2010 Ford Fusion/ Mercury Milan hybrids coming out this

[doc03]

spring are certified by the EPA at 41 MPG city and 36 MPG highway. Beating the Toyota Camry hybrid by 8 MPG city and 2 MPG highway, it also tops the smaller and lighter Honda Civic hybrid in MPG.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/23/ap/business/main4683743.shtml

[Swamp Rat]

1. I'm waiting for the fully electric models, like the Chevy Volt.

http://gm-volt.com/2008/12/19/gm-vp-gives-chevy-volt-update/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Volt

[sabbat hunter]

2. Fully electric cars

are NG for us city dwellers.

[Swamp Rat]

4. Fully electric cars are best suited for city dwellers,

especially those who normally bicycle to work or school. The average round-trip commute in the U.S. is 20 miles according to the 2000 report from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, which leaves a lot of reserve battery power left for errands.

[sabbat hunter]

13. Oh yeah

Where is the average city dweller going to recharge? You park on the street, sometimes blocks from your apartment/house (depending on your neighborhood. Lucky for me most times I find a spot on my block)

[doc03]

7. I think the Volt looks excellent for city driving

but the Fusion would be a better all around car. Hasn't GM said they haven't even fully developed a battery for it yet. From what I read the Fusion will also run on full battery power up to 47 MPH, that should cover most all city driving. How does a hybrid's heater work with no gas engine, do they have electric resistance elements?

[sabbat hunter]

14. Where is the city dweller

going to plug in to recharge?

[sabbat hunter]

15. Where is the city dweller

going to plug in to recharge?

[madrchsod]

3. the ford escape hybrid platform has the same mpg as camry hybrid

the fusion/milan are world class automoblies

[screembloodymurder]

5. If only they could design a car that didn't look like a 1970 reject.

WTF is up with their design teams.

[doc03]

6. What are you talking about every article

I have seen in automotive magazines compliment the styling on the Fusion. If you ask me I think Toyota could certainly improve the Prius design, that's the biggest reason I wouldn't by one. I want a car that looks like a regular car, the Civic hybrid appeals more to my tastes. The new Honda Accord is another car that looks like it was designed by a committee.

[blue_onyx]

8. I think the Fusion is a nice looking car.

...a whole lot better looking than the Camry and Accord. The Escape, however, needs to be updated.

[screembloodymurder]

19. What would you expect to autozines to say?

They say what their advertiser's want them to say. You're entitled to your opinion. Like they say, there's no accounting for taste.

[dysfunctional press]

9. i couldn't agree more...

when carmakers switched to wind tunnels and computers to design their cars, style went out the window and hasn't been seen since.

[bullwinkle428]

10. To clarify, the Civic Hybrid is rated at 40 mpg city, 45 mpg highway -

the Ford/Mercury platform apparently has a stronger electric motor relative to the gasoline engine, thus accounting for the better city performance.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/hybrid_sbs.shtml

[ContinentalOp]

11. Wow, this looks pretty interesting and I was bummed that I just bought a Prius...

until I looked up the Fusion's pricetag. $27,000 for the base model!

http://www.leftlanenews.com/ford-fusion-hybrid.html

[doc03]

16. The price in line with the Camry hybrid it is intended to

compete with. It is a bigger car than the Prius and in my opinion much better looking.

[Orsino]

12. Looks good.

Not a great time to announce this forthcoming release, with the economy in collapse and gas prices so low.

[doc03]

17. You got that right, with the gas prices low

will people pay the extra premium for a hybrid or go back to their old gas guzzlers? I really think the Big 3 have gotten a bad rap here, the American people have the attention span of a dog. If gas goes up they suddenly want a hybrid the gas goes down or we get a good snow they want a SUV, who could predict what Americans want. Last year the Prius wasn't all that popular the dealers had plenty now this year there is a waiting list. I was just talking to a guy a couple hours ago that bought a leftover 2007 Silverado crew cab diesel pickup it stickered for $43000 and he got it for $23000.

[Selatius]

18. One thing I like about Fusions, regular and hybrid, is the chrome three-bar grill. It's stylish.

And it only complements the body, especially the black paint models.

[cornermouse]

20. My Honda Civic hybrid has gotten 47 mpg combined highway/city

when I was driving conservatively, 40 when I drive normally (probably best described as lead foot). Ford/Mercury is going to have to do better than that before I give up my Civic.