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The hybrid gets what Ford calls SmartGauge with EcoGuide, a unique instrument cluster that is designed to bring out the mileage geek in everyone. (http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/car_shopping/green_machines/2010_ford_fusion_hybrid_short_take_road_test)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Fusion_Hybrid_Logo.jpgMark Gillies - Car AND Driver (http://www.caranddriver.com) - Dec 12, 2008

Ford has a very promising lineup for the near future and they aren't in dire need of a bailout. Good news all the way around! -- Ed.

The first thing you need to know about the 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid is that it’s the best mid-size hybrid sedan on the market. Yes, that’s right: it wipes the floor with the Toyota Camry hybrid.

Like the Camry, it mates a four-cylinder gasoline engine with two battery-driven electric motors and a continuously variable transmission. The Fusion has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine that makes 156 hp and 136 lb-ft of torque. Although the Atkinson cycle, where the intake valve is held open longer during the intake stroke, is more efficient than the usual Otto cycle, it doesn’t produce as much power and torque. In a hybrid’s case, electric motors augment the gas engine so that acceleration isn’t compromised. Here, the hybrid system puts out a combined 191 hp.

Ford has worked hard to significantly improve the system in the Fusion over the one in the Escape hybrid. The trunk-mounted nickel-metal-hydride battery pack is smaller and lighter, for instance, and uses a different chemistry so that it doesn’t need a separate cooling system, simply drawing air in from the cabin to manage temperatures. The pack also produces 20 percent more power. Variable timing on the intake cam allows the vehicle to more seamlessly transition between electric and gas modes, according to Ford, and the Fusion can be driven up to 47 mph on electric power alone, depending on how leadfooted a driver is. Most hybrids can pull off the electric-only trick only as high as 25 mph or so.

Sharp-Looking Exterior, Techy Interior

The all-new Fusion hybrid benefits from many of the changes that were made to the 2010 Fusion range. Externally, the Fusion gets new headlamps, a new front fascia, and a reworked version of the three-bar grille that Ford now uses across its North American offerings. At the back, there’s a new… http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/car_shopping/green_machines/2010_ford_fusion_hybrid_short_take_road_test

That is a nice system in a nice car. If you care about driving dynamics, this is better than the Camry. It gets better mileage, too? Double-win!

Consider the source, then look at this:
The car still performs pretty well, too. Our 0-to-60-mph acceleration time of 8.5 seconds isn’t stellar—the Fusion hybrid weighs 3805 lb, which doesn’t help—although it’s actually faster than the time we recorded for the old 2.3-liter four-cylinder Fusion automatic.
Now repeat after me, "Hybrids are not slow cars." Better performance and better mileage both? Triple-win.

Price = lose, though. :(

Price = lose, though. :(

Yeah, that puts the hurt on, doesn't it?? That 3800lb weight is quite impressive, too. :eek:

And the Civic Hybrid comes in at $8K less. :rolleyes:

Yeah, that puts the hurt on, doesn't it?? That 3800lb weight is quite impressive, too. :eek:
Considering that my (huge) Odyssey is 43xx lb, that is huge! :eek:

Hi All,

A bit overpowered for great fuel economy. This would be a good powertrain for a largish mini-van I think. Maybe that will be the next Ford winner?

I am wondering if that 47 mph max electrical speed is engine RPM = 0 or not. If it is, that is an improvement over the Prius. A Prius can do 60 some mph, slight downhill , pure electric, but it has to spin the engine at 1000 RPM (fuel cutoff).

That is a BIG motor - 106 HP. The Prius motor is 60 hp. With that big a motor they could probably come down to a 2.0 liter engine and still keep the 0-60 speeds under 11 seconds.

I think that when these are old cars, hypermilers might hack in the 1.8 liter Prius Gen III engine.

I'm disappointed that the built-in MPG Gauge only goes up to 60 :confused: Don't they know we're hoping to pull Prius-like number with this thing?

And costing more than I paid for my FEH doesn't help either.

And the Civic Hybrid comes in at $8K less. :rolleyes:

Without a usable all electric propulsion or the ability to be converted to a plugin for use without any gasoline at all...

