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2013 Ford Fusion Preview

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Mike Goetz
New sedan gets three four-cylinder engines and two hybrid versions -- including a plug-in
Ford is also crowing about the efficiency of Fusion’s other models: The 1.6L EcoBoost with automatic is projected to achieve 26/37 US mpg city/highway (9.0/6.4 L/100km), the 2.0L EcoBoost is projected to achieve 23/33 US mpg city/highway (10.2/7.1 L/100km) while the Hybrid and Energi should achieve 47/44 US mpg city/highway (5.0/5.3 L/100km).

2013 Ford Fusion Energi front 3/4 view
The efficiency of the Hybrid and Energi should achieve 47/44 US mpg city/highway (5.0/5.3 L/100km). (Photo: Ford)

Stop-start system
The Fusion will also be North America’s first mainstream vehicle available with a stop-start feature – for now the system is only available as an option on 1.6L EcoBoost models fitted with automatic transmissions.

According to Marakby, the system helps reduce fuel consumption by about 3.5 percent. “But in purely city cycles, where there is more stop and go, we’ve seen as much as a 10 percent increase,” says Marakby.

New face of Ford
But back to the sleek looks… Chris Hamilton, chief exterior designer for Fusion, says the automaker determined that customers in this segment were more than ready for “something different.”

Ford’s design language, known as Kinetic and promising “energy in motion,” was given a new version, called Kinetic 2.0, at the Frankfurt show via the Evos Concept. Fusion is the first production Ford to be rendered in Kinetic 2.0.

Highlights include a new fascia design heralded as the “new face of Ford” for its midsize and smaller vehicles. Ford’s trapezoidal grille gets mounted higher than previously, features a flush-mounted Ford emblem, sculpted hood, and incredibly thin headlights – only 100 mm at the deepest points.

2013 Ford Fusion front view
Highlights include a new fascia design heralded as the “new face of Ford” for its midsize and smaller vehicles. (Photo: Ford)
Mike Goetz
Mike Goetz
Automotive expert