Hooniverse Asks- Ford’s New Fusion, Yay or Nay?
Yesterday at NAIAS, Ford introduced what is possibly the most important element of their product line up – the 2013 Fusion. Switching from a Mazda-sourced platform to one shared with the European Mondeo, the new car shows obvious styling influences from such existing cars as that Mondeo, Mitsubishi’s Lancer, and more interestingly, Aston Martin’s four-door edition of sex incarnate, the Rapide. The question is, despite (or because of) such derivative elements, did they create something that is, as a whole, unique and desirable?
For a company founded in a suburb of Detroit – so long ago that no body even knew what a suburb was – it’s surprising that the U.S. arm of Ford has been playing catch-up with its European cousins. The original Fusion, along with its mid-cycle refresh, exhibited a style that many passed off as the Gillette grille, a visual meme that attempted to establish a brand look here in the land of apple pie and mouth breather politicians. Meanwhile, while that was being derided as overly garish, Ford of Europe was defining a style that was both iconic, and uniquely handsome.
Following Spike Lee’s admonition, Ford did the right thing and dumped the gentleman razor look for a Mondeo meets Aston Martin appearance and applied it to the new Fusion. We won’t go into the specifics of the mechanicals here, focusing (no pun intended) more on the styling, and we want to know what you think of this new Ford, especially in light of the recently released, but questionably styled Toyota Camry. That car is the sales leader in the category, while the Honda Accord, is about the oldest of mid-size offerings available. What do you think, did Ford hit one out of the park? Or, is the new Fusion a fantastic failure?
Image source: [Ford Media]
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I dig the look – there are sexier sedans to be sure, but they are up-market for the Fusion/Mondeo, and the design looks better integrated than the current BMW 3 series (or even the refreshed A4).
It seems like Ford is through with de-contenting the US versions of its cars (listen up, VW!) – if the mid-tier engine and manual transmission can match the athletic looks then it goes on my short list.
The outside looks great, although I always kind of liked the previous Fusion. The interior however, is where this one shines, at least from the pictures we have seen. I test drove a new Fusion a while back. It was one of the sport ones with the 2.5L and manual gearbox. Mechanically, the car was perfectly fine. The ride and handling were quite decent. The interior, particularly the instrumentation, was downright offensive to me. It just seemed garish. To my eye, it seemed like a redneck take one European design. Not sure why, but I just couldn't stand it. This one seems a bit more conservative and clean of design. If I wasn't enjoying my Mazdaspeed3, I might be tempted by one of these.
Rephrase: Ford's new Fusion, Yah, Nay or Meh?
This will not be the F-150 of midsizers, that is for sure. It looks good, and maybe it could capture a hearty amount of the market, but the square-heads love their Camry's.
Square-heads love their Camrys? You mean Norwegians?
I grew tired of using 'rubes."
For fun, I googled Norwegian Camry.
<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l3zv1vIMsz1qbbka3o1_r1_500.jpg">
OT for this post, but has any part of your HSNC gift arrived yet?
<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-19LWd0GKqWo/Twx_pdXHlrI/AAAAAAAAHhE/uAkyqzrshI8/h301/2012-01-10" width=550>
I got this, and it is totally awesome. Every day I debate taking it out of the package.
Ok, there was supposed to be more. Time to have a little chat with Amazon.
Oh man, MORE!?!?
Mr. Schmo probably gave you my email address, so feel free to let me know if I need to do anything on this end.
Not a fan. Too much Mondeo might make another mercury mistake. The interior, as said much better above, looks very good though.
What do you mean by another Mercury mistake? If there was a Mercury mistake it was internal competition and lazy badge engineering which weakened the consumers' percieved value of FoMoCo. Taking the Fusion from quality car with cheap interior to nicer looking quality car with nice interior hardly seems to be close to either of those blunders. Unless I missed something.
Lousy joke. I was referring to the Contour/Mercury Mystique. Didn't work bringing a Mondeo.
The grille is two curves away from trademark infringement and the headlights are strikingly similar to a the Lancer's. While I think it is a good looking car, I can't help but think it is trying to be everyone else because being itself hasn't been fully accepted over the past few design philosophies.
