1958 Thunderbird

COTY award

In 1949, Motor Trend became the first U.S. magazine to offer a Car of the Year award. For the next 50 years, it was handed out to domestic vehicles only (an Import Car of the Year category was established in 1970 and the two were combined for the 2000 award year).

As hindsight is inevitably 20/20, it’s easy to knock some of the past recipients, such as the 1971 Chevrolet Vega (with its engine block design that led to a history of head gasket failures), the 1980 Chevrolet Citation (that set a new standard in fwd-induced torque steer) and the 1983 AMC/Renault Alliance (which has been universally acknowledged to have been perhaps the magazine’s greatest faux pas).

But that being said, the Motor Trend Car of the Year award has also been bestowed on many of the most historically significant vehicles to grace our roads, including the 1958 Ford Thunderbird, the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado, the 1968 Pontiac GTO, the 1985 Volkswagen GTI, the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette and the 2005 Chrysler 300.

2010 nominees

For 2010, there were 23 contenders for the Motor Trend COTY award. As usual, vehicle eligibility is determined by a totally new or substantial redesign and all vehicles must have been available for sale between now and November 1st of the previous year. The list for 2010 was comprised of the following vehicles:

BMW 7 Series
BMW Z4
Buick LaCrosse
Chevrolet Camaro
Ford Mustang
Ford Fusion
Ford Taurus /SHO
Honda Insight
Hyundai Genesis Coupe
Kia Forte Koup
Kia Soul
Lexus HS 250h
Mazda3
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan
Nissan 370Z
Nissan Cube
Porsche Panamera
Subaru Legacy
Suzuki Kizashi
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Golf /GTI
Volkswagen Routan

2010 Ford Fusion

In a first-ever live webcast event, Motor Trend announced this afternoon that the entire 2010 Ford Fusion model line had taken the honors for the 2010 Motor Trend Car of the Year.

“Ford has proven its resilience in these tough times by delivering to market a car with broad appeal to a broad range of consumers,” said Angus MacKenzie, MOTOR TREND editor-in-chief. “The Fusion range has matured into a competitive roster of midsize sedans, able to compete with sales juggernauts such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. It is no surprise the Fusion now ranks in the top 10 best-selling cars in America.”

Mark Fields, Angus MacKenzie, Derrick Kuzak

There to receive the award for Ford Motor Company was a plethora of executives from the company, including Mark Fields, executive vice president of the company and president, The Americas.

“The MOTOR TREND Car of the Year award is another testament of our commitment to delivering a world-class car lineup,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Ford Global Product Development, who accepted the golden calipers on behalf of the Ford team. “Whether it is the best-in-class fuel economy or quality unsurpassed by Toyota or Honda, the Fusion and Fusion Hybrid are clear evidence that Ford is serious about our car lineup.”

3d Carbon Mustang

Not your ordinary show

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (originally the Speed Equipment Market Association) was formed in 1963 by such automotive luminaries as Roy Richter of Bell Auto Parts (Cragar Equipment, Bell Helmets), Dean Moon of Moon Equipment Company and Ed Iskenderian of ISKY Racing Cams fame.

The association now consists of over 7,000 companies and annually sponsors the SEMA Show that is held every year in Las Vegas as part of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week. Unlike other auto shows, SEMA is reserved for manufacturers, buyers, exhibitors and members of the media and is not open to the general public.

Nonetheless, the annual SEMA extravaganza attracts more than its share of attention, in large part due to the many over-the-top concept vehicles that have become a mainstay of the show. So in that light, we present some of this year’s highlights:

Vaughn Gittin Jr Mustang

Ford

Ford is at the top of the list this year in no small part due to its position as featured automaker at this year’s show.

Paul's High Performance Mustang

Mustang

As part of the pony car’s 45th year, Ford recently launched a web site, www.the2010Mustang.com, that allows users to customize their own virtual Mustangs online. In just over 2 months, more than 1 million custom ‘Stangs have been created on the site.

At the SEMA show, itself, no fewer than eight Mustangs, customized by various companies, including Ford, will be present on the show floor.

mobsteel Taurus SHO

Taurus

The new 2010 Ford Taurus will appear at the show for the first time this year. Mobsteel of Brighton, Michigan has produced a menacing blacked-out version of the Taurus SHO, while MRT-Direct of Plymouth, Michigan has one that features a brilliant red exterior with candied cherry roof and a custom hood.

