Ford Fusion hybrid: 47/47/47 MPG

Well, regardless of whether or not it competes with the Prius, at least Ford is pushing hard. They didn't take the bailout and they seem to be focused (no pun intended) on the right things. I am very impressed with Ford overall as a car company. Despite no bailout and having to pay union wages/benefits, they are more than competing, they are a front runner. Good job to Ford Management. Give them a bonus and take away the bonus' given to GM and Chrysler (or should I say FIAT) execs. It just goes to show that sound business practices and proactive management is what it takes to be, and remain competitive in any industry.

 

Or maybe all these fuel efficient vehicles are just borrowed from Ford Europe?

The Ford Focus, the Fiesta and now the Fusion/Mondeo Mk5; which looks very very similar to the Mark 4 European Ford Mondeo it is replacing;

Ford Mondeo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

They are world cars. The focus was taken directly from ford europe. The fusion/mondeo is more a clean sheet design that combines what ford considered the best of both vehicles. When more get on the streets we will see if the fusion/mondeo is as successful as the focus.

 

They're World cars in that the latest versions were designed from a clean sheet but copying significantly from the previous Euro only version. The latest Fiesta is a natural progression of the earlier Fiesta that's been sold in Europe (actually most places other than the US). The new Fusion is a redesign of the Mk4 Mondeo as shown in my earlier picture. The design cues are all there. Then you have the Transit connect and I understand the larger Ford Transit panel van is heading your way too. I'm trying to think of which US model Fords have made their way over here. Erm, I think we got the Ford Explorer for a few years in the 1990's before its thirst for fuel finished it off.

I guess it makes sense really. Fuel costs are heading up so why not use expertise on one of your other divisions that already makes economical vehicles?

If only GM followed suit, rather than trying to push things the other way.

I think Ford management are switched on and will find success. World cars are probably the way to go now. Any company that doesn't will fail.

 

Ford's current CEO, Alan Mulally, is actually an engineer. Not some business suit, and is focused more on making a quality product.

Fiat's CEO has the same background, which is why have some hope Chrysler will turn around.

 

The original Taurus was an Euro Ford, and the model held best selling mid-size sedan before the Camry claimed the title. Same with the original Escort.

A flaw of old Ford was letting the North American and European models diverge, and eventual languish over here. Mulally brought back the Taurus name plate on the Five Hundred, which should have been the new Taurus from the beginning.

Along with the efficiency expertise, it seems from comments I've seen through the years many here preferred the European styling over the American counterpart.

 

I have no interest personally in a larger sedan, but I am happy Ford is making a credible hybrid in a different niche than the Prius. When we can look at the spectrum of car niches and find a well designed hybrid (and/or EV) from some company in every category, we have won.

Ford has been producing quality hybrids in the categories it has chosen. No wild claims of 230 MPG or better aerodynamics than a Prius, just good workmanship.

 

Focus was the euro focus. Ford tried going cheaper with the american version on the last generation, and it did not work. The european focus seems to do well here. We will see in the next generation if it is designed as a world car as the mondeo/fusion has been.

The reason they were different was the american vehicles were less expensive to manufacture. Ford has learned some cost cutting, and has abandoned some of its cheap manufacturing ways.

The cruze is also european in roots, but not the malibu.

 

I'm also curious how Ford ended up with the impressive EPA results. If the cycle allows a significant amount of coasting between 46 and 62 mph the Ford would have a nice advantage.

And of course any potential customer who otherwise likes the Ford and can take advantage of this difference will be happy.

 

2014 Ford Mondeo Wagon - Top Speed

For those interested in a bigger hybrid wagon, its likely to be sold in europe in 2013 or 2014. We don't know if it will make it to america.

 

Which Euro Ford?

 

The Ford Taurus was a 100% Ford America design, though the confusion could be that the Taurus looks similar (using the word lightly) to the European Ford Sierra which was released in 1982. Alternatively, they could be confusing the US Ford Taurus with the German Ford Taunus which was more commonly named the Ford Cortina in most English speaking and/or RHD markets.

Clear as mud?

Ford Sierra - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ford Taunus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ford Taurus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

My bad on the Taurus.

What I read years ago must of been confused by the Taunus.

 

To add to the confusion, the Sierra was imported into the us and sold as the Merkur in the late 1980s. They sold very few of them, nice enough car but not really marketed.

 

Not surprised with a name like that!

The sports version in the late 1980's was almost unbeatable (for a 4 cylinder) and it got a bad reputation here as a crims getaway motor. Quite rare now as they were almost all nicked and used that way.

Ford Sierra RS Cosworth - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

The competition between Ford and Toyota is a good thing, for us all. With essentially the same technology there is not much difference between the two vehicles except which one is newer.

With the Prius and the TCH and the FFH the two companies are playing 'leapfrog' with each newer model better than the other's most recent iteration. Good for Ford if it does get 47/47/47.

Two-and-a-half years from now when the next Gen Camry arrives it too should have Li-Ion batteries ( or something more advanced ) and hop over the 2013 FFH. Just before that though the Gen 4 Prius will have arrived with what should be a significant improvement of its own.

Go, Ford. Go, Toyota.

 

Test drives are essentially the single worst way to judge the fuel economy of any vehicle excluding the EVs. Most test drives are 5 miles or less in distance. On such a short drive the vehicle has had no chance to warm up the ICE.

On a longer drive of 40 - 100 miles I'm absolutely certain that the TCH gets exactly what it's supposed to get. In fact I've had non-hybrid Camrys on loan while my Prius was in the shop. With the I4 travelling over the same 75 mile commute as I do with my Gen 2 Prius, in the same conditions and at the same speeds I am easily able to attain mid-40s mpg as long as I'm moving. The non-hybrids however lose significantly vis-a-vis the hybrids in stop and start conditions. Overall though, 37-38 mpg was my average after a 3 week 'test drive' over four full tanks with the non-hybrids.

I'd be very confident of reaching 40-43 mpg in a TCH in the same conditions.

 

That was my point about test drives. Not only are they short drives, some testers will drive them more aggressive, or leave them idling for longer while checking out all the cabin goodies. All of which can bring down the car's reported mpg.

Which brings us back to the 36mpg the one review reported for the Fusion hybrid. It was at a press event in which the conditions were the same as for a test car at a dealer. Any economy numbers from such are as useful as from a test drive. In other words, not much use at all.

The best way for a prospective buyer to determine how well they'll do it terms of economy is to keep accurate records of how they're doing with their current car. I beat EPA even when dropping the hypermiling techniques now. So it's a good bet I'll do so with a Fusion. I believe most of the complaints of not getting EPA we've seen recently were by people who had no idea how bad they were doing with their old car.