Isn't 108 a little old to be having an identity crisis?
"two curves away from trademark infringement"
Maybe they kept the rights to that grille when they sold Aston Martin? Richards is going to check his paperwork and have a d'oh moment any day now.
Curious. Everybody else is seeing an Aston grille, but my first thought was: "Huh, Audi put a bar across the super grille…and finally realized there was too much LED eyeliner to even see the road."
<img src="http://uncrate.com/p/2010/11/2012-audi-a6-xl.jpg" width=300 />
Source
I think it's a hexagon where as the Audi front ends are mostly rounded out trapezoids.
Looks like an Aston Martin sedan.
It isn't for me, but I do find it pretty handsome. It has some aggressive lines and appearances without being too bold for the target buyer to park in their driveway. It makes the Camry and Accords (okay, I can include the Malibu too on this) look like vanilla, which was probably the goal. It should sell well, especially with a strong fuel economy number behind it.
I'll give it a yay. There's an old saying – if you have to steal, steal from the best, and the almost-sleek Aston-ish looks here elevate the car's perceived station.
I like it. I'll have to see it in person for the final judgement, but for now it is nice. The Mrs's lease is up this year so this might make the short list.
Yay. I'm biased but I personally like it. I think it is classy and elegant. Premium but not snooty. Strip the badges off a dozen or so mid-size cars and I think an objective eye will favor the Ford. Even against some high-end pieces.
I like how Ford's design language across the brand is evolving too. There is enough cohesiveness without simply doing a Small, Medium, Large version of the same car. The elements that lend themselves to commonality are kept but differences keep things interesting while managing scale.
I'm also glad that the industry as a whole is getting away from the "grille through the bumper" effect. I like how there is good separation between the upper and lower grilles.
Ford has been designing some bold cars for the Europeans for some time, so this styling doesn't surprise me. Remember how radical the the original Taurus's styling was? Sure, the Audi 100/5000 got there first, but the Taurus was much more of a mass-market car, and the buying public embraced it.
The hi-po engine is the 2.0 ecoboost with 237hp. For the enthusiast, that's a little thin compared to Hyundai's turbo engine. And because this body wasn't built to accept the V6… no 3.7 or Twinforce.
I'm thinking the high perf version of the Fusion will be a 'Sport'… no SVT.
Other than that… it is a handsome car.
Can't fault Ford for staying on trend but I'm tired of high beltlines. I like to feel like I'm sitting on a car as much as I am in it.
This car puts me in mind of the great Lyle Lovett, and specifically some words he wrote describing a hooker:
Now I crept up from behind her
She looked so fine to me
But when I stepped around her man
My eyes could plainly see
She was ugly from the front
She was ugly from the front
She was ugly from the front
And I said ugly-ugly-ugly-ugly-ugly
Well I could handle it behind her
And I like it on the side
But don't make me look around her man 'cause she's
Ugly-ugly-ugly-ugly-ugly
Well, if that's your opinion, you should buy one, according to Jimmy Soul anyway…
If you wanna be happy
For the rest of your life,
Never make a pretty woman your wife,
So from my personal point of view,
Get an ugly girl to marry you.
A pretty woman makes her husband look small
And very often causes his downfall.
As soon as he marries her
Then she starts to do
The things that will break his heart.
But if you make an ugly woman your wife,
You'll be happy for the rest of your life,
An ugly woman cooks her meals on time,
She'll always give you peace of mind.
Smiling. The first time I heard that song was on the radio right after I got married. I was driving, and couldn't really hear the words, but it was a catchy tune and I ended up walking into my apartment that night whistling it.
Wife knew the song. Hilarity ensued.
If only today's pop musicians were as awesome as the 60's and early 70's pop musicians.
What I find funny is how Country music's answer to Eraserhead wrote a song critiquing someone's looks.
Which only goes to prove his talent, as anyone who looked like him would never have made it without being awesome. Same with Dwight Yokum.
Makes you wonder, though, just how ugly that hooker was.
I vote Yay.
Anything I will be able to clearly tell from a Camaximaccord at first glance equals a good thing in my book.
I've grabbed my spoon, now it's time to stir the pot.