MRT Ford Fusion T4

Fusion

MRT-Direct also had a hand in customizing a 2010 Ford Fusion, giving a metallic blue model a black out roof, hood and spoiler while adding an intercooled turbocharger, coil-over suspension and six-speed manual transmission.

all images courtesy of Ford Motor Company

From tailfins to connectivity

You’ve come a long way, baby. Here at LotPro.com, we can remember when it used to be all about tailfins. Back in the 60’s, car manufacturers – at least here in the U.S. – raced each other to see who could come out with the most outlandish tailfin design (in the end, it had to be the ’59 Cadillac). But in the new millennium, the latest consumer hot button seems to be all about affordable vehicle connectivity.

In a move that seems to have been every bit as prescient as hocking Ford up to its eyeballs as he did in 2006, CEO Alan Mulally formed a partnership with Microsoft that same year and announced that the new technology, called SYNC, would become available in 12 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models later that year.

More importantly, the decision was made to make the technology affordable ($395 as a stand-alone option and included at no cost on some trim levels – even in the Ford Focus) and to make it available across the entire vehicle lineup, not just the company’s luxury brands (its first production application was, in fact, in the Focus).

The payoff

Both decisions seem to have worked out brilliantly. In a world in which most automakers charge $1,000 or more for their infotainment systems, SYNC, which offers voice-activated, hands-free calling, audible text messages, calling features such as conference calling and call waiting, voice-activated music, voice recognition, ring tone support, phonebook transfer and a multilingual interface, is certainly a relative bargain. Since the system was introduced, Ford has sold many vehicles based, all or in part, on the fact that they were equipped with SYNC.

One particular advantage of a software-based system like SYNC is the ability to expand its applications. 2008 saw two application upgrades, Vehicle Health Report and 911 Assist™ while a new application, Traffic, Directions and Information, will be available this summer.

One million and counting

Since its introduction, SYNC has become synonymous with Ford. According to the company, more than 80 percent of the vehicles it sells in North America are equipped with the system.

Ford recently announced that it had delivered the 1 millionth SYNC equipped vehicle, a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid (coincidence? I think not) to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Not only that, but the guy who schlepped the vehicle to Microsoft headquarters was none other than Ford CEO Alan Mulally (such a deal).

“We have made a commitment to deliver the vehicles that people really want and value,” Mulally said. “The success of SYNC is another proof point that we are doing just that. We will continue to innovate and expand the capability of SYNC by integrating even more new technologies that fit our customers’ lifestyles.”

Heute, Amerika, morgen die Welt (today America, tomorrow, the world)

So where does Ford go from here? “Working with Microsoft and other key technology partners, we’ve made Ford the connectivity leader in the auto industry,” said Jim Buczkowski, director of electrical and electronic systems. “We do not plan to stand still; we have several additional developments in the pipeline, including launching SYNC in Europe and around the world.”

Cadillac and Hyundai biggest winners

Here at LotPro.com, we see where AutoPacific today released its 13th annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA) based on the results of a national survey of over 25,000 new vehicle owners and lessees.

Hyundai Genesis

Noting that the current survey was conducted “in the most challenging auto sales market in years,” the company also announced that “even with the turmoil surrounding General Motors,” Cadillac, for the second year in a row, ranked highest with new car owners and took the Highest Satisfaction Brand award.

Another bright spot in the survey was Hyundai, which climbed 11 places in the overall standings, more than any other manufacturer in the survey, earning itself the Rising Star award for 2009. Not only did the company score more points in 40 of 48 rating categories over last year’s results, two of the Korean manufacturer’s models garnered VSA awards this year in their respective categories – the Genesis for Aspirational Luxury Car and the Sonata in the Premium Mid-size car category.

“These are difficult times, with news of automaker bankruptcies, companies restructuring and dealer closures a daily occurrence,” says George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. “Clearly, the dynamics surrounding the Vehicle Satisfaction Award in 2009 are far different from anything we’ve seen in many years. Winners needed to overachieve to earn their awards.”

Honda Fit Sport

Award Winners

The survey focused on buyers of new vehicles that either purchased or leased them during the fourth quarter of 2008 – just as the economic downturn was pummeling the auto industry.

Although the complete list of winners is listed below, it should also be noted that the vehicle that registered the highest overall satisfaction for the reporting period was the Lexus LS – scoring 99 points above the industry average. The highest scoring truck, the Cadillac Escalade, also contributed mightily to that brand’s overall win.

