Auto Trends

There is good news for the family who wants a high quality sedan offering superior fuel economy: the soon to debut 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid promises to deliver all that and more when it goes on sale in 2009. The new hybrid Fusion is a class leading sedan with an impressive 700 mile city driving range, a car that will run on pure electric power for 47 miles.

First introduced in 2005 along with its Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr (now MKZ) stablemates, the Ford Fusion has demonstrated that the automaker can produce a high quality, affordable sedan that customers want. Beginning in 2009, the next generation of the Fusion will be released, a sedan with a new engine and transmission along with a special model not previously offered: the Ford Fusion Hybrid.

The hybrid technology developed by Ford for the sedans is new and will eventually be expanded to the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner, Ford’s popular compact SUVs which were the first models sold by Ford featuring this cutting edge technology.

For the 2010 models, the Fusion and Milan hybrids will offer the following advantages:

• Superior city driving fuel economy with Ford stating that it will beat the Toyota Camry Hybrid by 5 mpg.
• Extended city range driving of 700 miles.
• An ability to run on pure electric power for the first 47 miles.

In addition, to help drivers get maximum fuel economy, Ford is including SmartGauge, an in-dash device that will instruct drivers when to shift and what other steps to take to improve mileage. Specifically, Ford says that the SmartGauge with EcoDrive will help motorists in four areas:

– Inform: Fuel level and battery charge status — Enlighten: Adds electric vehicle mode indicator and tachometer — Engage: Adds engine output power and battery output power — Empower: Adds power to wheels, engine pull-up threshold and accessory power consumption.

For 2010, Fusion and Milan will offer Ford’s all-new Duratec 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 175 horsepower; an enhanced 3.0-liter V-6 with 19 more horsepower than its predecessor; and a 3.5-liter V-6 that pumps out 263 horsepower on the Fusion Sport model.

Fusion models equipped with the 2.5-liter I-4 engine are expected to deliver at least 3 mpg better on the highway than the Honda Accord and 2 mpg better than the Toyota Camry.

All are paired with six-speed transmissions for up to a 10 percent fuel economy improvement and a host of other industry-first technologies aimed at improving performance while gaining fuel economy.

Ford will introduce its new hybrids at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2008 with these models hitting dealer showrooms in early 2009. With class leading fuel economy, an extended city range, and a terrific driving experience, the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid could be just the cars consumers need to ensure that “pain at the pump” is a thing of the past.

(Source: Ford Motor Company)

Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance writer who resides in Cary, North Carolina. Matt is a contributing writer for Andy’s Auto Sport an aftermarket supplier of quality parts including custom Acura Vigor lambo doors and Acura Vigor mufflers.

Dmitry Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation and Carl-Peter Forster, GM Vice President and President of GM Europe at the opening of GM's flexible new assembly plant in Shushary near St. Petersburg. General Motors invested $300 million in this new plant, where 1,700 employees will eventually assemble up to 70,000 Opel Antaras, Chevrolet Captivas and - as of 2009 - Chevrolet Cruzes annually.

Forget for a moment that General Motors is losing billions of dollars each quarter. Forget also that the company is seeking federal intervention to help it survive another day. Finally, forget that 2008 is likely to see U.S. sales drop by as much as 20% when all is said and done.

For General Motors, the news isn’t all bleak especially in markets far beyond the U.S. In Russia, where GM has just about doubled sales for the year, the automaker is poised to advance its presence there thanks to a new factory in St. Petersburg that opened last week.

Chevrolet and Opel vehicles are in demand in Russia and GM has responded by opening up a new factory. With an industry leading 11% share of the Russian market, GM is seeking to boost its sales there while hanging on for its life in the U.S. The only thing that remains to be seen is whether its U.S. operations will bring down the entire house or whether federal intervention will slow or stop the process completely.

The Russian factory may also play a special role well beyond the auto industry. With tensions between Russia and the U.S. at the highest levels they’ve been since the former country split from the Soviet Union nearly two decades ago, the GM plant is showing that business cooperation can benefit both countries. Nobody is expecting a quick end to the difficulties between the countries, but if the building of a new GM factory helps, then GM’s investment could help contribute some peace along with 1700 new jobs.

(Source: General Motors)