2006-12-12 06:18:51Mike O’Lee
Ford Fusion
There is no car carries more expectation in Ford’s stable than the new Fusion. This is the car Ford lining up against the perennial power hitters such as Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. How good is this new Fusion? Let’s find out.
Unconventional styling was heavily influenced by the 427 show car. It is both beautiful and eye catching, totally different from any mid-size family cars on the road. When Ford first shown the prototype in this year’s Detroit Auto Show, over a hundred thousand show goers expressed interest to purchase the car. We think from the styling point of view, Ford has a hit on their hand.
We were invited to the Pomona Race Way to do some preview driving during a Ford event. The car provided was the V6 SEL version. The engine is the familiar Duratec 3.0L V6, produces 221 hp in this guise. However, Ford fitted a rare 6 speed automatic transmission with this V6 engine. The shifting is smooth and precise.
The interior of the Fusion is well designed. The cabin was lined with soft touching material through out. Leather covered seats boast a beautiful baseball style stitching. Black piano lacquer finish ornate the beautiful dashboard. There are generous head and leg rooms for both driver and passengers.
We were only allowed to do a couple of lapses in a closed circuit. The circuit was set up to simulate some situations we might see on daily drives such as hairpins, quick lane changes, and some straight away acceleration. We found the chassis and suspension very well tuned; there was little understeer and body roll was kept at a minimum by family sedan standard. Throughout the few quick corners, the car felt composed and easy to manage. Unfortunately we could not do more testing during the event.
Prices start at around $17k for a 4 cylinder version. The fully loaded SEL V6 should go for around $22k, which is couple thousands cheaper than the competitors. From our limited exposure, we think Ford has a winner at its hand. We can’t wait until we can get a sample to do our usual week long testing.
Unconventional styling was heavily influenced by the 427 show car. It is both beautiful and eye catching, totally different from any mid-size family cars on the road. When Ford first shown the prototype in this year’s Detroit Auto Show, over a hundred thousand show goers expressed interest to purchase the car. We think from the styling point of view, Ford has a hit on their hand.
We were invited to the Pomona Race Way to do some preview driving during a Ford event. The car provided was the V6 SEL version. The engine is the familiar Duratec 3.0L V6, produces 221 hp in this guise. However, Ford fitted a rare 6 speed automatic transmission with this V6 engine. The shifting is smooth and precise.
The interior of the Fusion is well designed. The cabin was lined with soft touching material through out. Leather covered seats boast a beautiful baseball style stitching. Black piano lacquer finish ornate the beautiful dashboard. There are generous head and leg rooms for both driver and passengers.
We were only allowed to do a couple of lapses in a closed circuit. The circuit was set up to simulate some situations we might see on daily drives such as hairpins, quick lane changes, and some straight away acceleration. We found the chassis and suspension very well tuned; there was little understeer and body roll was kept at a minimum by family sedan standard. Throughout the few quick corners, the car felt composed and easy to manage. Unfortunately we could not do more testing during the event.
Prices start at around $17k for a 4 cylinder version. The fully loaded SEL V6 should go for around $22k, which is couple thousands cheaper than the competitors. From our limited exposure, we think Ford has a winner at its hand. We can’t wait until we can get a sample to do our usual week long testing.
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