2010 Ford Fusion

Multiple award winners included Toyota with 6 (including 2 for Lexus and 1 for Scion), Ford with 4, (including 1 for the Lincoln brand), Hyundai/Kia with 3 (2 for Hyundai, 1 for Kia) , Chrysler with 2 (1 for the Dodge brand and 1 for its Jeep division) and General Motors with 2 (1 for Cadillac and 1 for its Chevrolet brand).

Other manufacturers on the list are Honda, Land Rover, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Porsche and VW.

2009 Dodge Ram

Highest Satisfaction as a Brand: Cadillac

2009 Rising Star: Hyundai

Passenger Car Categories and Winners:

Premium Luxury Car               Lexus LS
Aspirational Luxury Car          Hyundai Genesis
Luxury Large Car                     Lincoln Town Car
Luxury Mid-Size Car                Lexus ES
Premium Mid-Size Car             Hyundai Sonata
Mid-Size Car                              Ford Fusion
Image Compact Car                  Toyota Prius
Compact Car                               Mitsubishi Lancer
Economy Car                              Honda Fit
Sports Car                                   Porsche 911
Sporty Car                                   Scion tC

Light Truck Categories and Winners:

Large Pickup                                     Dodge Ram 1500
Compact Pickup                                Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Luxury Sport Utility                        Cadillac Escalade
Large Sport Utility                           Chevrolet Tahoe
Premium Mid-Size Sport Utility    Ford Explorer
Mid-Size Sport Utility                      Jeep Liberty
Luxury Crossover SUV                    Land Rover LR2
Large Crossover SUV                       Mazda CX-9
Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV Toyota Venza
Mid-Size Crossover SUV                  Volkswagen Tiguan
Compact Crossover SUV                  Kia Sportage
Minivan                                               Toyota Sienna

The Lone Star State

Although Texas may be known more for pickups than passenger vehicles (it is the number one market for pick-em-ups in the U.S.), it is still a very large market for cars. With the state’s combination of big cities and vast prairies, it may very well represent a middle ground between the import-heavy east and west coasts and the domestic-leaning heartland of our country.

Now in its seventh year, the Spring Challenge is a perfect foil to the annual Texas Truck Rodeo which takes place in the fall. This year, the Challenge took place at the Texas Motor Speedway from April 26th to 28th and honored vehicles from the following categories: Car of Texas (the overall winner), the Family Car of Texas, Most Innovative, Best New Design, Best Use of Technology and (as we wrote about yesterday) Best Value.

Here at LotPro.com, then, we see the findings of the Texas auto writers as being, at least geographically speaking, somewhat unbiased. So from that perspective, here are the winners of this year’s Writer’s Choice Awards:

The Car of Texas – 2010 Chevrolet Camaro

Yes, the Camaro is back. And even if you’re not a fan of the Transformers movie or even muscle cars in general, you have to appreciate the 111 more horses the SS version has over the Mustang GT while matching that V-8’s fuel economy figures.

The Family Car of Texas – 2009 Ford Flex

Squint hard enough and you will see a maxi version of the MINI intended for real families (not just 2 Pomeranians in the back). 2010 promises to give us a much-improved version of the Flex when Ford applies its EcoBoost magic with direct injection and twin turbocharging for a total of 355 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque.

Most Innovative – 2010 Volvo XC60

We told you this wasn’t going to be a domestic-only event. Among its many notable safety features, the City Safety System used by Volvo in their new XC60 crossover uses a laser system mounted behind the top of the windshield to detect imminent collisions below 19 miles per hour and, barring driver intervention, automatically stop the vehicle.

Best New Design – 2010 Chevrolet Camaro

It’s true. In addition to its zero to sixty performance, the new Camaro looks way cool.

Best Use of Technology – 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

Ford recently set a record of 1445 miles on a single tank of gas while averaging 81.5 miles per gallon which certainly qualifies as a “best use of technology” in our book.

Best Value – 2010 Kia Soul

Kia is to the new millennium what Japanese manufacturers were to the 80’s – a company with a history of econocars that suddenly blossoms into one that offers both economy and style – plus one of the best warranties in the industry.

The Bottom Line

Once again, a tip of the Stetson to TAWA and all the winners of this year’s Spring Challenge.

Efficiency thy name is Fusion

Here at LotPro.com, we were planning on writing a follow-up to our original article (Ford Team to Drive 2010 Fusion Hybrid a Thousand Miles on a Single Tank of Gas) yesterday morning. That’s when Ford engineers had originally determined that the Fusion would hit the 1,000 mile mark of the original challenge.

