My Perfect Automobile » Fusion

Ford Fusion Energi Gets Five Stars for Safety

Larry Bell — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:25:17 +0000

Ford Fusion Energi

Ford Motor Company’s plug-in hybrid Fusion Energi scored a powerful double play in safety, earning the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA’s) highest rating, as well as being named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. NHTSA tests frontal, side and rollover impact, and then calculates an overall rating based on those three scores. The Fusion Energi plug-in scored a perfect five stars in each of the three crash categories.

Ford Fusion Energi: Video

The video footage above shows NHTSA frontal crash testing on a Ford C-Max Hybrid. The meticulous documentation of the controlled crash is typical of the organization’s thoroughness. Results of the frontal tests showed the C-Max scoring four out of five stars, while the vehicle notched a full five stars in the side testing. Rollover results came in at four stars, giving the C-Max an overall four-star safety rating. The Ford Fusion Energi scored a perfect five-star safety rating in its most recent testing. NHTSA crash simulations are scientifically designed to mimic real world conditions, and have been perfected over several decades. Carmakers spend huge sums of money in an effort to earn four- or five-star safety results. Marketing surveys show that at least half of all car buyers purchase a vehicle based at least partly on its safety ratings, from NHTSA and others.

Ford Fusion Energi

Concerning the NHTSA ranking for Fusion Energi, a Ford spokesperson noted that the vehicle’s fuel efficiency, along with its top-ranked safety performance in the testing, are the two factors that modern day car buyers look for when considering a purchase. Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid is EPA-rated at 100 MPG-equivalent.

For more about Ford Motor Co., and the Fusion Energi in particular, see the official corporate sites below:
http://www.ford.com
http://www.ford.com/cars/fusion/

Larry Bell

Larry Bell + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Author, but we call him ‘The Expert‘. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Expert Author. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

Canadian Green Car of the Year: Ford Fusion Hybrid

Larry Bell — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 23:27:27 +0000

Ford Fusion Hybrid

Ford’s Fusion Hybrid has taken the first annual Canadian Green Car of the Year trophy, awarded by the Automobile Journalists of Canada. The U.S. automaker’s Canada product marketing manager, Steve Ross, noted that Ford was extremely honored to accept the first such award by AJOC, in a competition that rates entrants based upon not only clean emissions and fuel economy but also the amount of recycled materials used in a car. In addition, carmakers who build vehicles in green assembly facilities are given credit for that achievement as well. All those factors are tallied up for each car in order to decide on a winner.

Green Car of the Year: Video

To see a short clip of the official ceremony, in which the Ford Fusion Hybrid took home Canada’s Green Car of the Year award, see the video above. The car has made a name for itself in Canada and elsewhere as a fuel economy workhorse, boasting 47/47 mpg ratings along with plenty of high-tech safety features. Though aesthetic design is not part of the judging criteria, the Fusion Hybrid has won rave reviews in consumer surveys for its attractive styling.

Green Car of the Year

Other finalists in this year’s Green Car of the Year contest included Mazda3, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Clean Diesel, Hyundai’s Sonata Hybrid, and Ford’s other entry, the C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid. The 2.0-liter, four-cylinder hybrid engine features CVT, navigation system, stability control, traction control, Bluetooth, iPod connection, and satellite radio. The SE trim level starts at $27,200 in the U.S.

For more information about the Ford Fusion Hybrid, winner of the Canadian Green Car of the Year award, see the automaker’s official site for the vehicle:
http://www.ford.com/cars/fusion/
For all else about Ford Motor Co., see the main corporate site at:
http://www.ford.com

Larry Bell

Ford Fusion Gets ‘Best Family Hybrid’ Award

Larry Bell — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:52:32 +0000

Best family hybrid: Ford Fusion

Ford’s Fusion Hybrid walked home with the prestigious ‘Best Hybrid Car for Families’ trophy after the dust settled on the U.S. News & World Report awards for 2013. Judges look for a combination of family-friendly qualities in the 19 categories, including interior space, special features and overall quality. This year, 13 car brands were represented, with GM earning bragging rights in more categories than anyone, six in all. The company’s Chevy Suburban, Chevy Cruze, Buick Verano, Buick Lacrosse, Cadillac Escalade and Chevy Traverse were category winners. Three-peat winners, those cars that have come away with top honors three years in a row, were the Honda CR-V, Toyota’s Highlander and the Lexus RX-350.

