sales have grown 26 percent.
To meet expected demand for the new Fusion, Ford is adding 1,200 hourly jobs and investing $555 million at its Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Flat Rock, Mich.
New Fusion models begin arriving at dealers nationwide this fall.
Source - FordALL-NEW 2013 FORD FUSION EARNS IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK; OFFERS SMART TECHNOLOGY, LEADING FUEL ECONOMY
•The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently named the all-new 2013 Ford Fusion a Top Safety Pick for 2012
•The all-new Fusion features the Personal Safety System, new safety belt technologies and a total of eight airbags which can provide protection for vehicle occupants in the event of a crash
•Redesigned seat-mounted side airbags incorporate new venting technology to further enhance side impact protection
DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 8, 2012 – The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) today named the all-new 2013 Fusion a Top Safety Pick.
To earn a Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must receive a rating of 'Good' in the following evaluations: offset frontal impact, side impact, dynamic head restraint and roof strength testing. In addition to the Top Safety Pick, the new Ford Fusion offers leading fuel economy and smart technologies, such as auto start/stop.
'The new Fusion is another example of Ford's commitment to the highest standards of safety and we are proud that IIHS has recognized these efforts,' said Steve Kenner, global director of the Automotive Safety Office.
The all-new Fusion features the Personal Safety System with new safety belt technologies and frontal impact airbags.
The Personal Safety System is a network of components that work together to tailor the deployment of the front airbags during frontal collisions. The restraint control module (RCM) translates information collected by the front crash sensors, front outboard safety belt buckle switches, driver-seat track position and passenger seat weight sensor. Úsing this information, the RCM activates the safety belt pretensioners and determines how the dual-stage front airbags will deploy. This tailored deployment is designed to better protect an occupant by adapting its release to the size of the person.
The redesigned seat-mounted side airbags deploy lower in the pelvis area in addition to the chest and incorporate new venting technology. The side airbag's venting technology takes into account the size of the occupant. The tunnel vent on the seat mounted side airbag is designed to line up with the shoulder area of a larger occupant keeping the side airbag from venting. On smaller passengers, the effect is just the opposite because the occupant's shoulder is below the vent, the gas vents out of the airbag.
The driver's frontal airbag uses a reconfigured curve-shaped tether system that pulls in the lower section to create a pocket that help to lessen the impact of the airbag on the driver's chest and ribs in frontal crashes. Deploying at the same time is a driver's knee airbag.
Top fuel economy, driver assist technology The Fusion boasts leading fuel economy and numerous driver assist technologies that help enhance the driving experience, reduce stress and assist in avoiding potentially harmful scenarios.
Fusion brings the broadest selection of fuel-efficient powertrains in the midsize car segment. Consumers have the choice of a pair of EcoBoostfour-cylinder engines, a normally aspirated four-cylinder engine, an automatic start stop system to shut off the engine at stationary idle, front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive applications, and a choice between automatic and manually shifted six-speed transmissions. The Fusion also offers hybrid and plug-in hybrid alternatives. The hybrid offers 47 mpg on the highway and in the city. The plug-in hybrid offers 100 mpgE, a mile per gallon equivalency metric for electrified vehicles.
Maneuvering parking lots and traveling open roadways become even safer and less stressful with Fusion's available sensor-based BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert. BLIS sounds an alert when a vehicle is detected entering a blind spot. Cross-traffic alert warns if traffic is detected approaching from the sides, such as when Fusion is leaving a parking space in reverse.
Parallel parking the Fusion is virtually stress-free with the available active park assist system. With the press of a button, the system detects an available parallel parking space and automatically steers the vehicle into the space. Drivers control only the gas and brake pedals.
Other driver assist technologies featured in the Fusion include:
•Lane Keeping Assist
•Lane Keeping Aid
•Driver Monitoring
•Adaptive Cruise Control
•Rearview Camera
•Front/Rear Park Aids
•Hill Start Assist
•Electronic Parking Break
Source - Ford
• All-new Ford Fusion is America's most fuel-efficient midsize sedan after being certified by the Ú.S. Environmental Protection Agency to deliver 47 mpg city, 47 mpg highway, 47 mpg combined in hybrid model