Hooniverse. I love you. You are doing good things. Rally videos and stories of Polish cars and malaise era Detroit steel make me smile. However, I don't understand today's question. "We don’t concern ourselves with the day-to-day auto news grind, preferring focus on what’s in the garage: ours, yours, or someone else’s." That's what you said. That's one of the main reasons why I fell in love with you. I can get the latest from half a dozen other sources. I don't need it here. I was willing to join in the fray on yesterday's question because the new Dodge Dart is a very significant car, and not only because it brings back a name that died in the midst of the malaise.
But this. Today's question. I don't understand. The Fusion is mainstream. Yes, they are doing a major refresh on it. And everyone is talking about it.
And that's the problem. I come here to read about and comment on things that not everyone is talking about. I come here as a shelter from the storm of other mainstream, SEO sites. And then I get smacked with the same thing that I just read over at other sites. What's next? A rant about the Tru 140S and Code 130R?
Hooniverse. I love you. Please remember your first love.
I'm with you. There 20 quadrillion other websites that dissect press releases…
Maybe this question should be saved for 10 to 15 years from now when these will be potential junkyard finds for use a Lemons cars…
You've made give them a pageview… Unforgivable.
Yup, now I have to go cut off 15 cents worth of Ray's suit while he sleeps.
You want me to grab you a piece?
Honestly, I went there yesterday, cause it was the first place I've seen ATS pics. Cut his tie too.
I blindly clicked them looking for Veloster Turbo information. I'll have to piss in his shoes.
Shave off an eyebrow for me.
::wipes coffee off keyboard and screen::
I apologize. It was to make a point. With all the suit cutting, I think the few pageviews I give him will be the least of his problems.
I know we put on a tough front, but we really are sensitive little hoons.
Edit after remembering to eat breakfast: And seriously, to all the contributors, it's a tough gig, we're a tough crowd, and I thank you for all the work you put into this site. Most of the time, no matter how uncool the car, we can have fun. All the difference it takes is that little bit of enthusiasm.
I can't give you the thumbs up enough for this.
Also Hooniverse, "We don’t concern ourselves with the day-to-day auto news grind, preferring focus on what’s in the garage: ours, yours, or someone else’s." This makes me wonder if we could submit our own cars, pictures and stories. Kinda like what Jo Schmo did during the time he was a contributor. I ask because come this summer I'd love to have my little "poor mans" Porsche "featured on the site.
I'd like to see a feature on that.
dearthair@hooniverse.com
Write it up, send it in. I don't have a ton of time to write up as many articles as I want, but you send me something written up with a bunch of photos, I'll post it.
Seriously, guys, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE send me in this kind of shit. I adore project cars, and I want to see what you're working on. If other people don't want to, well tough shit, skip the article.
Disclaimer, I get a metric fuckton of email on that account, so please give me a PROJECT CAR SUBMISSION subject line so I can see the damn thing.
Consider that email saved and it will be used in the near future. Thanks Mitch.
In April I'm going to finish my E30 (from gutted shell to driveable car) and the maiden voyage will be a road trip from the Canadian rust belt out to Halifax. The whole build has been documented to date and there will be a writeup and more photos than dollars in the US debt. Will send it along once complete.
Why wait? Start sharing the story now! We don't need the whole story all at once!
You are correct.
The Hooniverse Asks should have been about the new NSX, because no one is talking about that.
Ha!
I was going to add some more rabble rabble rabble to your comment, but decided to go for lulz.
lulz acquired from me. actual out loud ones.
Can I say that I really like the Tru 140S and Code 130R? I think they're a few steps away from being decently acceptable. The 130R needs to be a shooting brake and have a less Infiniti-zed grille though. If it well below 3k lbs and RWD or AWD it would be near perfect. The 140, providing an AWD option, looks decent enough. One of the better looking jellybeans I've seen. Oh well.
well, the rest of the day is filled with a Classic Captions post, a photographic retrospective of the 1972 British GP, a Jim Yu article about Vegas, and a few others…
I think the key is balance, and we're trying to tip that scale towards the awesome. Still, we're not dissecting a press release here – just asking about a car that could be rather important for a very large automaker.
