Ford Fusion Shows Versatility: Company rolls out parade of new models

The Big Three took up a lot of space with many cars, including the well-traveled Chevy Volt (now elevated to save GM’s bacon) and a concept Electric Jeep from Chrysler (yes but find me an outlet in the boonies); but it was Ford that was busiest with new models. If there were any sense of defeatism or impending doom from Ford, it sure didn’t show.

“At Ford we’re committed to have class-leading fuel economy in every new or significantly freshened car we bring to market,” said the spokesman from the stage.

The Toyota stand was within earshot. From over there, it sounded like: Bring ‘em on.

The Fusion Hybrid, for example: 39 mpg highway, or 5 mpg better than the Camry Hybrid. Forty-seven mph in pure electric mode, nearly twice as fast as others. Seven hundred miles on a tank of gas in the city, never mind how dizzy you’d get running around the block that many times.

Or, a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine for the 2010 Fusion (which will go on sale in early 2009), as well as an improved 3.0-liter V6 and also stuffing the Duratec 3.5-liter V6 into the Fusion; all are more powerful and fuel efficient than the previous engines. The I4 Fusion is 3 mpg better than the Honda Accord and the 3.0-liter V6 is 2 mpg better than the Camry, again, says Ford. All three engines use a new 6-speed automatic transmission, while the Accord and Camry only have five speeds, nya nya nya.

Other fuel-mileage winners in their class are the Flex, Focus and Escape.

Here’s how far Ford’s pendulum has swung: they were boasting that they were selling far fewer pickup trucks than before.

Or, as overheard under the big brass espresso machine: “Ford is in better shape than GM or Chrysler because the value of their stock started dropping a few years ago. They’ve been playing this game of correction and right-sizing for a longer time.”