Top Luxury Cars - The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid Road Test

There's a common misconception that U.S. automakers are behind some imports in technology and fuel efficiency. That may have been true some years ago, but it could not be further from the truth today. Both Ford and GM have become quality and fuel economy leaders in the last few years, especially from the highly competitive mid-size segment up. Chrysler still trails in both but is working hard and fast to catch up. Don't believe us? Check the numbers.

The EPA estimates for the ultra-fine new Fusion and Milan Hybrids are an impressive 41 mpg city and 36 highway, which beats Toyota's '09 mid-size Camry Hybrid by eight and two mpg, respectively. They are, Ford says, the most fuel-efficient midsized sedans in America.

The conventional Fusion and Milan, nicely restyled and much improved for 2010, offer the mid-size segment's best gasoline four-cylinder fuel economy, more powerful available V-6s, class-exclusive technologies, including blind spot detection and warning with cross traffic alert and Ford SYNC, and more total passenger and luggage capacity than the Camry. The Fusion's new look is more upscale, sportier and aerodynamically slicker. But the most exciting news is this all-new Fusion Hybrid. Together with its Mercury Milan Hybrid counterpart, it joins the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner (compact SUV) Hybrids to double both the size and volume of Ford Motor Co.'s hybrid lineup.

Among this next-generation system's key features are an ultra-efficient new 2.5-liter four-cylinder "Atkinson cycle" engine good for 155 hp and 136 lb.-ft. of torque mated to an electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission, or "e-CVT." Intake Variable Cam Timing (iVCT), enable seamless transitions from gas to electric and vice-versa, while both spark and cam timing are varied according to engine load to optimize efficiency and emissions. Enhanced electronic throttle control reduces airflow on shutdowns, which reduces fuel need on restarts, and a "wide-band lambda sensor" analyzes air-fuel ratios and adjusts the lean/rich mixture to keep the system in balance and minimize emissions.

The new 275-volt nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery is smaller, lighter and optimized to produce 20 percent more power. Cooled by cabin air, its improved chemistry allows it to run at higher temperatures, and an added variable voltage converter boosts voltage to the battery to operate the motor and generator more efficiently. A "smarter" climate control system with an electric air-conditioning compressor minimizes engine usage by running it only as needed for heating and cooling.

The brake system delivers full regenerative braking (when the drive motor becomes a generator), backed up by friction braking as needed, to capture nearly 94 percent of the energy normally lost through friction in braking and send it back to the battery. And, as we noticed during our drive, it delivers improved brake pedal feel compared to the previous system.

The hybrid system also allows the Fusion and Milan Hybrids to operate longer at higher speeds in electric mode than competitive systems. They can run up to 47 mph in pure electric mode, approximately double the speed of some competitors. "Because our hybrid can run at a much higher speed in electric mode, you can do so much more in city-driving situations," says Ford Hybrid Applications Manager Gil Portalatin. "Under the right conditions, you can drive in your neighborhood or in mall parking lots without using a drop of gasoline." With the 41 city and 36 hwy ratings, Fusion and Milan Hybrids can achieve a driving range of over 700 miles on a single tank of gas.

It uses two high-resolution, full-color liquid crystal display (LCD) screens flanking the speedometer that can be configured to show different levels of information. The approach is multi-layered: A tutorial mode helps drivers learn about its instruments and the system, while tech enthusiasts will enjoy detailed gauges that help them become more efficient. The system even "grows" vines and leaves on-screen to reward efficient driving.

Drivers can choose one of four data screens: The basic "Inform" screen displays fuel level and battery charge status; "Enlighten" adds an electric vehicle mode indicator and a tachometer; "Engage" adds engine output power and battery output power; and "Empower" adds power to wheels, EV power threshold and accessory power consumption. All levels can show instant fuel economy, fuel economy history, odometer, engine coolant temperature, transmission gear and trip data-fuel economy, time-elapsed fuel economy and miles to empty. There's even an engine coolant temperature indicator that turns green when the engine is warm enough to allow engine shut-off and restart for full EV operation.

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2010 Ford Fusion Sport AWD Car Gallery

2010 Ford Fusion Sport AWD Front View

2010 Ford Fusion Sport AWD Engine

2010 Ford Fusion Sport AWD Interior

2010 Ford Fusion Sport AWD Side View

2010 Ford Fusion Sport AWD Rear View

2011 Ford Mustang GT

Ford thought that by simply plunking a "5.0" badge on the flanks of its 2011 Mustang GT it was going to breathe new life into the less-and-less iconic muscle car — and it was right! The new V8 engine (all 302 cubic inches of it) pumps out a remarkable 412 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque while still returning an impressive 25 mpg on the highway. And it looks absolutely gorgeous nestled in the engine bay. Things get even better if you're a gearhead — you can now have real toys like Brembo brakes and sportier suspension.