Looking at the prices, this looks to be priced almost identically to the current FEH. Seems about the same weight, too! :eek:

I agree that the gas engine is overkill, but after driving Debbie's FEH I have to say that strong EV is wicked useful. Tack on a ScanGuage and who cares if the display tops out at 60mpg? Disappointing yes, but not debilitating. I think this vehicle will pump out surprising numbers in the hands of someone who knows what (s)he is doing behind the wheel. :D

Nice job, Ford!

At least they are doing something about their problems other than just whining for my tax dollars.

Frank

I am hopeful for Ford. Their products in Europe show they are not at a loss. Hopefully they can take it up a couple notches here and create more competition for high FE cars.

And the Civic Hybrid comes in at $8K less. :rolleyes:
2009 HCH = $23,650
2010 HCH = ??? $24,123 ??? (assuming 2% bump from 2009 to 2010)
2010 FFH = $27,995

Difference = $3,872... a sight shy of 8k. Still a bigger gap than there should be, but I think they are gunning for the TCH more than the HCH. Plus with the FFH you get the union label :flag:

11011011

any tax credits available? that plus employee pricing and I will get one....

is Ford still using Aisen (Toyota) supplied HEV drivetrain?

can the iFCD be switched to metric so that l/100km can be used vs mpg?

Ford is Ford and not Toyota. Pound for pound, Ford is now the leader of the pack. The HCH is going to see a strong competitor with the Ford Fusion Hybrid and the TCH can't even complete with my Ford '09 FEHL. The Ford Fusion Hybrid may even put away the HCH with a much bigger trunk and passenger compartment. The engine power is very nice also. The '09 FEH has all that and the Ford Fusion will have much more.

GaryG

The HCH-III is scheduled to arrive/debut in 2010 and as the flagship hybrid vehicle for Honda, it will once again, sport an evolved interior + cargo arrangement along with a sizable generational improvement in the technology front... although it does make some sense to compare the upcoming fusion to the current gen.

Isn't all this exciting ??

Cheers;

MSantos

Oh, boy -- now you've whet my whistle, Manuel!! :eek:

any tax credits available?

Yes! Hopefully this will propel Ford over the 60k threshold for its hybrid vehicles.

I'd like an american mdisize hybrid. It is a shame nobody will be able to get an auto loan to buy one.

I'd like an american mdisize hybrid. It is a shame nobody will be able to get an auto loan to buy one.

My friend recently was shopping for a new vehicle and took a look at the FEH. The dealer was more than willing to finance all of it minus his trade, so there is some credit out there.

Over a 300-mile test loop, we averaged 34 mpg—3 mpg better than we did with a Toyota Camry hybrid—with 36.9 mpg in the city and 32.7 mpg on the highway.

Maybe I'm stupid, but I think someone needs to teach them P&G!

You aren't stupid and yes, it is a safe bet that the FFH is worth WAY the heck more than that. :D

Coming from the man who squeezed 70+ from the Escape Hybrid, I would guess so... ;)

And the Civic Hybrid comes in at $8K less. :rolleyes:
Check your math... (I got these numbers from the manufacturer's websites)
$23,650 - 2009 Civic Hybrid @ 2877lbs 40/45MPG
$26,150 - 2009 Camry Hybrid @3680lbs 33/34MPG
$27,995 - 2010 Fusion Hybrid @ 3805lbs 39/37MPG (will still get at least 50% of the federal tax credit by the time they are available)

I'll agree that the Civic is the lightweight and the MPG leader on paper but the Fusion IS over 13 inches longer, several inches wider, and taller than the Civic. The Fusion and Camry are all but the same dimensions on the outside and pretty close on weight and cost but notice the MPG difference.

Assuming the pictures in the gallery were taken at the time of the road test, it's worth noting that they did their test with an external temp of 32degF. Almost every car I know gets worse mileage in freezing weather.

