No one knows yet how Ford of Canada will equip its Fusion models, so some of those things could become standard. Time will tell.
Notwithstanding the efforts to make Fusion stylish and comfortable, Ford also seems to have gone to a lot of trouble to make it fun to drive.
''Great ride and handling begins with a stiff chassis,'' says Brian Vought, Fusion's chief engineer, and the Fusion body structure boasts anticipated class-leading torsional rigidity -- 12.7 percent higher than the Mazda6. ''This allows the suspension to absorb driving harshness and respond more precisely to steering inputs,'' Vought notes.
Fusion has a four-wheel independent suspension, with a double ball-joint, short- and long-arm setup in the front and a multi-link rear design. The result is said to be a mid-size sedan with a ''confident yet comfortable ride around town, as well as athleticism and composure during hard cornering.''
The Fusion's steering blends great handling precision and exceptional straight-line stability, Vought says, as well as ''responsive and agile. We spent a lot of time to get just the right steering feel.''
While the design of the Fusion's front suspension geometry is central to the car's straight-line stability, a great deal of time also was spent on selecting the proper tires for optimum handling and suppleness, without sacrificing responsiveness and traction. So Fusion comes with a 16-inch base wheel with 60-series tires or an available 17-inch wheel with low-profile 50-series tires. Both are tuned for comfort and grip, yet with low rolling resistance for better fuel economy.
Fusion features standard four-wheel disc brakes and an optional four-sensor, three-channel anti-lock braking system with electronic brake force distribution (EBD). By measuring brake force and directing braking to the wheels that have the best grip, explains Vought, EBD helps achieve shorter stopping distances -- even before the ABS activates.
Vought makes the point that ''the soul of any driver's car is its engine, and Fusion offers a choice of Ford's 2.3-liter Duratec 23 I-4 or 3.0-liter Duratec 30 V-6. Both feature all-aluminum construction, dual overhead cams, four valves per cylinder, intake Variable Cam Timing and electronic throttle control to deliver smooth, spirited performance, along with good fuel economy and emissions ratings.''
The four-cylinder engine delivers 160 hp and can be paired with a five-speed manual or automatic transmissions.
For more power, the V-6 is supposed to go from 0 to 100 kmh in about 8.5 seconds, thanks in part to the wide 6:1 ratio span in the standard six-speed automatic transaxle.
Fusion safety technologies include Ford's Personal Safety System with dual-deployment front air bags, energy-absorbing safety belts and load-limiting retractors.
The system features Ford's intelligent air-bag technology, which tailors the inflation level of the front-passenger air bag based on the weight on the seat, crash severity and whether the safety belt is being used. On the driver's side, deployment of the air bag is tailored to the seat-track position, which takes account of the driver's distance from the wheel, as well as crash severity and safety-belt usage.
Fusion also offers seat-deployed torso bags for the front occupants, as well as a two-row air curtain that provides head protection from the A-pillar to the C-pillar. In what Vought calls a first for mid-size sedans, the air curtain features ''roll fold'' programming that deploys the air bags from the headliners alongside the interior panels and windows. If an occupant is resting his or her head against a window, the air bag is designed to slide between the glass and occupant as it fills.
In the fall of 2006, an optional all-wheel-drive system will be offered on Fusion, and a few years later there'll be a hybrid powertrain, making Fusion the fourth full hybrid in the Ford Motor Company stable, following the Ford Escape Hybrid, Mercury Mariner Hybrid and Mazda Tribute Hybrid.
photo:Ford Motor Company
Notwithstanding the efforts to make Fusion stylish and comfortable, Ford also seems to have gone to a lot of trouble to make it fun to drive.
''Great ride and handling begins with a stiff chassis,'' says Brian Vought, Fusion's chief engineer, and the Fusion body structure boasts anticipated class-leading torsional rigidity -- 12.7 percent higher than the Mazda6. ''This allows the suspension to absorb driving harshness and respond more precisely to steering inputs,'' Vought notes.
Fusion has a four-wheel independent suspension, with a double ball-joint, short- and long-arm setup in the front and a multi-link rear design. The result is said to be a mid-size sedan with a ''confident yet comfortable ride around town, as well as athleticism and composure during hard cornering.''
The Fusion's steering blends great handling precision and exceptional straight-line stability, Vought says, as well as ''responsive and agile. We spent a lot of time to get just the right steering feel.''
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Fusion features standard four-wheel disc brakes and an optional four-sensor, three-channel anti-lock braking system with electronic brake force distribution (EBD). By measuring brake force and directing braking to the wheels that have the best grip, explains Vought, EBD helps achieve shorter stopping distances -- even before the ABS activates.
Vought makes the point that ''the soul of any driver's car is its engine, and Fusion offers a choice of Ford's 2.3-liter Duratec 23 I-4 or 3.0-liter Duratec 30 V-6. Both feature all-aluminum construction, dual overhead cams, four valves per cylinder, intake Variable Cam Timing and electronic throttle control to deliver smooth, spirited performance, along with good fuel economy and emissions ratings.''
The four-cylinder engine delivers 160 hp and can be paired with a five-speed manual or automatic transmissions.
For more power, the V-6 is supposed to go from 0 to 100 kmh in about 8.5 seconds, thanks in part to the wide 6:1 ratio span in the standard six-speed automatic transaxle.
Fusion safety technologies include Ford's Personal Safety System with dual-deployment front air bags, energy-absorbing safety belts and load-limiting retractors.
The system features Ford's intelligent air-bag technology, which tailors the inflation level of the front-passenger air bag based on the weight on the seat, crash severity and whether the safety belt is being used. On the driver's side, deployment of the air bag is tailored to the seat-track position, which takes account of the driver's distance from the wheel, as well as crash severity and safety-belt usage.
Fusion also offers seat-deployed torso bags for the front occupants, as well as a two-row air curtain that provides head protection from the A-pillar to the C-pillar. In what Vought calls a first for mid-size sedans, the air curtain features ''roll fold'' programming that deploys the air bags from the headliners alongside the interior panels and windows. If an occupant is resting his or her head against a window, the air bag is designed to slide between the glass and occupant as it fills.
In the fall of 2006, an optional all-wheel-drive system will be offered on Fusion, and a few years later there'll be a hybrid powertrain, making Fusion the fourth full hybrid in the Ford Motor Company stable, following the Ford Escape Hybrid, Mercury Mariner Hybrid and Mazda Tribute Hybrid.
photo:Ford Motor Company
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