2012 Ford Focus

The latest movement in Ford's effort to move European products stateside is the 2012 Focus. And like most sheet metal designed by Ford Europe, the Focus looks like it's going to sell by the caseload. The car will be available in both 4- and 5-door guise, and sources say that either one should return around 40 mpg highway. Power is provided by a 2.0-liter direct-injection 4-cylinder engine, which produces 155 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque and can be paired with either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

Ford Mondeo the Car That Evolves?

When it comes to choosing the best possible Saloon Cars, most car magazines or other Automotive mediums will inevitably point you in the direction of one particular make and model; the Ford Mondeo. The Ford Mondeo has been a consistent and popular seller since its release in 1993. Back then it was the replacement for the relatively popular Ford Sierra, which had been a good flagship model for Ford in the company car sector, but was beginning to lose steam. The Ford Mondeo was meant to reinvigorate the design and bring a more 'executive' edge to the manufacturer who were beginning to run out of ideas.

The Mondeo then began a 20+ year domination over the saloon car market, which is yet to dissipate thanks to Ford's constantly evolving design ethic. The current design falls into Ford's new 'Kinetic' design aesthetic, which is meant to represent the vehicle's movement even when it is standing stock still. This sounds a little bit 'clichéd' as far as design briefs go, but in practice it really works and looks rather striking.

In a rather crude experiment to see how the Ford Mondeo has evolved over time, I have spent the week comparing an original Mark 1 Mondeo to the new Mark 4 edition. Obviously first impressions are vastly differing; the Mk1 looks rather too much like the old Sierra for my liking, but is definitely a step in the right direction. In contrast, the MK4 looks like it was designed by Mercedes during a cloning of an SLK experiment gone wrong. In short, it looks fantastic.

The performance test confirms the new edition's clear dominance over the past incumbent. In a one lap time trial race of a 3.4 mile race track, there was a clear winner despite both cars having 2.0 Litre petrol engines. As if you hadn't guessed, the MK 4 won by a shamefully long 6.3 seconds.

So what we can agree on is that the Ford Mondeo's star is definitely still in its ascendency. Whether it will maintain its positive trajectory rather depends on Ford and the often fickle buying public.
Pete Ridgard is a writer and a car enthusiast. Here he discusses the continuing evolution of the Ford Mondeo.
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Lamborghini Gallardo Or Ford Focus?

Every single driver will obviously have differing categories and stipulations regarding what makes the perfect car. Some will be of the opinion that power, speed and performance are the mark of a truly great car and suggest that the Bugatti Veyron or something similar is the perfect car. Others will hold esteem in a more aesthetic nature and put forward cars such as the Bentley Continental and the Aston Martin Vanquish as the real purveyors of automotive perfection. I have always held the opinion that the truly great cars don't focus on one thing, but try to encapsulate the needs and desires of everyone into their designs and engineering. This is precisely why my favourite car is the brand new Ford Focus.

Now you may be laughing or deriding me for saying that I would rather own a Ford Focus than a Pagani Zonda or a Koenigsegg, but that simply isn't true. I would love to own one of the many supercars or hypercars that are available on the market and if you gave me £1 Million to spend on a car I wouldn't disappoint you. All I am trying to say that in a practical world the new Ford Focus is a lot less likely to frustrate you than a supercar. Let me explain.

First of all you have fuel efficiency to take into consideration. Ford have become synonymous with engineering which seems to sip very frugally at the fuel reserves and the Focus is no different. With economical driving disciplines in place it is possible to get supermini standard fuel economy from a Ford Focus. This leaves you with more money in your wallet and having to spend less time stood at the pumps, refilling every few hours.

Secondly the issue of practicality has to be addressed. Everybody has to do a weekly shop, or pick up comestible goods from town. In a Ford Focus this is a relatively painless task. Parking is very easy, boot space is magnificent and thanks to the Ford Focus' 'understated' beauty, it won't attract vandals to pull it to bits. Adversely, if you choose to do your food shopping in your new Ferrari 599, you are going to find parking excruciatingly difficult, discover you only have the luggage space to fit a small punnet of Satsumas and the vandals will tear your Ferrari badge and wing mirrors off before you can even say "hands off my car!"

I will admit, owning a supercar would be a dream come true, I have a very soft spot for the Lamborghini Gallardo myself, but in an increasingly practical world, it becomes almost impossible to think of an apt time to use one. With the cost of petrol, the congestion on the roads and the increasing number of uninsured drivers on the road, why would any drive for pleasure?

Take my advice and get the best practical car money can buy; the brand new Ford Focus. You will get great performance and fantastic economy, just don't expect 0-60 in under three and a half seconds.

Pete Ridgard has been a writer and a car enthusiast for many years. Here he discusses the competition between the Ford Focus and Supercars, with unexpected results.

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The Ford Capri

Not too many cars enjoy a forty-year run, but the Ford Capri is turning forty this year, and that's something to be celebrated. Sure, it's not manufactured anymore but that doesn't mean that it's not still very popular. People still have them, and they drive them a lot. There are clubs for the Capri, too, and several dealers are having parties and other events to celebrate the car. It was a muscle car, and it had an iconic place in car history, mostly in the seventies.

