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“39-miles per gallon Ford Fusion Hybrid, a car that should make Toyota nervous and might just help Ford escape the apocalypse in Detroit.” (http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/12/the-hybrid-fusi.html)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2010_Ford_Fusion.jpgBy Jason Sattler - Wired - Dec. 04, 2008

I'll bet this would be a fun car to hypermile -- Ed

The Big Three were late to the hybrid party, but they're finally getting into the swing of things with cars like the 38 39-mpg Ford Fusion Hybrid, a car that should make Toyota nervous and might just help Ford escape the apocalypse in Detroit.

The 2010 hybrid Fusion and Mercury Milan, its fraternal twin, build on Ford’s experience with the cute-ute Escape Hybrid but advance the technology by making it lighter, more powerful and more efficient. The two gas-electric mid-size sedans offer strong evidence that Ford is serious about building fuel-efficient vehicles, and they're one reason Ford's future isn't as bleak as those of General Motors and Chrysler.

Ford makes no bones about the two hybrids being aimed squarely at the Toyota Camry Hybrid. Considering they offer better all-electric performance and superior fuel economy, they might just take the Camry down.

The gas-electric drivetrain expands upon the technology Ford developed for the Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrids. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produces 155 horsepower, up from 133 in the Escape Hybrid. An electric air conditioning compressor cut parasitic drag on the engine... http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/12/the-hybrid-fusi.html

Well, uh................that's awesome! News to me. :)

I would love to get my hands on one of these!! If the price is reasonable I just might manage to get my wife into one after we get rid of the 4x4 Escape lease. :D

Wow. Tons of negative comments in the comment section under that story.

Sounds like a great car. Hope the price isn't to high and isn't loaded with a lot of unecessary equipment. I'm proud of them for bringing a real contender to market.

I've had a prius now for 4 years. It gets only 39mpg, not the advertized 60mpg!!!!


JEsus christ what is he doing to that poor car!!????:eek:

I've had a hybrid Civic for a while now and I get 28-30mpg, the same millage as my 02 civic coupe (which is much more fun to drive). I know a couple other owners and none get any better mpg on the hybrid.

Now tell me...what does this say about the "average joe" out there?

It's probably a lot more fun to drive than a Camry.
I didn't like that grille at first, and I still don't love it, but at least it doesn't bother me anymore.

A Fusion Hybrid Station Wagon would be a very handy-sized vehicle, but out of my budget at this stage.

Now tell me...what does this say about the "average joe" out there?


Have you considered the source of the article :D

I'm calling a mostly young and male demographic mostly concerned with speed, gadgets, and going fast.

I fully agree with your sentiments about people who get 39 mpg from a Prius and blame the car. But are you really asking Jesus what the guy is doing to the car? I'm sure there are others here besides me who don't appreciate Jesus or Christ being used in a disrespectful manner. (Not sure why I responded to you, but not any of multiple other similar posts. I realize it is common usage in our culture, but it still bothers me.)
Greg

I think it's a beautiful car. Ford has really been making a turn around with styling for the last few years.

I'm super stoked about the customizable instrument panel too. They have a demo on their website showing all the different configurations you can set up.

If I wasn't as happy as I am with my Prius, I'd be taking a good long look at this one.

This may be premature but... keep it coming Ford! :woot: I really hope they turn their recent burst of innovation into a renewed company culture.

Here's another ignorant comment from that article:

"Some of you people are ridiculous. One guy says he had a Honda rated at 52 mpg. How come nothing gets that now? Because it is not possible. Motorcycles barely get that economy. Vehicles will never run on natural gas, period. I guarentee it. Its not effective."

I got 61 mpg in my Prius driving to Maine, and of course others here can do better than that. Vehicles will never run on natural gas? I'll be driving one this afternoon, a Civic GX.

Harry

39 MPG in a Prius is ridiculous. There are plenty of people who can easily average more than that with an ICE in city traffic.