Ford Fusion Hybrid: Video

See the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid up close in the short video review below. Boasting a redesigned grille, halogen headlamps and family-friendly storage space with back seats that fold down, the 2013 Fusion Hybrid was designed with families in mind. The 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine works with an electric motor to deliver 47/47 mpg. Total power is 188 hp. To maximize mileage, drivers can use the efficiency leaves, a brake coach and a driving coach. Smart operation of the brakes and gas pedal will return the highest possible fuel efficiency. The MyFordTouch system allows for easy access of phone, climate, navigation, and radio via voice commands. Watching the review, it is easy to understand why U.S. News voted this vehicle the top family hybrid on the market.

Ford Fusion Hybrid

Of the 19 categories, U.S.-made automobiles took 10 awards while foreign carmakers netted the remaining nine. The 2013 Best Cars for Families winners included a few first-timers, notably Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Lincoln, Jeep and Chevrolet. None had won a Best Cars for Families award before this year.

For more about the U.S. News award-winner for Best Family Hybrid, see Ford’s dedicated page for the Fusion Hybrid:
http://www.ford.com/cars/fusion/trim/hybrid/

Larry Bell

Ford EV Dealerships Will Be 900 Strong

Larry Bell — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 14:20:28 +0000

Ford C-Max Energi

Ford Motor Co. announced this week that it plans to have at least 900 dealerships certified to sell the company’s plug-in hybrid and electric cars by mid-year. Ford will be selling three alternative-fuel vehicles in 2013, all of which are versions of cars it already sells. The Focus Electric will be joining the C-Max Energi plug-in and the Fusion Energi plug-in models as the U.S. automaker attempts to play catch-up in the green niche, which is already heavily contested by General Motors, Nissan, and others.

Ford EV: Video

The official Ford video clip below walks through several of the newest features on the Fusion Energi, primarily the car’s ability to learn an owner’s frequent destinations after a few weeks of driving. You can clear the memory at any time or disable the entire system if you wish. The Driver Assist mode allows the use of traction control. A driver can switch into ECO Cruise mode, or the EV+ mode. ECO Cruise operates like normal cruise control but works to save fuel by carefully modulating uphill speed and acceleration.

Ford EV Dealerships

Fusion Energi will be joining Ford’s first plug-in, the C-Max, before summer. The company’s plug-in hybrids utilize similar drivetrains, while the Focus Electric is a fully electric vehicle. Sales for the C-Max hybrid stand at about 2,700 units since that model’s debut. The carmaker is facing stiff competition in the EV segment, with Nissan’s Leaf priced significantly below the Focus Electric’s $40K entry sticker. Nissan has just recently announced a major price reduction for its Leaf electric car, which some say will spur Ford to offer even more financial incentives on the Focus Electric. When the Chevy Spark EV comes into the marketplace later this year, the U.S. will see at least a four-way battle for EV market supremacy among Focus, Leaf, Spark, and Mitsubishi’s iMiEV.

For more about Ford vehicles, see the automaker’s official corporate website:
http://www.ford.com

Larry Bell

Hybrid Sales Up 61 Percent in 2012

Larry Bell — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:18:02 +0000

Hybrid Sales (Pictured: Ford Fusion Hybrid)

Hybrid car sales in the U.S. rose 61 percent in 2012, compared to 2011. Total hybrid vehicles sold hit the 1.35 million mark, with a full 20 percent of those cars accounted for by Toyota alone. The Japanese automaker’s Prius is the best-selling hybrid vehicle in the world and in the U.S. While Ford and General Motors each accounted for about 2 percent of total hybrid sales, GM’s Chevy Volt enjoyed a 200 percent sales increase over 2011’s numbers for the hybrid-electric award-winner.

Hybrid Sales: Video

For a thorough review of one of the hottest mid-size sedans which also happens to be a hybrid, see the video clip above. For about five minutes, you will be introduced to the sleek Ford hybrid which appears to borrow a bit of styling from an unlikely classic. Ford intentionally designed the car to look unlike the Toyota line of hybrids, known for their wedge-shaped appearance and obvious hybrid image. With a base sticker of just over $27,000, the Fusion’s front grille is reminiscent of another car that was once a Ford product, the Aston Martin. Boasting 47 mpg on both the highway and city streets, the Fusion also sports an interior as modern and classy as much more expensive sedans. The seats are made from recycled materials yet offer a high level of comfort. Though Toyota clearly dominates this market segment, Ford’s Fusion is a worthy competitor.