The sixties and the eighties enjoyed it, too, but it wasn't as big in those particular decades as it was during the seventies. That's really the place that it has in the history of the motor car - as a seventies muscle car that big, tough guys liked to drive really fast. It made them cool, apparently, and a lot of them have kept these cars, re-purchased one for a dash of nostalgia, and passed them down to their children. It's helped to keep the Capri popular, like some other cars that have also enjoyed long-term manufacturing runs and didn't die out even when the company stopped making them.

The idea that dealers are so interested in these cars is a great one, because it means that the people who enjoy them and who still appreciate them can see these cars officially celebrated at a dealership instead of only seeing them honoured in backyard and block parties where Capri owners get together to swap stories and talk about how they feel about their cars.

These are fun, too, and will no doubt take place, but they aren't the same as gathering at a dealership to formally recognize the Capri and the place that the car has created for itself in motoring history. The types of events that will be taking place will depend on the dealers, of course, because everyone has a different idea of what constitutes a party. Ford might also have specific criteria for its dealerships, but whatever is done it promises to be a good time for the dealerships and the people who love their Ford Capris.

This article was written by Tom Sangers on behalf of Foray Vans who offer the Ford Ranger.

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The 1987 Ford F-150

Motor vehicle defect attorneys will admit that the 1987 Ford F-150 poses serious fire dangers when involved in a car collision. In 1995, a 24-year-old landscape foreman was driving his 1987 Ford F-150 truck on Route 97 in Maryland. When another truck crossed the center line and collided with the truck, the F-150 burst into flames. The man was trapped inside and conscious for several minutes as bystanders tried to free him. He subsequently suffered third-degree burns over 65 percent of his body and lost his right arm and right leg. His medical bills totaled $1.4 million, and he expects his future medical expenses to be in the millions of dollars.

The foreman driving the F-150 truck filed suit against Ford, his auto product liability attorney alleging that design problems--specifically the lack of an anti-siphoning device--in the1987 F-150 pickup allowed gasoline to pour out of the tank after the car collision and fuel the fire. His product liability attorney further alleged that the F-150's seat belt was defective because it would not open after the impact, thus trapping the foremen in a burning vehicle.

In a post-crash vehicle fire, a critically important defect is gas tank siphoning. Sparks from the cars electrical components, metal scraping metal on metal scraping roadway can ignite the siphoned fuel. Most cars manufactured after the early 1980s have three fuel lines: supply, return, and vapor lines. Siphoning occurs most often in the return line or supply line. It can be prevented in many cases by a variety of simple, inexpensive safety valves that were available years before the 1987 F-150 truck was manufactured. Ford documents from as early as the 1970s discuss the various checks or shutoff valves that would remedy this potential hazard.

Ford's experts testified that the F-150's fire was fed by brake fluid, not gasoline, and that a check valve would not have prevented the foreman's personal injuries. Experts countered, claiming the fire was fed by 12 to 16 gallons of gasoline.

This is another example where an inexpensive part could have saved both plaintiff and defendant a lot of suffering and expense. In this case, a $1 part that was installed in other cars might have prevented gasoline from spilling out, horribly burning and permanently maiming a young man. It also could have saved Ford millions of dollars.

After a four-week trial, a Baltimore jury awarded the foreman over $26 million in damages. This included $15 million in non-economic damages, which was reduced by the Court to $500,000, the maximum apparently allowed under Maryland law. The award was one of the largest in Maryland's history. The foreman plans to use the money to continue therapy and obtain artificial limbs.

Ford insisted that the product defect allegations lacked merit and that the jury was swayed by overwhelming sympathy for injured victim and the personal injuries he sustained.

In choosing to leave out a $1 part that other vehicles had wisely incorporated, Ford jeopardized the safety of its customers. The foreman's action in taking Ford to court clearly shows how our justice system works to compensate those who have been needlessly injured. The jury's award is America's message to Ford that their failure to act was not acceptable. Hopefully, this lawsuit will help convince Ford to respond effectively to known safety defects to prevent further serious personal injuries.

We extend our sincerest sympathies to the injured foremen for all the pain and personal injuries he has suffered. We wish him well.

Since their founding in 1978, Bisnar Chase lawyers have represented over four thousand people in car, motorcycle, truck, pedestrian and other personal injury cases. The law firm has an "AV" rating, the highest level of professional excellence, by Martindale-Hubble. John Bisnar, who is the author of this article, and his partner Brian Chase each have a "10" Avvo rating, the highest possible. John was named a "Community Hero" by the United Way, while Brian was named a "Trial Lawyer of the Year" in 2004 and one of the 2007 Top 100 Trial Lawyers. More important than all their top ratings and awards are the testimonials their clients bestow on them. Aren't these the type of guys you want representing you? For more information on motor vehicle defect attorneys, visit the Bisnar Chase web site at http://www.bestattorney.com or call 1-800-561-4887.

Copyright 2009 Bisnar Chase LLP. All Rights Reserved

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