Autoblog

Click above for high-res gallery of 2010 Ford Fusion spy shots

It's so great watching TV now on a giant flat screen that hangs from my living room wall that I can't imagine how we survived with 27-inch tube TVs just a few short years ago. Perhaps the same will be said about the 2010 Ford Fusion, the most recent spy shots of which show its interior completely uncovered and a truly giant touch screen positioned dead center in the center stack. We thought the touch screen in the Jaguar XF and new Lincoln MKS were big (both Ford products, btw), but this puts them to shame. Other interior changes are minor but important as Ford has apparently chosen to leave the overall dash design the same and focused instead on stuffing the Fusion with cool high-tech content. There are new gauges and new vents directly above the big flat screen, while the analog clock has been ditched entirely. All HVAC controls have now been moved below the screen and should be easy to adjust with one hand on the shifter. But seriously, isn't that a HUGE screen to be in a moderately priced family sedan. Considering the overwhelming success Ford has had selling the Focus by touting its high-tech superiority courtesy of SYNC, we imagine its strategy for the Fusion is to go one step further and offer customers a touchscreen they can't get anywhere else. Here's hoping it's not a $2,500 option. Click the gallery below for another angle and more spy shots of the 2010 Ford Fusion.

UPDATE: Shunk believes the screen to be the 8.5-inch unit that will be used on the 2009 Ford F-150, which the company has already said will be its range-topping nav screen. But since the interior of the Fusion is much smaller than Ford's full-size truck, the screen appears to be much bigger.


[Source: KGP Photography]

Click above for high-res gallery for redesigned Ford Fusion spy shots

We've known for some time that the Ford Fusion was due for a mid-cycle refreshening soon, but new spy shots from KGP Photography reveal that more might be in store for Ford's successful mid-size family sedan. Previous spy shots have shown prototype Fusions wearing impenetrable front bras that completely obscured any design changes, but these new pics reveal what's been hiding underneath. This prototype features the current car's hood and "squircle" headlights, but sports a different grille style and front bumper. The Fusion's trademark three-bar grille looks like it will become more expressive in the next version, with the top bar bowed down slightly in the middle like a smile. We imagine the production version will have all three bars bowed to some degree, giving the Ford sedan a distinctly happy and swooped back face. The front bumper, meanwhile, reveals the shape of a new lower intake and two air intakes on each side that would house fog lamps. The most telling bit, however, is a character line we haven't seen before that appears to bend down from the front fender. This suggests that the entire front clip of the next Fusion will be all new, rather than just the mild refreshening we were expecting. Consider us intrigued and more than a bit curious at what the next Fusion, which may be a 2010 or 2011 model, will look like.


[Source: KGP Photography]

During a meeting with Ford dealers last week, it was revealed that the 2009 Fusion would benefit from the same 170 hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder found in the new Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner. The upgraded mill, which boasts an extra 10 hp over the outgoing engine and variable valve timing, will be mated to Ford's six-speed automatic transmission and should return a few miles-per-gallon more than its predecessor. There's also talk that the new Fusion could get an upgraded version of the 3.0-liter V6, along with a new front fascia and a revised interior. Ford spokesperson, Jim Cain, wouldn't confirm or deny the planned upgrades, but it's likely we'll get a formal announcement in the next few months before the revamped Fusion goes on sale later this year.

[Source: Detroit News]

Click above to watch Ford's new commercial for Canada

Ford would like to think that it's a car company for the people, and the Blue Oval's latest TV commercial for Canada features zero cars. What the ad does show is a group of men and women dressed in Ford-issue blue going Cirque Du Soleil to form the silhouette of a Fusion and an Edge. The vehicles are very recognizable too, even though the 18 or so hominids use very minimal props. It's hard to say whether the ad is neat or creepy, so we'll let you decide in the comments after watching the 30-second clip after the jump. Thanks for the tip, Darryl!

[Source: YouTube]

Ford's been cranking out hybrid CUVs on the CD2 platform for four years now, and with over 40,000 produced, it's gotten to be old hat. Since it started in 2004, Ford's managed to make the Escape, Mercury Mariner and Mazda Tribute 30-percent cheaper to build. That cost reduction, coupled with the pending introduction of the hybrid Fusion and Milan platform-mates, will allow Ford's hybrid program to actually turn a profit for the first time in 2008. The Mariner and Escape hybrids find about 21,000 owners per year, and adding the hardware to the sedans could spur sales of Ford's hybrid system, further reducing costs. We're excited to try out the sedans with the hybrid system and the potential for a winner is there if Ford manages to deliver the goods at an attractive price.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

It seems like America is the only place where American cars aren't popular. Buick has huge numbers in China, and Ford's having a lot of success in Brazil. Sales of the Fusion sedan took off to the point that it now leads the midsize segment there. Riding high on the Fusion's success, Ford's sending the Edge below the equator. The Edge will join a lineup that includes the new Ka compact, the EcoSport small 'Ute, and the Fiesta.