I'd still take the Camry. I'm into proven technology and until Ford has been around the block a few times with this Fusion I would remain hands off.

... cute-ute Escape Hybrid ...

Many things, but I don't think cute is one of them.

Ford seems to be heading down a good track, less weight, 47 mph in EV :eek:, decent looks. I just hope the wife is interested next year (and that Ford is still around then)

My wife and I have 4 kids, and the Guzzler was the vehicle of choice for when we would all go somewhere. Now its mostlly 1-3 of us at a time, so the Rangers do fine. The Rangers also get used a lot for hauling building, yard materials, and junk. I'd like to see a Ranger with a hybrid drive train, either something like this Fusion 2wd setup for the typical uses or the Escape 4wd for those that really need the 4wd.

Hybrid Ranger = bye bye TorqueNada :D

I voted Fusion. I've driven Camrys before, and although they are of very high quality I really don't like the huge turning circle or the marshmallowey ride and handling. The Fusion addresses those complaints, gets substantially better mileage, and may well be a bit cheaper. Easy decision for me.

I don't share the concern about "proven" technology. It's the same technology that has been in the FEH for six years. As with any new model from Detroit, it might be prudent to wait until the second model year to iron out the initial production quality problems, but would I have no worries about the long-term reliability of the drivetrain itself.

I too would love to see a wagon version. Of course these days automakers can't just extend the roofline and windows to the back, and replace the trunk lid with a hatch. They have to raise the entire roofline, make the thing look beefier, offer AWD as an option, call it a "Crossover," and charge several thousand dollars more for it. With all all that added pork, crossovers end up getting worse mileage than the sedans they're based on, something that is not true of real wagons. C'mon Ford, do this one right and offer a wagon! There are millions of people who want to get better mpg than minivans offer, but still need a family car with real cargo capacity!

Totally agree on the wagon thing. Just change the roofline and sell it like that!

I'd take the Fusion. Ride and handling matter to me. That's why we have an Odyssey and not a Sienna.

But are you really asking Jesus what the guy is doing to the car? I'm sure there are others here besides me who don't appreciate Jesus or Christ being used in a disrespectful manner. (Not sure why I responded to you, but not any of multiple other similar posts. I realize it is common usage in our culture, but it still bothers me.)
Greg

I have a couple questions for you Greg.

1) How is it being used in a disrespectful manner? Upon answering this question, consider this, Do you or I know what that individual is doing to get that kind of gas mileage in that car?

2) Why does the usage of the word bother you?

I have a couple questions for you Greg.

1) How is it being used in a disrespectful manner? Upon answering this question, consider this, Do you or I know what that individual is doing to get that kind of gas mileage in that car?

2) Why does the usage of the word bother you?Presumably you weren't actually calling on Jesus Christ asking him what was being done to that Prius. Many people believe that calling out a deity's name when you don't really mean it amounts to taking its name "in vain," a violation of one of the Commandments (2nd commandment for the Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches, 3rd commandment for most other Christian and Jewish faiths). A number of my own family members find it much more offensive than using the "s" or "f" words.

I'm not personally offended by it, which is why I didn't respond earlier. But I did find it pretty jarring, if only because I make an effort myself to avoid casual references to deities, knowing how deeply it offends many people.

Leave that up to the deity to decide. All men are equal, we are in no position to morally judge another.

WriConsult: Thanks for a response

Back to the article: anyone else notice that at one point it refers to this car as the "Focus" hybrid? Oops. And, yeah I wish.

I notice you can tool around en all electric mode up to 47mph...This is actually very good! being able to run without using any gas is a really good selling point and opens up the doors for a potentially unlimited "mpg" number

.... The Rangers also get used a lot for hauling building, yard materials, and junk. I'd like to see a Ranger with a hybrid drive train, either something like this Fusion 2wd setup for the typical uses or the Escape 4wd for those that really need the 4wd.

