41 MPG! All-New Ford Fusion Hybrid Is Now America's Most Fuel-Efficient Mid-Size Car

[Fledermaus]

Fusion's advanced hybrid system features:

-- Smaller, lighter nickel-metal hydride battery, which produces 20 percent more power than Ford's previous hybrid system. The battery's improved chemistry allows it to be run at a higher temperature and cooled using cabin air.

-- New 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine (155 horsepower / 136 lb.-ft. of torque), which is mated to an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission.

-- Enhanced electronic throttle control, which reduces airflow on shutdowns, reducing fueling needs on restarts.

-- Smart climate control system, which monitors cabin temperature and only runs the gas engine as needed to heat the cabin. It also includes an electric air conditioning compressor to further minimize engine use.

-- Regenerative brake system, which captures the energy normally lost through friction in braking and stores it. Nearly 94 percent energy recovery is achieved by delivering full regenerative braking, which means only 6 percent of braking is through traditional friction brakes

http://sev.prnewswire.com/auto/20081223/CLTU01723122008-1.html

[NickB79]

1. Meh. The Toyota Prius was doing better than this 5 years ago. NT

[itsrobert]

2. What the fuck are you talking about?

It says for Mid-Size car, not a f'in compact. Learn to read. And why bash union made cars, just for the hell of it?

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[itsrobert]

10. Looks like it is a mid-size car

Oh well, it's still fucking ugly.

[tinrobot]

21. Compare it to the Camry, not the Prius.

Different body styles means different coefficient of drag and higher weight.

The Focus is a lot closer to a Camry in body style/weight/size.

[southerncrone]

35. The TRUE cost of a vehicle involves not only purchas price & operation costs, but

environmental cost to PRODUCE.

Here's the low-down on your beloved Prius:

http://clubs.ccsu.edu/recorder/editorial/editorial_item.asp?NewsID=188

Don't forget, the PROFITS for these & all foreign-owned car companies GOES BACK TO THE ORIGINATING COUNTRY--in the case of the Prius--JAPAN.

When will Americans wake up & start supporting their own country & it's citizens!

[Fledermaus]

3. I don't think the Prius has 94 percent energy recovery regenerative braking. n/t

[NickB79]

5. Yet it still gets higher mpg then the hybrid Fusion. nt

[itsrobert]

7. That's becuase the Prius is not a mid-size car

Can't you freakin' read?

[NickB79]

9. Rule #1: Always double-check claims made by a website called "PRNews.com". nt

[itsrobert]

11. Rule #2: Never get in the carpool lane behind a Prius

The cars not in the carpool lane will be passing you by.

[MelissaB]

13. You've never been in the car with me in my Prius then.

:hi:

[Fledermaus]

19. A friend's parents, who are in their 70s purchased a Prius.

They took it back because the acceleration wasn't good enough for them.

[populistdriven]

24. 1996 corolla owner - 160,000 miles - no smoke - LOVE IT!!!!! 30 MPG CITY

ITS PAID FOR

[Fledermaus]

31. Gosh, just think what kind of mileage the Prius could get if it had the same technology as Ford.

[DCKit]

39. AFAIK, batteries can't absorb a charge fast enough.

They need to throw some super-capacitors or hydraulic storage into the mix until Lithium batteries are ready for prime time.

[tinrobot]

16. Meh. Prius is made in Japan.

I'm probably one of the few people here who actually buys American hybrid cars. I feel like a one man bailout program.

I love my Ford Escape Hybrid. If the Fusion is of equal quality, it will be a great car.

[all.of.me]

18. Escape Hybrid owner here! Love it! nt

[Fledermaus]

20. The Fusion can be driven up to 47 mph on electric power alone

It will make a better plug in hybrid and its a bigger car even though its not a hatchback/station wagon

[lumberjack_jeff]

25. Who cares? The Ford is an american car.

That makes all the difference to me.