But after logging into their Facebook page as well as checking their Tweets, it appeared that although the Fusion Hybrid had crossed the mileage target, there was still almost a third of a tank of petrol in the gas tank. So the team drove on.

Using drivers that have been trained in mileage-maximizing techniques (see below), the team of six managed to destroy their original estimated finish time of just over 43 hours as well as the 1,000 mile threshold. By the time the Fusion ran out of gas at 5:37 a.m. on Tuesday April 28th and rolled to a stop on the George Washington Parkway, it had beaten the first mark by more than 26 hours and the second by 445.7 miles – nearly doubling its U.S. certified mileage (the Fusion’s official estimated range is approximately 700 miles per tank).

In the process of driving the challenge, announced on Earth Day, the team took several different routes around the Capital City that ranged from the fairly open (by D.C. standards) George Washington Parkway to a 3 mile stretch in the heart of the District that features roughly 30 traffic signals (lest you think this was just an easy jaunt around the countryside).

JDRF

As a bonus, the challenge team, which included Ford NASCAR star Carl Edwards, was able to raise more than $8,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

“Not only does this demonstrate the Fusion Hybrid’s fuel efficiency, it also shows that driving technique is one of the keys to maximizing its potential,” said Nancy Gioia, director, Ford Sustainable Mobility Technologies and Hybrid Vehicle Programs. “The fact that we were able raise much needed funds for JDRF while raising the bar on fuel efficient driving performance made the effort doubly worthwhile.”

Maximum mileage techniques

You don’t have to be a NASCAR ace or an engineering geek to maximize your own vehicle’s mileage. Here are some tips from the pros and they include:

•    Slowing down and maintaining even throttle pressure;
•    Gradually accelerating and smoothly braking;
•    Maintaining a safe distance between vehicles and anticipating traffic conditions;
•    Coasting up to red lights and stop signs to avoid fuel waste and brake wear;
•    Minimize use of heater and air conditioning to reduce the load on the engine;
•    Close windows at high speeds to reduce aerodynamic drag;
•    Applying the “Pulse and Glide” technique while maintaining the flow of traffic;
•    Minimize excessive engine workload by using the vehicle’s kinetic forward motion to climb hills, and use downhill momentum to build speed; and
•    Avoiding bumps and potholes that can reduce momentum

Earth Day 2009

Here at LotPro.com, we want to wish everyone a happy Earth Day. And what better way to do this than to pass along a story from Ford Motor Company regarding an upcoming attempt by a team of drivers – including NASCAR ace Carl Edwards – to drive 1,000 miles on a single tank of 87 octane gas.

The event is scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 25th from the town of Mount Vernon, Virginia (where George used to live) and will finish in Washington, D.C. (the district named after him) on Monday, April 27th. During that time, a team of 6 drivers will take turns driving 2-3 hour shifts and will drive more than 43 continuous hours. The vehicle they will be driving is a factory produced Fusion Hybrid with no modifications or alterations. Rounding out the driving team that consists of Edwards and Wayne Gerdes, founder of www.cleanmpg.com is Sherif Marakby, graduate of Maryland University and Ford hybrid chief engineer; Gil Portalatin, Ford hybrid applications manager and Ford Fusion Hybrid team leader; Tom Rolewicz, one of Ford’s top calibration experts and hybrid system expert; and Steve Burke, Ford product expert on hybrid applications.

Although the challenge is not a slam-dunk by any means, Ford engineers have achieved 70 mpg during testing of the Fusion Hybrid in preparation for the event.

Hypermiling

In order to achieve maximum mileage, drivers will be using the following techniques:

•    Slowing down and maintaining even throttle pressure;
•    Gradually accelerating and smoothly braking;
•    Maintaining a safe distance between vehicles and anticipating traffic conditions;
•    Coasting up to red lights and stop signs to avoid fuel waste and brake wear;
•    Minimize use of heater and air conditioning to reduce the load on the engine;
•    Close windows at high speeds to reduce aerodynamic drag;
•    Applying the “Pulse and Glide” technique while maintaining the flow of traffic;
•    Minimize excessive engine workload by using the vehicle’s kinetic forward motion to climb hills, and use downhill momentum to build speed; and
•    Avoiding bumps and potholes that can reduce momentum

In addition to raising the awareness of the company’s latest green vehicle, Ford is also using the challenge to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) in the process. How’s that for a win-win?