Check your math... (I got these numbers from the manufacturer's websites)
$23,650 - 2009 Civic Hybrid @ 2877lbs 40/45MPG
$26,150 - 2009 Camry Hybrid @3680lbs 33/34MPG
$27,995 - 2010 Fusion Hybrid @ 3805lbs 39/37MPG (will still get at least 50% of the federal tax credit by the time they are available)

I'll agree that the Civic is the lightweight and the MPG leader on paper but the Fusion IS over 13 inches longer, several inches wider, and taller than the Civic. The Fusion and Camry are all but the same dimensions on the outside and pretty close on weight and cost but notice the MPG difference.

Assuming the pictures in the gallery were taken at the time of the road test, it's worth noting that they did their test with an external temp of 32degF. Almost every car I know gets worse mileage in freezing weather.

Get a load of this!

"The battery supplies enough glowing ponies to propel the car to speeds up to 47 mph on all-electric power. This is key to the car's in-city mileage. On my 50-mile drive, I was able to feather-foot the throttle enough to accelerate to commuting speeds without waking the gas engine. When I needed to accelerate faster, I could dip in to the engine horsepower briefly to overcome inertia, then maintain momentum with the electric motor. At one stage I was getting 63 mpg."
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-neil19-2008dec19,0,1742816.story

GaryG

At one stage I was getting 63 mpg."


If he could get 63, imagine what you could get? Its staggering to think about. :D

If he could get 63, imagine what you could get? Its staggering to think about. :D

Based on my '09 FEH drivetrain, there is no question in my mind the FFH will be good for a 80mpg RT. What I question in this article is, does the factory gauge go above 60mpg and how would he know he was getting 63mpg if it doesn't. We've already seen two articles that stated the '10 FFH could go 10 miles in EV which can't be true. The new 190 pin PCM in my '09 FEH is causing my SGII to read over 12% higher than pumped gas, so if he was using a SGII with default settings it could be way off also.

GaryG

More News on the Fusion Hybrid EPA rating:

EPA: 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid to get 41 mpg

DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co.'s 2010 Fusion Hybrid will get 41 city miles per gallon and 36 mpg on highways, based on final certification figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the company said Monday. The move is one of the final steps in getting the vehicle to dealerships next spring. Certification of the vehicle was recently completed at the company's testing laboratories in Allen Park. Ford said that the Fusion Hybrid tops Toyota's Camry hybrid -- its main competitor -- by 8 mpg in the city and by 2 mpg on the highway. The Fusion can travel up to 47 miles per hour using only battery power. After 47 miles, the car's four-cylinder engine turns on to power the car and recharge the battery.
http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081223/AUTO01/812230320

GaryG

That is fantastic for a vehicle that size! :D

My bad on the pricing of Honda Hybrid. I was thinking about the 2008 base price of just over 21K. With sales tax the difference on the Fusion over the Honda is at least $4,650.
I'm betting the dealers will be hording this car and asking a premium over the $27,995 price tag especially if there are tax credits involved. You will be lucky to see one under $30K when the dealer gets done optioning it out and throwing on paint protector and undercoating.
Try to get a deal on a V8 Mustang at any Ford dealer. It ain't happening there is no discounts on their HOT car. I'm betting the Hybrid Fusion is the next hot car to have a premium put on it. I know car dealers and how they work. It will be hot for six to nine months then you will be able to get a deal on one maybe in January or February of 2010.

My bad on the pricing of Honda Hybrid. I was thinking about the 2008 base price of just over 21K. With sales tax the difference on the Fusion over the Honda is at least $4,650.
I'm betting the dealers will be hording this car and asking a premium over the $27,995 price tag especially if there are tax credits involved. You will be lucky to see one under $30K when the dealer gets done optioning it out and throwing on paint protector and undercoating.
Try to get a deal on a V8 Mustang at any Ford dealer. It ain't happening there is no discounts on their HOT car. I'm betting the Hybrid Fusion is the next hot car to have a premium put on it. I know car dealers and how they work. It will be hot for six to nine months then you will be able to get a deal on one maybe in January or February of 2010.

Please keep the stereotypes to a minimum, even though there will be a majority of dealerships that play right into the mold there are some out there just trying to provide for their families without screwing over their customers.

If we try some of that crap when the new Insight comes out, we may make more profit in the short term per car, but we will sell less units overall and guarantee the customers we screw over will not be returning for service or subsequent vehicle purchases.

