2013 Ford Fusion Preview – The Super Model of Family Sedans

The Ford Fusion has been a good value and well reviewed since its introduction. The Fusion received praise for its precise handling and controlled body motions when compared against competitors. But alas, these virtues weren’t enough to convert buyers from segment of bestsellers like the Camry and Accord. For the new year, the Fusion has a triple play of new Fusions to entice buyers – a normal one, a hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid. All three Fusions wear undeniably beautiful new sheet metal, have upgraded interiors, and have two new available powertrain options. Follow the jump to see if this new Fusion has what it takes to reinvigorate the family sedan.

For exterior styling, Ford’s chief cosmetic surgeon left no surface untouched. Ford took two other beautiful models, chopped them in half, and grafted the front of one onto the back of the other. When the bandages came off, we got this:

 

Somehow, a freak miracle happened and a drop-dead gorgeous sedan appeared. The previous Fusion’s chrome mouth slats are replaced with a convincing imitation of Aston Martin’s trapezoidal grille. The forgettable rear end is now a tweaked version of the Ford Mondeo. A strong character line ties the front headlights all the way to the back taillights. The profile line and subtle hood creases make the Fusion look like it’s in motion from any angle.

Seeing how well the exterior turned out, Ford decided not to push their luck and took a more conservative approach to restyling the interior. That’s not to say that the interior went unchanged. Overall, the new cabin looks symmetrical and cohesive. Ford says that the benchmark for the Fusion’s interior was the Audi A6, and it’s easy to see the aspirations of luxury in higher leather trims. But what impressed me even more was how upscale the interior looks on even the base cloth trims.

The satin metallic trim bits on the door and dash helps add highlight and brighten up all black interiors. The rear seats have a center armrest that hides two additional cupholders, and the seatbacks fold down for a trunk pass through even on the hybrid models.

The equipment options are also impressive. Lane departure, adaptive cruise control, park assist, and blind spot monitoring were features previously reserved for luxury cars that are now available in a Camry competitor. As with other Ford offerings, the Sync system is available for bluetooth and voice commands. MyFord Touch will also be available. Hopefully Ford has taken customers’ complaints about its laggy interface and made software fixes to address those issues.

For forward motion, the Fusion has two new interesting engines in the lineup. The 1.6L EcoBoost develops 179 HP while returning 26/37 MPG city and highway mileage. For more power, a 237 HP 2.0L EcoBoost that returns 23/33 MPG. Like Hyundai and Kia, Ford has decided to kill off its V6 offering with turbocharged inline fours. However, the 2.0L EcoBoost is underwhelming when compared to the Korean counterpart which develops an extra 37 HP and eeks out an extra MPG on the highway. A 2.5L naturally aspirated inline four will be the base engine. The 1.6L can be paired with a 6-speed manual, a dying breed in the family sedan segment. The majority of buyers will choose the 6-speed automatic.

The Fusion Hybrid will use a 2.0L naturally aspirated engine running on the more efficient Atkinson cycle to develop 180 HP combined and 47/44 MPG. This beats the 2012 Camry Hybrid by 4/5 MPG, but develops 20 fewer horses. The lithium-ion batteries are lighter and more compact than the previous generation nickel-metal hydride batteries. In case the hybrid doesn’t offer enough green cred, there’s also a plug-in hybrid version called the Energi [sic]. Details are scant, but the Energi claims to do 100 MPGe, better than the current Chevy Volt, and the upcoming Prius plug-in.

The Fusion looks poised to take on segment favorites with fresh styling, improved interiors, and new powertrains. My pick of the litter would be the 1.6L EcoBoost with a 6-speed manual and all the electronic goodies. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but expect a starting prices in the low $20k (current Fusion starting price is $20,200) and rising into the low 30′s for a fully optioned model. Pricing for the Energi will be interesting, as it’s likely to involve government subsidies or tax credits. This will be one of the cars to watch out for in 2013.

sources: Fusion Hybrid Press Release, Ford