Ford's also pumping $1 billion into it's Brazilian operations to keep the stampede going. Ford do Brasil has had 15 quarters of profit and earnings are up 72-percent over last year. The infusion of cash will go into Ford's local products, which will help the rest of their lineup come closer to the Edge's excellence.

Press release after the jump.

[Source: Ford]

click above image to view more photos of the 2008 Ford Fusion with Sport Package

Most here at Autoblog who have driven the Ford Fusion are a fan, though our one complaint that remains ignored is the car's lack of power. The 3.0L Duratic V6 with 221 HP just doesn't cut it for us. Instead of fixing the problem for 2008, Ford has instead decided to offer Fusion customers an optional Sport Appearance Package so your car will look faster than it really it is.

Available on both SE and SEL models, the Sport Package adds 18-inch machined aluminum wheels, a rear lip spoiler and body-color surrounds for the front fog lamps. I can feel the skin peeling back away from my face already. Inside Fusions with the option Sport Package will be charcoal black interior trim, contrasting red stitching and a brushed aluminum face plate for the center console. Also available are "red-splashed" cloth seat inserts or red leather inlays. These Fusions with the Sport Package will only be available in Black, Redfire Metallic, Vapor Silver and Silver Birch Metallic.

But wait, the Sport Package actually does add some go-fast hardware to the Fusion, including a more sporty tuned suspension with a larger rear stabilizer bar, stiffer springs and adjusted springs and dampers. Kudos for the components, but not even a freer breathing air filter or exhaust system for a half dozen more horsepower? Ah well, it'll only cost you $895, anyway.

Check out Ford's official press release after the jump and our high-res gallery of the 2008 Ford Fusion with Sport Package below.

[Source: Ford]

Despite not being official, we've known for some time that Ford CEO Alan Mulally wants to increase the number of platforms shared by its U.S. and European divisions. It's something Ford fanboys have been demanding for some time, and yesterday Mulally officially confirmed that the next-gen Focus and Fusion would be global vehicles, sharing platforms with their counterparts across the pond. This will be in addition to the B-class car that's coming in the form of the new European Fiesta small car that will slot below the Focus in Ford's U.S. lineup.

The amount of overlap between Ford in the U.S. and Ford of Europe was one of the first things that surprised Mulally when he arrived at Ford exactly one year ago. He's quickly set about fixing the redundancy, but we won't likely see the fruits of his labor until 2010 or 2011 when the next Focus is expected to debut for both markets.

Ford execs have said that these cars will wear different styling and be tuned differently, but we've heard from inside the Blue Oval that a conflict between U.S. and Euro designers is growing, with the former group upset that its delicate balance of three-bar grilles will be upset by the Fiesta, and possibly other models, arriving with FoE's "Kinetic Design" theme.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

Click the Fusion for high-res images from Bonneville

Matt Zuehlk and his team comprised of engineers and technicians from Ford, Roush and Ballard Power Systems finally hit the Bonneville Salt Flats this past weekend after months of preparation and weeks of vehicle integration testing. On Sunday, Driver Rick Byrnes made a qualification run at over 161 mph with the hydrogen fuel cell-powered Fusion.

Now the team will be spending the rest of this week working their way up to over 200 mph as they try to establish a land speed record for a production-bodied fuel cell car. The Ford team is also working with the Ohio State University team who are trying to get their Buckeye Bullet 2 streamliner up over 350mph.

[Source: Ford, via AutoblogGreen]

click above image to view a high-res gallery of the Fusion Muscle Car Knife

Upon first seeing the Fusion Muscle Car Knife by SOG, we instantly thought of Jr., Senior and Mikey Teutul from the Discovery Channel show American Chopper. Off the top of our heads we can remember Orange County Chopper building theme bikes for Intel, the Yankees, the movie Eragon, CAT, Gillete, LUGZ, Lincoln... the list goes on and on (you can actually see the entire list on the show's wikipedia page).

We've become so accustomed to themed bikes from the OC, a themed knife hardly requires a stretch of the imagination. SOG made sure to target our passion, as well, by choosing Muscle Cars as the theme of its newest knife, aptly named the Fusion Muscle Car Knife. Just like a Tuetul bike, the Muscle Car Knife features all sorts of details that link this blade with all manner of Muscle Era metal. Check out the wheel that turns when the knife is open and closed, as well as the fan belt and pulley array on the opposite side. There's custom racing stripes, an exhaust pipe, hood latch and license plate on the blade itself, a gear shifter clip and headlights (truth be told, we couldn't find what was supposed to represent the headlights, let us know if you do).

Unlike a bike built by Orange County Choppers, however, there's more than just one of the Fusion Muscle Car Knife and they're available to buy for an MSRP of $40 from the company's website.

[Source: FusionKnives.com]