One of the most anticipated midsize sedans in recent memory is almost upon us.
Wayne Gerdes -
CleanMPG - May 19, 2012
2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid – Pricing has not yet been announced while its fuel economy will be an astounding and class leading 47/44 mpgUS city/highway.
With Ford’s upcoming 2013 Fusion and Fusion Hybrid, the company is targeting to be the dominate player in the non-luxury midsize sedan marketplace. With an outstanding exterior, all-new new modern interior, easily the best in class driver displays thanks to an improved SmartGauge with Eco Guide plus the latest infotainment features from the sometimes controversial but award winning SYNC with MyFord Touch, that target will surely be met.
Latest Safety Advances
Incorporating the latest cutting edge safety not found in vehicles costing as much as double its expected going price, the Fusion is scheduled to arrive with a number of optional radar, ultrasonic, optical and motion sensors that will provide an entirely new level of convenience for its customers. The safety technology package includes Lane-Keep Assist, Driver Alert, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), active park assist, cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, collision warning and a rear view camera.
Fusion’s suite of driver assist technologies are the result of the addition of new sensors, including cameras and radar combined with existing technologies, such as electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) and data from the anti-lock braking and stability control systems.
The 2013 Ford Fusion with a Lane Keeping System, a first in the mainstream midsize segment in North America.
Lane-Keep uses a forward-facing camera that can scan the road surface for lane markings. The system can evaluate if the car is drifting out of its lane and then alert the driver by vibrating the steering wheel. If the driver does not respond to the vibrations, the system provides steering torque to nudge the car back toward the center of the lane.
Driver Alert uses the front-facing camera to detect a pattern of vehicle motion consistent with a drowsy driver, and provides a series of alerts to suggest the driver stop and rest for a while. The visual alert includes a coffee cup icon appearing in the instrument cluster display indicating that pulling off the road and taking a break is a good idea
Pull-Drift Compensation is built into the electric power-assisted steering to counter the effects of steeply crowned roads or steady crosswinds. It can detect if the car is changing direction even if the steering angle sensor indicates the driver is not commanding this change. The Pull-Drift control then uses EPAS to provide gradual steering corrections that keep the car moving to where the driver wants to go.
Adaptive cruise control with collision warning uses a radar sensor that measures the distance and speed to the vehicle ahead.
With this extra information, the same engine power reduction and brake application techniques that are used to limit wheel spin by the traction control system can now be used to automatically slow the car and maintain a safe following distance when the adaptive cruise control is active. If the sensors detect the following distance is shrinking too quickly and a collision is likely, the system will provide a visual and audio alert so the driver can respond by steering or braking.
Active park assist help make parallel parking a breeze. The sensors measure the gap between parked cars to see if there is enough room, and then the car is automatically steered into the space. The driver just has to apply the accelerator and brake.
Blind Spot Information System with cross-traffic alert provides driver assistance during periods when he or she cannot see around an obstacle. Rearview mirrors help, but the Fusion is available with radar sensors in the rear corners that can monitor the spaces beside and just behind the car.
2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid Safety Systems
On the road, these sensors trigger a warning light in the mirror indicating there is another vehicle in the blind spot the driver may not be able to see when changing lanes. When backing out of a parking space, these same sensors can see vehicles coming down the aisle while the back-up camera provides a view directly behind the rear bumper.
Hybrid Mode