For more information

The team will be uploading regular images and video to YouTube, Flickr, Facebook and Twitter.

Where do you spend most of your time

Here at LotPro.com, we’re, we’re as much of a sucker as the next person when it comes to beautiful automobile designs. But while a vehicle’s exterior usually generates the most excitement, it’s actually the interior of those same cars where most of us spend our time – which is precisely why Wards AutoWorld created these awards.

“There are certain aspects we look at closely in the Interior of the Year competition, and value is just as important to us as fit-and-finish, styling, comfort and safety,” says Drew Winter, editor-in-chief of Ward’s AutoWorld magazine.

“An interior doesn’t have to be expensive to be good,” Winter says. “But it does have to convey a sense of high-quality craftsmanship and have pleasing textures and low-gloss surfaces. Electronic systems have to be intuitive and easy to use and not just focus on offering a high number of features and functions. Consumers are becoming a lot savvier about what they want inside their vehicles.”

Eleven categories

This year, 35 vehicles were nominated for the four car categories (economy-priced, popular-priced, premium-priced and sports car) and two truck categories (popular-priced and premium-priced) as well as special-achievement awards in five other areas (grooviest interior, best redesign, best graphic display, design harmony and best brand expression).

And the winners are…

Honda Fit Sport (Economy-priced car)

According to the judges, “With its ingenious second-row flexibility, ample headroom and premium materials, Honda proves an inexpensive car need not feel cheap.”

Volkswagen CC (Popular-priced car)

The judges had this to say about the CC, “In the popular-priced car category, the Volkswagen CC springs from the well-regarded Passat architecture and adds a beautifully executed interior that puts this $28,225 4-door coupe in serious competition with more expensive luxury cars.”

Acura TL (Premium-priced car)

“The all-new Acura TL, at $42, 995,” according to Wards, “delivers creamy caramel-tone leather and sporty luxury in a breathtaking combination that instantly raises Acura’s stature among upscale buyers.

Nissan 370Z Touring (Sports car)

Nissan received kudos for designing an interior that is both modern and retro: “If price is an object, the 2-seat Nissan 370Z Touring pairs a potent 332 hp with a purposeful passenger compartment that manages to be both spacious and sporty, while paying homage to famous Z cars of the past, all for $36,865.“

Dodge Ram (Popular-priced truck)

Wards felt that the new Dodge Ram was a great value for the money and that it “trumps its rival, the new Ford F-150, with a spacious, well-conceived interior that fits as well on the job site as at the soccer field.”

Ford Flex (Premium-priced truck)

“The Flex demonstrates marvelous flexibility (their pun, not ours) in a 6-passenger seating configuration that employs high-quality materials and a supremely nifty power folding function for second-row seats, allowing easy access to the third row.”

Kia Soul (Grooviest Interior)

The judges really liked the Soul’s red interior. “Priced at $18,345, the 5-passenger Soul Sport reaches out to youthful buyers with an ideal mix of comfort, quality and funkiness, with lighted door speakers that flash to the beat of the music.”

Audi A4 (Best Redesign)

Reflecting on the A4’s relationship with the rest of the Audi lineup, the panel of experts had this to say, “The all-new Audi A4 secures the German auto maker’s sterling reputation for benchmark interiors. Priced at $40,825, the new A4 exudes understated but unmistakable elegance.”

Ford Fusion Hybrid (Best Graphic Display)

The editors of the magazine “marveled at the amount of information Ford engineers managed to fit into the Fusion Hybrid’s relatively small instrument cluster above the steering wheel, all the while encouraging fuel-efficient driving with a digitally projected vine that sprouts leaves as mileage grows.”

Lexus RX 450h (Design Harmony)

According to Wards, “The RX, with its riveting asymmetrical center stack, tasteful wood steering wheel and luscious color palette, is recognized with a special-achievement award for Design Harmony.”

Cadillac CTS-V (Best Brand Expression)

Finally, the Cadillac CTS-V, “with its intoxicating styling and angular instrument panel, wins a special-achievement award for Brand Expression. Priced at $68,135 with a dizzying array of electronic gadgets, the 556-hp CTS-V is for the serious driver who craves equal amounts of performance and style.”

Just over ten years ago, Lincoln was the top-selling luxury brand in America. But shortly after that, the division fell on hard times. Eclipsed by Lexus and cross-town rival Cadillac, Ford’s luxury marque was all but given up for dead. But much like a Rocky movie (we hope you’re thinking of the first one), the carmaker has, once again, picked itself up from the mat and is back in the fight with a string of recent hits.