Hybrid Sales

Plug-in hybrid car sales are showing improvement, but because they are still relatively new are able to make up only about one-third of one percent of the hybrid totals. As opposed to just five years ago, most large automakers now offer hybrid vehicles of one type or another.

For more about Ford cars and trucks, as well as the Fusion Hybrid mentioned above, see the automaker’s official corporate website:
http://www.ford.com

Larry Bell

Ford January Hybrid Sales Shock Analysts

Larry Bell — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 19:43:13 +0000

Ford Fusion hybrid

Buoyed by a surge in new buyers, Ford Motor Co. set a sales record for hybrids in January, with this year’s numbers beating January of 2012 by a hefty 300 percent. The company sold approximately 5,500 hybrids last month, but in January of 2012, sales of Ford hybrid vehicles hovered near 1,300. More significant from the company’s perspective is the fact that 70 percent of Fusion Hybrid buyers have come over from another brand, a phenomenon auto marketers call “customer conquest.”

Ford Hybrid: Video

In the exciting video clip above, watch the Ford Fusion Hybrid zip around the racetrack at Homestead Speedway, going through some practice runs for its job as NASCAR official pace car. The 2013 Fusion Hybrid hits speeds in excess of 100 mph during the run, yet is still able to log some amazing mileage at 25 mpg. Not bad for that kind of speed! Meanwhile, back in the real world, the car is rated at an even 47 mpg in both city and highway driving. With a combined 188 horsepower under the hood, as well as a 2.0-liter combustion engine, the hybrid is able to top out at 62 mph on electric power alone. The Fusion Hybrid is really a scientific work of art in many ways. It uses several factors to reach its 47 mpg rating, namely smart aerodynamics, an eCVT transmission, and a SmartGauge to help the driver get the most out of every gallon of fuel.

Ford January Hybrid Sales

The way Ford insiders see it, 2012 was a spectacular year, one in which alternative-fuel Fords saw a sales increase of 32 percent over 2011 numbers. For all of 2012, Ford sold some 35,000 alt-fuel vehicles, a level that represents a 32 percent increase over the previous calendar year.

For all things Ford, see the U.S. automaker’s official corporate website:
http://www.ford.com

Larry Bell

Ford Fusion ‘Connected’ Car of the Year

Larry Bell — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:03:00 +0000

Ford Fusion Energi

Ford Motor Co. has added another trophy to its already crowded shelf of Fusion’s accolades. The Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid took home the title Connected Car of the Year from none other than Connected World in Las Vegas last week. The vehicle was cited for its ingenious methods of keeping drivers in touch with the road while allowing them to be connected to the car’s controls at the same time. The MyFord Mobile Smartphone app lets drivers see the state of battery charge and locate charging stations at the touch of a button.

Ford Fusion Award: Video

The award-winning Ford Fusion Hybrid deserves more than a sixty-second review. The video clip below takes an in-depth look at the non-plug-in version of the car, both inside and out, in a longer-form review format in excess of 10 minutes. As the narrator points out, the Fusion’s basic stats are hard to argue with, namely the 47/47 mpg rating with 188 horsepower and sleek good looks on top of that. If you are considering becoming an owner of a Fusion Hybrid, the review will clue you in to all the pertinent data you should have before visiting a dealership. And if you are on the fence about whether to get a Prius, a Fusion, or perhaps a Sonata Hybrid, you will be that much more informed, which is what car buying is all about.

Ford Fusion Award

The Fusion Energi scored points in Connected World’s rating system by offering the most comprehensive driver-assist systems on any available midsize vehicle in the U.S. market. A big part of the win for Ford was due to the SYNC system, which lets drivers connect digital media, phones, and computer tablets, and allows for hands-free calling.

For everything Ford, see the U.S. automaker’s official corporate website:
http://www.ford.com

Larry Bell

Auto Show Showdown, Jan. 19: Detroit vs. Philadelphia

Larry Bell — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 22:43:00 +0000

Auto shows: Pictured- Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

On Saturday, Jan. 19, at precisely 9:00 a.m., two of the nation’s largest auto shows will open their doors to the public. Both the North American International Auto Show and the Philly Auto Show will start letting members of the public through their gates. Detroit will have the Via Motors X-Truck; a range-extended workhorse from Bob Lutz and Co. Philadelphia will feature its Mustang/Camaro Showdown for the first time. Akin to a People’s Choice Award, show attendees are allowed to vote after seeing the local Camaro and Mustang clubs put their best models on display.

