The 2013 Ford Fusion!

Presenting the all new 2013 Ford Fusion.



2013 Ford Fusion

    The new model Fusion was unveiled in February at the 2012 North American International Auto Show to rave reviews. The Fusion won the EyesOn Design "Excellence in Design Award", the top honor for production vehicles. MotorTrend says: "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." Best in Show Award by the Autoweek editorial staff.

With a design based largely on the Evos Concept unveiled earlier this year, the new Ford Fusion should easily be the best-looking car in a segment that includes models like the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Chevrolet Malibu and the Kia Optima. Inside, the larger and sleeker Fusion features a more spacious interior with a better use of technology including Ford’s updated MyFord Touch infotainment system. While the styling and technology are definitely notable, the big news for the 2013 Fusion is what lies beneath that sculpted sheet metal.



2013 Ford Fusion hybrid badge



   Unlike the all-new Ford Escape, the Fusion will still be available in hybrid form for 2013. This next-generation hybrid system starts off with a 2.0-liter Atkinson cycle inline-four and a lithium-ion battery pack. This setup is expected to give the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid remarkable fuel economy estimates of 47 miles per gallon in the city and 44 mpg on the highway; Fusion Hybrid is also able to travel at speeds of up to 62 miles per hour under full-electric power.

   A bit bigger of a surprise is the new Fusion Energi. As is the case with the C-Max Energi introduced last year and going on sale later this year, the Fusion Energi is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). Using the same engine as the Hybrid,, Ford says that the Fusion Energi will get an expected 100 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) which is better than the Chevrolet Volt and Toyota Prius PHEV.



2.0L EcoBoost Engine



Of course, buyers looking for a more conventional powertrain will still have plenty of options when it comes to the new Fusion. The base engine continues to be a 2.5-liter inline-four, but two new EcoBoost engine options will now be available. The 1.6-liter EcoBoost can be equipped with either a manual or automatic transmission, while the more powerful 2.0-liter EcoBoost is only available with an automatic but offers either front- or all-wheel drive configurations.



2013 Ford Fusion



Modern design features sweeping lines, laser-cut headlamps and a strong, graphically designed grille. Fusion features a sleek, athletic silhouette reminiscent of a coupe with the functionality of a sedan. Strong styling cues emphasized by the LED (light-emitting diode) tail lamps and bright exhaust tips integrated into the rear fascia on Titanium models.



Available interior of the 2013 Ford Fusion


Fusion's interior features a sporty, driver-oriented environment with next-generation seating that offers expanded functionality. Exceptional fit and finish and greater use of soft-touch materials and thoughtful attention to passenger interactivity points. The Fusion proudly uses EcoCloth interior, available on SE, which features seating fabric made from 100 percent recycled yarn that would normally end up in landfills as waste.






Beautiful! The 2013 Ford Fusion


The new Fusion makes use of the Active Grille Shutter System which helps improve efficiency by maximizing the aerodynamic efficiency of the grille opening and the engine cooling system. When less engine cooling is required, the shutters automatically close to help improve aerodynamics and fuel efficiency.







A hero shot of the 2013 Ford Fusion

    Safety was also put into the design of the all-new Fusion. Body strength has been increased by 10% over the previous model through the use of more high-strength steels such as boron. Side door intrusion beams extend across the two strongest areas of the door frame to help protect against passenger compartment intrusion in certain side-impact collisions. Fusion features eight standard airbags, including dual-stage airbags for the driver and front passenger which calculate the severity of an impact and inflate appropriately.

   Perhaps even more important is Fusion's ability to avoid an accident with a list of technologies. AdvanceTrac Electronic Stability Control, ABS, brake assist, tire pressure monitoring system, and available all-wheel drive are just some of the features to help you stay in control behind the wheel. Also available on the Fusion is the lane keeping system with driver alert, blind spot information system, adaptive cruise control, auto headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, reverse sensing system and rear-view camera.



The 2013 Ford Fusion Sprint Cup Car





The 2013 Fusion body style will also be next years cup car for NASCAR's top racing series. Engineers paid close attention to making sure the on-track version closely resembled the street car.







   The 2013 Ford Fusion is expected to continue the Fusion-models claim as the top selling vehicle in Ford's line up, as well as increase market-share in the very competitive mid-sized car race. I have just received word as I write this that the new Fusion is beginning to ship from Ford to dealerships. Stay tuned to this blog and www.edkoehn.com as the 2013 Ford Fusion hits the lot and showroom. Look for our staff reviews and video test drives! I anticipate this being the hottest car from this fall through all of next year...




 Bad-ass in blue, the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid


-TW