With the new 2013 Ford Fusion, Ford is pitching what appears to be quite a game changer in Detroit. From design to drivetrain, the 2013 Fusion represents an evolutionary step forward for the brand, a vehicle that not only embraces the standards of next generation design and technology, it works to push those standards. We at TheCoolist are in Detroit for the North American International Auto Show, picking up the trail of a Ford story that began a year ago next month…
Last February, Ford revealed the Ford EVOS Concept, an aggressively-styled stunner with a hybrid heartbeat. From our perspective, the EVOS concept was a new direction for Ford, a move away from conservative design philosophies and that repeated razor-style grille. Today, the technology and design cues presented in the EVOS are embodied in the 2013 Ford Fusion, a vehicle that presents a whole lot of promise.
The new Ford Fusion is a clear step forward in styling. It feels almost European in design, giving a nod to Aston Martin up front and BMW in the back. Gone is the aforementioned razor-style grille, opting instead for an aggressive, slatted breather with headlight eyes perched above and behind. The hood features raised lines that add to the Fusion’s aggressive character, echoed on the sides on a continued angle. The rest of the vehicle is a bit more conservative, feeling like a comfort-class cruiser for a full family.
Where the new Ford Fusion really pushes the pedal is in the power department. The 2013 iteration provides a range of engine options all the way up to a plug-in hybrid system capable of 100 MPGe. This system puts it squarely in competition with the Chevy Volt, Toyota Prius and others as soon as it hits market. The plug-in model, dubbed Ford Fusion Energi, sits atop the 2013 Fusion offering, but the entry models present fuel savings as well. The base-model 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine presents 179 horsepower and up to 37 mpg on the freeway. In between these (and other) options is the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid, a non-plug system that provides 47 mpg in the city and up to 62 miles per hour on pure electric power.
We’re currently in Detroit, prepping for the 8:00 a.m. official reveal of the 2013 Ford Fusion on press day at the North American International Auto Show. As we get up close and personal with the new Fusion and others, we’ll share our impressions (and photographs) as they happen. Stay tuned…