Auto Shows: Video

The short video clip below features sights and sounds of last year’s Philadelphia Auto Show. Not as large as its counterpart in Detroit, the show has a character all its own and has earned a reputation for its wide array of classic and concept cars. This year’s ride-and-drive, as well as the show’s floor space, will be the biggest in its history. It is a lucky coincidence for those who live between the two cities. Rarely do a pair of major auto shows open to the public on exactly the same day.

Auto Shows

The NAIAS in Detroit will this year debut the highly anticipated Cadillac ELR, a range-extended Caddy that will be the first car since the Chevy Volt to use the Voltec hybrid-electric system Of course the big draw for Detroit is always the North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards. In the car category, Ford and Honda will battle it out as the two entrants who offer hybrid and plug-in versions of their primary contenders, the Fusion and the Accord.

Detroit and Philadelphia both host high-quality auto shows and see record crowds nearly every year. With the recent comeback of the auto industry, 2013 should see thousands of media and public attendees at each of the shows.

For up-to-the-minute news about the Detroit and Philadelphia Auto Shows, see the events’ official websites, below.
http://www.phillyautoshow.com/
http://www.naias.com

Larry Bell

Ford Fusion Energi Rated at 109 MPG City

Larry Bell — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 15:59:40 +0000

Ford Fusion Energi

Ford Motor Co. this week announced that its Fusion Energi plug-in sedan earned 108 mpg-e in city driving tests certified by the EPA. On the highway, Ford’s newest hybrid gets 92 mpg-e, making the vehicle the most fuel-efficient sedan currently offered for sale in the U.S. market. Over a five-year ownership period, the Fusion Energi can save drivers nearly $9,000 in gasoline expenses. The car’s combined fuel efficiency rating is an even 100 mpg-e.

Ford Fusion Energi: Video

The video link above is actually a Ford commercial for the Fusion, but is also among the first of the company’s uses of its new marketing slogan for 2012, “Go Further.” The U.S. automaker is hoping the slogan will reinforce the message that Ford has taken the lead, or “gone further,” than its competition in the areas of in-car technology and overall quality. In another unique move, Ford’s marketing heads have been experimenting with different uses of the venerable Ford logo, opting in some cases to remove it from the body of cars that were seen in commercials, sometimes just showing it on the steering wheel. According to Ford, this move was a bid to prevent viewers from pre-judging the vehicles based solely on brand.

Ford Fusion Energi

Official Ford marketing efforts are now emphasizing the comparisons between the Energi and its closest competitors in terms of combined mpg-e ratings. For example, the GM Chevy Volt achieves a combined 98 mpg-e, while the market’s best-selling hybrid, Toyota Prius, boasts a rating of 95 mpg-e. The price of gasoline has continued its downward movement, yet the cost savings delivered by plug-in hybrid cars is still substantial, numbering in the thousands of dollars in any given five-year span.

For more information about all things Ford, see the company’s official corporate website:
http://www.ford.com

Larry Bell

Ford Develops Unique Battery Test

Larry Bell — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 01:25:50 +0000

Ford Fusion Energi, plug-in hybrid

Ford Motor Company announced this week that it would use a new, high-stress method to test its electric battery systems. The method simulates ten years’ worth of usage in about ten months’ actual time. What Ford calls the “key life test” will put the equivalent of 150,000 miles of driving on the batteries to see how well they hold up. The effort is aimed at creating batteries that are stronger and more reliable. A recent survey showed that battery reliability is by far the number one factor hybrid customers look at when buying a new car.

Ford Battery Tests: Video

Theoretical formulas about battery power are translated into reality with Ford’s Fusion Hybrid and Fusion Energi. Scroll down for a quick recap about the new offerings, which highlight the smart display panel readouts. With the equivalent of 100 mpg for the Energi and 47 mpg both highway and city mileage for the Fusion Hybrid, Ford Motor Co. is aggressively placing itself into the heat of hybrid competition among Toyota, Honda, General Motors and other major players. Both of the green Fusions feature regenerative braking and lithium-ion battery packs. As Ford begins to emphasize cutting-edge battery technology, watch for the automaker to introduce more hybrids in the very near future.

