| Fuel economy should be high on car shoppers' lists. | | | | gasoline boosts horsepower to 250 but reduces |
| Trust us: Even if the price of gas is relatively low at | | | | overall fuel mileage. Not long ago, those were great |
| the moment, it'll head higher. The Fusion will offer three | | | | numbers for a sporty V8. The new engine in the lineup, |
| revised and fuel-efficient engines mated to all-new | | | | the Fusion SPORT's 3.5-liter V6 teamed with the |
| 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic or 6-speed | | | | 6-speed SelectShift, produces a strong 263 |
| SelectShift Automatic transmissions (the ladder | | | | horsepower and a peak of 249 pound-feet of torque |
| exclusive to SPORT). | | | | for a more spirited driving experience. |
| Fusion sedans boast a long list of new features | | | | One way Ford engineers got more power out of |
| designed to keep it extremely competitive in the | | | | these engines is with electric power assist steering, |
| cutthroat midsize sedan market. Highlights include | | | | featured on the new 2.5L and 3.0L engines. Rather |
| aggressive new front-end styling, a choice of three | | | | than the previously employed hydraulic assist that |
| very fuel-efficient and powerful engines, an all-new | | | | relied upon engine power, electric power assist draws |
| sporty version, and safety ratings that are hard to top. | | | | no power when the vehicle is going in a straight line. |
| The Fusion's restyled front end includes a more | | | | The 2010 Ford Fusion got the government's five-star |
| aggressive grille, a domed hood and new headlights. | | | | rating—the highest available—in front driver, |
| To help improve fuel mileage, underbody panels | | | | passenger, and side impact tests and rollover testing in |
| improve aerodynamic efficiency. The Fusion offers a | | | | the all-wheel-drive model. It received four out of five |
| wider, sportier look. The interior has been restyled too, | | | | stars for side rear passenger impact and |
| with metallic finished trim on the center instrument | | | | front-wheel-drive roll over. Electronic stability control |
| panel and steering wheel and doors. | | | | and four-wheel, anti-lock brakes are standard. |
| When equipped with the 3.0-liter FFV V6 and an | | | | For those who regularly come across deep snow, the |
| automatic transmission, the Fusion got 18 mpg in the | | | | Fusion is available with all-wheel drive when equipped |
| city test and 26 mpg on the highway: Ford expects | | | | with either of the V6 engines. To improve handling, ride |
| those numbers to rise to an estimated 19 city and 28 | | | | comfort and steering feel, Ford revised and retuned |
| highway for 2010. All-wheel-drive versions recorded 17 | | | | Fusion's suspension, front and rear. To reduce wind |
| mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway for 2009. | | | | and road noise, the 2010 Fusion gets an acoustic |
| 2010 models are expected to see an improvement in | | | | windshield, thicker front door glass, thicker hood |
| overall fuel economy. The 3.5-liter V6 is available only | | | | insulation, and sound-deadening materials in the doors, |
| in the new Fusion SPORT edition. | | | | trunk and headliner. In addition to the 263-horsepower |
| Only slightly behind safety and economy, Americans | | | | V6, the 2010 Fusion SPORT gets 18-inch diameter |
| like power—and the 2010 delivers. Compared to the | | | | wheels, a sport-tuned air intake and stiffer suspension |
| previous 2.3-liter, the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine makes | | | | tuning. On the outside, the Sport gets a special lower |
| 15 more horsepower and 16 addition pound feet of | | | | grille, side rocker moldings and a trunk-mounted spoiler. |
| torque for totals of 175 horsepower and 172 | | | | An available feature that may help prevent a parking |
| pound-feet of torque. Those are numbers once | | | | lot fender bender is the Blind Spot Information System |
| reserved for powerful V6s and smaller V8s. The old | | | | (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alert. This radar-based |
| four-cylinder engine used to come with a five-speed | | | | system warns drivers of hidden traffic approaching. |
| automatic. Now it has six-speed versions of each. The | | | | Ford's popular SYNC voice-activation and |
| additional gears help produce adequate acceleration to | | | | entertainment system, compatible with most |
| merge into traffic and excellent highway fuel mileage. | | | | Bluetooth-enabled cell phones and MP3 capable |
| The 3.0-liter FFV V6 engine gets 19 more horsepower, | | | | devices, is an available feature. Fusion offers a Sony |
| to 240, and 17 more pound-feet of torque, to 222. The | | | | surround sound system that boasts 12 speakers and |
| 3.0 running on E85, 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent | | | | 390 watts. |