Hybrid Ranger = bye bye TorqueNada :D

I'm no mechanical engineer but the Escape looks like it could share power plants with the Ranger without much extra development. Take this (http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/12/rev-introduces.html) recent Ranger/Escape EV conversion program announcement as a case study in shared powertrain development.

Here's another ignorant comment from that article:

"Some of you people are ridiculous. One guy says he had a Honda rated at 52 mpg. How come nothing gets that now? Because it is not possible. Motorcycles barely get that economy. Vehicles will never run on natural gas, period. I guarentee it. Its not effective."

I got 61 mpg in my Prius driving to Maine, and of course others here can do better than that. Vehicles will never run on natural gas? I'll be driving one this afternoon, a Civic GX.

Harry

Wow.... I mean... wow....

The Honda was probably a poorly driven Insight, the Metro got better than that, the Prius easily gets better than that, and I have seen well over a dozen vehicles running on Natural Gas. I even remember an old commercial for natural gas conversions that featured an old Model T that had been running on it. Benefits included fewer oil changes and less frequent tune-ups due to less carbon buildup.

Oh... I voted for the Fusion, but I tend to buy american when they offer what I want.

My thoughts on the new Fusion Hybrid is that it's over priced based on what I got in my '09 FEH. The improvements in my '09 over prior models such as the new stronger and more efficient 2.5L, increased EV speed, ease of EV mode, and DFSO will make the FFH a great vehicle. One thing the FFH will get is the new Variable Voltage Converter (VVC) which I was hoping to have got in my '09 FEH but didn't.

My last tank (7th) was very close to 50mpg on E10 and this is a army tank compared to the FFH with the same engine. I noticed the gearing final drive ratio was dropped to 2.57 where as the 6 speed auto with 2.5L gas Fusion is a 3.06 ratio. This may account for the increased EV speed. My '09 has a very strong 40mph EV speed and I can set the CC there even in a fairly strong headwind. The FFH should also have a very strong 47mph EV speed also. My estimate based on my FEH is the FFH should be able to get a 80mpg MPG Challenge result next year and I wonder what class it will compete in. Certainly the TCH or the NAH will have a hard time competing in the FFH class.

I've held off ordering the FFH and will wait till there at the dealerships to bargain for one. Ordering my '09 FEH was a pain and I could have got a better deal at my local dealership within a week of my '09 delivery.

GaryG

I notice you can tool around en all electric mode up to 47mph...This is actually very good! being able to run without using any gas is a really good selling point and opens up the doors for a potentially unlimited "mpg" number

You still need to recharge the battery pack using the ICE and regen brakes, so unlimited might be too much to ask for.

But I can see getting a much better N-glide if I can Pulse EV all the way up to 47. Sign me up for that!

I'd take the Fusion Hybrid over the Camry Non-Hybrid.
If I was "Given" either a Fusion Hybrid or Camry Hybrid, I'd take the Camry.
If I had to "Buy" one of those two, I would probably buy the Fusion since I can get Fords for next to cost.

11011011

You still need to recharge the battery pack using the ICE and regen brakes, so unlimited might be too much to ask for.

But I can see getting a much better N-glide if I can Pulse EV all the way up to 47. Sign me up for that!


Not if they sell chargers for these things ;). I'm sure if Ford doesnt do it, Aem may. If that doesnt work, then it's only a matter of finding something in close proximity to convert it to plug-in. Like I said, POTENTIAL for unlimited :)

Not if they sell chargers for these things ;). I'm sure if Ford doesnt do it, Aem may. If that doesnt work, then it's only a matter of finding something in close proximity to convert it to plug-in. Like I said, POTENTIAL for unlimited :)

You're right, a plug-in would be awesome, but it's not clear how far it would go on one charge. I like the potential though.

an overwhelming vote for the fusion (>80%). I guess it really is the fault of detroit that they are where they are.

an overwhelming vote for the fusion (>80%). I guess it really is the fault of detroit that they are where they are.

Yup...

We'll buy from them if they make what we need/want.

If they don't make it, we can't buy it from them.