Ford Battery Tests

Because car owners now keep their vehicles longer and desire strong battery packs, Ford decided to emphasize those factors in its research facilities. By the end of next year, the U.S. carmaker will have no fewer than five hybrid and electric vehicles on the market, with more expected by the end of the decade. Lithium-ion batteries are able to deliver about three times the power of nickel-metal-hydride units, and are about 25 percent smaller, making lithium the element of choice for new generation hybrid and electric cars.

For more about Ford cars and trucks, see the U.S. automaker’s official website:
http://www.ford.com

Larry Bell

Green Car of the Year Surprise at LA Auto Show

Larry Bell — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 04:21:14 +0000

Green Car of the Year: Ford Fusion

Ford Motor Company’s 2013 Fusion took the trophy for Green Car of the Year at the LA Auto Show this week. Green Car Journal presents the award each year at the event to a vehicle that offers competitive pricing, low carbon output, and efficient fuel usage. With an entry-level sticker price of $21,700, as well as a plug-in version that reaches 100 mpg-e, the car beat out an array of stiff competition in the category. Hopefuls, besides Fusion, the eventual winner, included Toyota’s Prius C hybrid, Mazda’s CX-5, the Dodge Dart Aero, and Ford’s C-Max hybrid lineup.

Green Car of the Year: Video

See the video clip below for a succinct review of the Green Car of the Year, which includes plenty of driving shots, factoids, and balanced information. The 47-mpg mid-sized sedan is the most fuel efficient car in its segment. In EV mode, the Fusion can reach 62 mph. Besides achieving impressive mileage, the car was chosen as a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Sticker price begins at $21,700. Ford’s lineup of Fusion models includes five separate powertrain choices; of the three combustion variants, two feature the company’s EcoBoost technology. In addition, there is a hybrid (see review in clip), and an upcoming plug-in version that will log 100 mpg-equivalent.

Green Car of the Year

Comedian, environmentalist, and car collector Jay Leno sat on the judging team, which also included the son of famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, and Sierra Club’s director. Over the years, the Green Car award has been presented to a diverse mix of environmental autos, going to the Chevy Volt hybrid-electric car at LA’s 2010 show, and then to a compressed natural gas vehicle the year after, Honda’s Civic Natural Gas.

For more information about Ford, see the automaker’s official corporate website:

http://www.ford.com

Larry Bell

Ford’s EV, Hybrid Dealers Booming

Larry Bell — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 22:23:54 +0000

2013 Ford Fusion Energi

Ford Motor Co. announced this week that it has tripled the number of dealerships qualified to sell its hybrid and electric vehicles. The company now has 200 storefronts that sell Ford alternative fuel vehicles, which will soon consist of C-Max hybrid and C-Max Energi (a plug-in), Fusion hybrid and Energi, and the Focus EV. Ford will very soon be upping the 200-dealership count to something approaching 900 sales facilities. Dealers who want to sell the new cars must go through rigorous training, as do most of their employees.

Ford EVs and Hybrids: Video

Hybrid fans, as well as Ford and Toyota enthusiasts, will thoroughly enjoy the following video clip, which features a match up between two of the better-known hybrids on the market today, the Toyota Prius and the Ford C-Max. Longer than most clips we feature on MyPerfectAutomobile, at just over 11 minutes; the piece really delves into the technological aspect of hybrid science. It also spends time comparing the two cars, especially highlighting the differences between the drivetrains. In an era that seems to be witnessing hybrid-drive vehicles gaining significant market share, this educational competition between two of the industry’s giants is informative, fun, and suspenseful. C-Max vs. Prius. Place your wagers.

Ford EVs and Hybrids

The most recent month for which data is available showed Ford’s C-Max Energi outsell Toyota’s flagship hybrid, the Prius. That fact, plus an all-consuming desire by Ford to dominate the hybrid market, has led the U.S. automaker to devote massive amounts of capital and energy toward getting dealerships ready in every state. Within two years, it is conceivable that Ford will have close to 1000 dealers selling hybrid and electric cars.

For more about all the vehicles made by Ford Motor Company, see the company’s official corporate website:
http://www.ford.com

Larry Bell