Sorry, its like me making a statement that, "all lawyers are liars, I know lawyers"


Kacey Green,
Computer Geek turned Auto Salesman

Kacey not all dealers just 70-75% of them are like that. The U.S. car companies are in trouble because more due to their dealer networks than mistakes the people up at the HQ made. Like I have said before when I hear someone pissed off at a particular car brand it almost always because of crap generated by the dealer not corporate.
How many automobile dealer chains have gone belly up in the last 3 months?
Yet every time one does I find on many car boards a lot of good riddance from past customers of theirs.

I have gotten to the point I will never set foot in a Volvo service area again. The Volvo's I own are my last. Not because of Volvo but because of the dealers in the area.
Like you said they are trying to support their families. You pay your techs $15-$18 per book hour yet charge over $90 per hour. These dealers also don't provide health benefits to those employees. Your making at least with parts mark up $75-$80 per hour clear on me and can't pay less than $7 towards the tech's health care?

How many owners do you personally know? I use to be in sales and used to deal with car dealers on a personal level. Most were the most arrogant self centered people you will ever know.
I'd say 75% fall into that category and about 25% of the owners are decent people to deal with.

I'll give you one "unique" example of this last summer. All the employees at a particular dealership were told the dealership was in trouble. The service writers saw their checks and bonuses cut to the bone. The techs and parts saw all OT and hours cut, salesmen were let go.
Well last October the dealers son pulls into the dealership with his High School Graduation gift from daddy. Needless to say the employees are quite unhappy and many have left for other jobs over this. What did junior drive in with you ask? A 2008 $88K Dodge Viper SRT-10. They don't sell Dodges at his dealerships.

Now lets look at Winter of 2008 and here is Toyota showing the first losing year since the 1940's. Want to bet a lot of people that were looking at Priuses got turned off when the dealers were jacking up the prices during the spring and summer?

Kacey not all of them but enough to make a whole lot of people look at other brands.

The only good thing to come from this economic down turn is many of those unscrupulous dealers are not going to make it through 2009-2010.
The dealers who have continuously treated their customers right will be the ones who will come out of this down turn stronger.
Remember most businesses only make profit on the last 20% of business. If they drop 25% in sales they are in trouble due to their fixed overhead.

I agree ALS!

My broker added on a $500 dealer fee just before my purchase date of my '09 FEH. When I protested that this was not a part of my deal, he got arrogant as if he could care less if I turned down the deal. This was my forth car deal though him with me, my friends and family members. This guy had became a friend of mine since July of '04 and I even sided with him when the President of the Credit Union who's family grew-up with mine and respected my opinion called with concerns about him. He would have lost his job as a Auto Broker in the Credit Union if I knew now what I didn't know then.

When I finally thought I had found an honest car salesman, I got screwed. No more ordering and waiting 4 months to get screwed for me. I'll bargain hard for the best deal for a Fusion Hybrid in 4 months when there on the lots and I'll drive a distance for a better deal if that's what it takes.

My old car broker better hope I don't get a call or run into the President of the Credit Union any time soon. You can't buy real friendship or creditability, but you can spend all you have in one deal. I got the 2 FEH vehicles I wanted at a high price just like Big Oil drove those prices up. Screw the both of them now, I'll pay less for gas and less for Hybrids in the near future.

GaryG

Kacey not all dealers just 70-75% of them are like that. The U.S. car companies are in trouble because more due to their dealer networks than mistakes the people up at the HQ made. Like I have said before when I hear someone pissed off at a particular car brand it almost always because of crap generated by the dealer not corporate.
How many automobile dealer chains have gone belly up in the last 3 months?
Yet every time one does I find on many car boards a lot of good riddance from past customers of theirs.

As the biggest public face of the brands dealerships and manufacturers need to put greater care into PR and Customer Relations, and keep a few bad apples from spoiling things.