[madokie]

29. And they build top quality vehicles to top it off

anyone can do it just start paying attention to the old vehicles you see and you will see that theres way more old fords than any of the others, in some cases even more than all the others combined. Ford does and always have built good quality vehicles, I can't say it enough.

[Fledermaus]

32. Heck Yes!

I have a 91 Ford Ranger with 240,000+ miles.

[stuntcat]

12. lemme tell about our Saturn!!

This is fantastic and stuff.. yay!

I can't drive. But my husband has 98 Saturn, it's been a good little car.. AND WHEN WE MAKE TRIPS IT GETS 40 MPG! :headbang: The car won't last forever though, if/when it gives out (cross fingers) we're gonna get as efficient a car as we can. Both our parentses go for size with their autos but luckily we didn't inherit that crap.

[phantom power]

14. I always liked my 94 SL2.

We sold it and replaced it with our armored child transporation vehicle

[tvoss]

37. Saturn is awesome

We also get 40mpg on the highway in our 15 year old saturn. 35mpg in the city.

[DianeG5385]

15. I really like the Ford fusion!

This is good news, I've been looking at a sedan as a backup to my Subie, I may go check it out!

[hatrack]

17. I've heard & read lots of good things about it - CR gave it top marks in year 1 . . .

. . . which is most unusual for a new model.

It's based on the Mazda 6 platform, isn't it?

[madokie]

30. I think they share platforms with a mazda

ford and mazda develop platforms to fit both and have for a long time as they are jointly owned and operated.

[depakid]

22. It was definitely amusing to watch how the car commercials changed in the states

over the past year or so.

They went from "rugged..." read- big, aggressive- conspicuous excess, to emphasizing smaller, leaner and using terms like "best in class" to equivocate about fuel efficiency.

Suburu on the other hand had perhaps the worst timed commercial of the year- a guy with a two car garage, suburban house (ripe for foreclosure) describing how he and his wife were getting the new.improved. Forrester because it was BIGGER.

To my amazement, they kept running that spot well into the fall.

[Stand and Fight]

23. Link to press release:

http://www.ford.com/about-ford/news-announcements/press-releases/press-releases-detail/pr-2010-ford-fusion-hybrid-to-pace-29396

[Javaman]

26. wouldn't it be nice of they came out with a SMALL hybrid car that people of

modest means could actually afford?

I know, I know, I can dream.

[madokie]

28. I think part of the reason they don't is the size of the auto doesn't make much difference in cost

to manufacture. The price of the components to make that car what it is doesn't scale down in price so they are left with making a decision of what to build so for whatever reason they decided on a midsized auto. As more hybrids are built I'm sure they will start to offer the kinds of cars you or me, for that matter, would rather have. Thats kinda sorta what I think anyway

Merry Christmas to you, your family and friends.

[Danascot]

27. The Geo Metro in the early '90s

and the late 80s Honda Civic CRX regularly got over 50 mpg. So almost 20 years later we can't do better?

Admittedly these were quite small cars but they would get you there for most driving situations.

[CRF450]

38. Thats the main problem. Cars are getting damn heavy.

And that kills fuel economy. Its not so much as and engine rated 250+hp that does it, in fact engines themselves are getting more efficient. You look at a v8 in a truck thats lucky to get 21mpg on the highway, put that same engine in a lightweight aerodynamic car weighing no more 3200lbs and geared right, it'll get 30mpg HWY easy.

[Gregorian]

33. Here's one that gets 150 mpg.

http://www.afstrinity.com/

[southerncrone]

34. PLEASE! GO OUT & BUY ONE TODAY!

We need to become more pro-American, not flag-waving American, but supporting our fellow countrymen.

[n2doc]

36. 1. not available until late spring 2008. 2 made in MEXICO

Wish it wern't so, but is....

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/uptospeed/2008/12/ford-hybrid-rol.html

The made in mex crap really pisses me off....