But the luxury and near-luxury car markets are moving targets and the fight can only be won with fresh, new product. So this year’s Detroit Auto Show saw the brand ready to continue the string of new products with the following offerings:

2010 Lincoln MKZ

With a complete redesign for 2010, the MKZ no longer looks like the red-headed stepchild of the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan. The all-new interior is luxurious and is trimmed in real wood and aluminum and includes the latest version of the Microsoft-developed Sync® infotainment system.

Outside, the MKZ borrows design cues from the stunning MKR concept with Lincoln’s new signature waterfall grill as well as wide horizontal LED tail lamps.

2010 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost

Shakespeare once said “if music be the food of love, play on.” If Bill were around today and he had a chance to drive the new EcoBoost-equipped Lincoln MKS, he might very well say, “if EcoBoost is what being green is all about, I like it!”

The latest V-6 from Ford certainly doesn’t act like one. This twin-turbocharged, 3.5 liter direct-injected powerplant produces 355 hp and 350 lb.-ft. of torque and Ford expects it to produce EPA numbers of 16 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. The engine will be mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and the entire package will only be available with all-wheel drive versions of the MKS.

2010 Lincoln MKT

Sales of the all-new MKT crossover will begin later on this summer. Based on the same vehicle architecture that spawned the Ford Flex, the MKT will be available in either six or seven-passenger configurations.

Up front, the new crossover sports Lincoln’s trademark waterfall grill while the stern features a full-width horizontal tail lamp. Engine choices include a 3.7 liter 268 horsepower V-6 as well as the aforementioned 3.5 liter EcoBoost engine (again, with all-wheel drive only).

The MKT comes with a slew of standard amenities including 20 GB hard drive for music storage, heated and cooled front seats, ambient lighting, panoramic moon roof and Ford’s new reverse-sensing parking assist system.

Lincoln C Concept

We must not be in Kansas anymore, because the C Concept represents the first look at what might be a future C segment vehicle in the Lincoln lineup.

Based on the same vehicle architecture as the European Ford Focus and the Mazda3, the C shows what direction Lincoln might take if it were to expand its horizon to include smaller and more city and eco friendly vehicles.

Much of the design is typical concept vehicle “kitsch” with suicide doors, floating seats and DUB-inspired 20” wheels. The bustle-back look is reminiscent of recent Renault M´egane models, although the placement of the full-width tail lamp just above the shoulder line is all Lincoln.

While much of the detailing is the stuff of dreams, the fact that the C is based on current Ford technology means that the company could be seriously considering entering the segment a` la the MINI.

For Ford, the hits just keep on coming

Certification on the new Ford Fusion Hybrid was completed this week and, not wasting a minute, Ford has announced that the new Fusion model is officially the most fuel-efficient mid-sized car in America with a certified 41 mpg rating in the city and 36 mpg rating on the highway.

These figures mean that the Fusion handily tops the Toyota Camry’s city mileage by 8 mpg and highway figure by 2 mpg. Final certification was completed earlier in the week at Ford’s Allen Park, Michigan testing laboratories, which means Ford’s newest “green machine” even outpaced the Honda Civic Hybrid, besting the smaller car by 1 mpg in city driving (although the Civic holds an EPA rating of 45 mpg on the highway).

New Hybrid System

The new economy benchmark was a result of three years worth of engineering that culminated in the development of Ford’s next-generation hybrid propulsion system. The new 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder engine with intake variable cam timing (iVCT) enables spark and cam timing to be varied according to engine load for optimal fuel efficiency. In addition, a smaller, lighter nickel-metal hydride battery, which produces 20 percent more power than Ford’s previous hybrid system. Marrying these two technologies enables the Fusion to travel up to 47 miles per hour in pure electric mode, as well as to more seamlessly transition from gas to electric mode and vice-versa.

“The Fusion Hybrid’s ability to run at a much higher speed in electric mode allows drivers to maximize fuel efficiently in many driving situations,” said Praveen Cherian, Fusion Hybrid program leader. “For example, this would allow drivers to travel around their subdivision and parking areas in all-electric mode.”

An Early Christmas Present

For Ford, facing congressional scrutiny on one side and battling a besieged credit market on the other, the news couldn’t have come at a better time. Here at LotPro.com, we hope, for Ford, that this is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.