What is it?
Ford Fusion
What's special about it?
The Fusion is Ford's barometer to gauge how consumers will receive a crossover vehicle that combines the driving attributes of a car and the versatile aspects (tallness) of an SUV. To appeal to city dwellers, the four-passenger vehicle's petite dimensions, thanks to a wheelbase of 98 inches (that's 5 inches shorter than a Focus!), should be able to squeeze in and out of holes in traffic as well as impossible parking spaces.
The concept features upscale doodads such as bi-xenon headlamps and a navigation system that combines telematic functions, as well as a multimedia system with Internet, video game and DVD capability.
The Fusion is powered by a turbocharged 1.1-liter three-cylinder direct-injection spark-ignition engine (DISI) producing 110 horsepower and 117 pound-feet of torque. It's mated to a durashift electronic select transmission that uses electronic actuation motors in shift and clutch operations, resulting in a 4 to 8 percent savings in gas mileage.
Why should you care?
No matter what the pundits say, people are still buying (and manufacturers are still making money from the sale of) SUVs. Ford follows the Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe twins for the sport-ute built on a compact car chassis. This vehicle seems adept for foreign markets, which are more accepting of small vehicles. — Liz Kim
Ford Fusion
What's special about it?
The Fusion is Ford's barometer to gauge how consumers will receive a crossover vehicle that combines the driving attributes of a car and the versatile aspects (tallness) of an SUV. To appeal to city dwellers, the four-passenger vehicle's petite dimensions, thanks to a wheelbase of 98 inches (that's 5 inches shorter than a Focus!), should be able to squeeze in and out of holes in traffic as well as impossible parking spaces.
The concept features upscale doodads such as bi-xenon headlamps and a navigation system that combines telematic functions, as well as a multimedia system with Internet, video game and DVD capability.
The Fusion is powered by a turbocharged 1.1-liter three-cylinder direct-injection spark-ignition engine (DISI) producing 110 horsepower and 117 pound-feet of torque. It's mated to a durashift electronic select transmission that uses electronic actuation motors in shift and clutch operations, resulting in a 4 to 8 percent savings in gas mileage.
Why should you care?
No matter what the pundits say, people are still buying (and manufacturers are still making money from the sale of) SUVs. Ford follows the Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe twins for the sport-ute built on a compact car chassis. This vehicle seems adept for foreign markets, which are more accepting of small vehicles. — Liz Kim
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