I have gotten to the point I will never set foot in a Volvo service area again. The Volvo's I own are my last. Not because of Volvo but because of the dealers in the area.
Like you said they are trying to support their families. You pay your techs $15-$18 per book hour yet charge over $90 per hour. These dealers also don't provide health benefits to those employees. Your making at least with parts mark up $75-$80 per hour clear on me and can't pay less than $7 towards the tech's health care?
Our labor rate is very similar, but if they were to try and touch our health care I'm not sure how many people would remain with the company. We've changed providers several times in the last year as a cost cutting measure but the levels of coverage have remained just as high or in the last change even better than before the switch.

How many owners do you personally know? I use to be in sales and used to deal with car dealers on a personal level. Most were the most arrogant self centered people you will ever know.
I'd say 75% fall into that category and about 25% of the owners are decent people to deal with. A handful, one or two jerks some average, and others trying to make the world a better place too. One of the owners of the first Toyota store I tried to sell my Prius to fit every negative stereotype of the industry, if he has this same attitude with all of their prospects we'll be taking loads of their business when the move to their new digs.

I'll give you one "unique" example of this last summer. All the employees at a particular dealership were told the dealership was in trouble. The service writers saw their checks and bonuses cut to the bone. The techs and parts saw all OT and hours cut, salesmen were let go.
Well last October the dealers son pulls into the dealership with his High School Graduation gift from daddy. Needless to say the employees are quite unhappy and many have left for other jobs over this. What did junior drive in with you ask? A 2008 $88K Dodge Viper SRT-10. They don't sell Dodges at his dealerships.

Now lets look at Winter of 2008 and here is Toyota showing the first losing year since the 1940's. Want to bet a lot of people that were looking at Priuses got turned off when the dealers were jacking up the prices during the spring and summer?

Kacey not all of them but enough to make a whole lot of people look at other brands.

The only good thing to come from this economic down turn is many of those unscrupulous dealers are not going to make it through 2009-2010.
The dealers who have continuously treated their customers right will be the ones who will come out of this down turn stronger.
Remember most businesses only make profit on the last 20% of business. If they drop 25% in sales they are in trouble due to their fixed overhead.

A couple of thoughts.

I have a 09 Camry Hybrid. I constantly get between 37 and 42 MPG with really not much effort. If I really try I seem to be able to hit as high as 44+. I recently filled up and drove for 40 miles on the freeway at 62MPH - the crazy car hit 48.1MPG. So I'm not sure the sticker ratings seem to be very accurate.

As a Ford Fan (66 Mustang in the garage) I hope the Fusion can perform in like manner. It would be nice to see Ford hit one out of the park.

I looked at the Fusion when I purchased the Camry and there was one big difference - interior room - the Camry seemed to be more spacious. It would probably a great idea to see the Taurus appear as a hybrid to claim the extra interior room.

One last point, look at the fools at Chrysler who for years failed to advertise the Hemi's MDS that allows the V-8 to run in 4 cyl mode. I have an 06 Dodge Ram 4X4. On the freeway with the cruise set between 60 and 65 it gets 20 to 22 MPG all day. Not bad for a large 4 wheel drive pickup.

It seems that up until recently the big 3 have done a terrible job at telling what they have accomplished.

What do you know, on my last 80 mile drive I got 48.2 mpg in my FFH. So I think people will be happy with this car!

What do you know, on my last 80 mile drive I got 48.2 mpg in my FFH. So I think you will be happy with this car!

This car is much more capable of 48.2mpg. With Wayne's review he averaged over 59mpg in bad weather over 300 miles. I'm finding the warmer weather (80F) is not effecting my '09 FEH as much as my '05 FEH. My Nav sys reads ~4% high but today it's up to 56.4mpg over 300 miles. If I hold on to it I might break 54mpg on this tank. That would be over 166% of combined EPA with many cold starts over 700 miles. The '10 FFH has an improved eCVT than my '09 FEH so who knows what it's good for.

GaryG

I drove the Ford Escape Hybrid and then immediately drove the Fusion Hybrid. The difference is night and day. My wife said she could tell immediately from the passenger seat that we were going to take the Fusion home. She wanted to like the Escape better, but agrees with my choice.

The Escape I drove actually cost more money. The fit and finish on the Fusion is better and the battery pack fits nicely behind the seat.

The FFH took many by surprise recently, myself included