We don't rant here either… unless it's about the fact that the Volvo 262C Bertone should not be on ANYONE's worst cars list.
Hipster
*nutkick*
I understand the need for balance, and I'm not trying to say that every single post should be pre-1990. In fact, the Tractorri was a perfect example of a modern car that belongs on this site. I appreciate you not dissecting and regurgitating press releases. That gets…old seems like too nice of a word.
I guess what got me this morning was that the Fusion is ordinary. Yes, it's a critical car for Ford, and has been a big part of their resurgance the last few years. However, that doesn't make it any less ordinary.
I'm not trying to start a riot or pick on you or Mr. Emslie. I actually like you guys. I'm just trying to stand up and say something before we sink down a slippery slope. You and I have both been a part of a blog that slipped on that slope.
Indeed. Judging from the amount of responses to your comment, I think the editors will be hip to it instead of ignoring their top commenters and digging in for #pageviews.
<3
I'll add an industrial mixer to the pot…
I agree and completely ignore about 50% of the site's content now. Some days it's more than that. The weird content from Europe has increased, which I love, but the domestic weird has decreased. The racing lineup is interesting, but I'm not into mainstream motorsport. I DO NOT CARE ABOUT PRESS RELEASES. I like the car shows, but from our angle.
The site redesign is a hare too Redacted or AutoBlog, and visually a bit of a mess (but hey that's only my professional opinion.)
We cannot trod the ground we once did, but I think we may have skewed a tad too far. I know that it is hard for everyone to write, play with the kids, and have a real job, but we're not asking you to post every 10 minutes. If the site needs pageviews to keep the hamster fed, I'll throw money in a tip jar. I click the damn links too. If we feel we need more content, I'll be the first to write SuzyBruisy a letter begging her to tell us more about her cars.
OOOH. Hooniverse, autoholics crossover. I like that idea.
OMG a post about a new car! Hooniverse has jumped the shark! /sarcasm
Yes it's a design question about a current car. Yesterday they posted pics from NAIAS. Hooniverse also reviews current cars. It doesn't make them Autoblog or [redacted] because they post some content on current events/vehicles. The majority of posts here are on the fringe.
With all due respect, that's not your spoon you've grabbed. It's straws you're grasping at.
With that said, I do agree with your sentiment that we need to be careful where our focus lies.
Easy there, killer. Everyone's entitled to their opinion. Personally, I'm with engineerd in many respects. I'm not gonna harp on Rob because after trying to do daily posts for both sites, I realized that my relationship wouldn't survive if I spent that much time on the computer. A few angry death-glares send a strong message. But it's all too easy for each site to wander off into the wrong direction. Toasters needs a re-focusing, and Hooniverse always has to be careful to watch that our target doesn't wander too much into the mainstream.
I think it's a good reminder for us. I don't think anyone is saying we've jumped the shark, but it's great that we have an audience who can keep us on our toes, and remind us that we, the writers, are here for you guys, not vice versa.
I agreed with Engineerd and his statement that Hooniverse not lose it's focus.
but his diatribe about how the Fusion is mainstream and insinuate that discussing the design is a bad thing but somehow the Dodge Dart is a "Very significant car"?! I call BS.
Dodge's small cars have never been high volume, segment leading machines. How the heck is a new compact car MORE important than a mid-size car? The mid-size car segment is the most competitive, highest volume car segment.
Per the Dart launch video from yesterday (available here among other places), the compact segment is now the biggest single segment in both the US and Canada (15% US, 25% CA), and Chrysler hasn't had a competitive product in that segment for a very long time.
Yeah… it seems to work pretty well for Ford, despite their current US passenger car and CUV fleet where most of their models could be considered as badge-engineered Mazdas and Volvos.
ooh. well. that's embarrassing. You've replied to the comment I deleted.
Basically I called the "New" Dodge Dart nothing more than a badge engineered Alfa-Romeo and that it isn't as groundbreaking as some purport it to be.
But you are correct. Ford's line-up in the 00's was little more than badge engineered Mazda's and Volvo's.
To be honest, I like a bit of new-car-smell in my Hooniverse for one reason: my wife will NOT drive a car older than she is. Period. End of story. I might be able to get away with a cherry Volvo 245, but that's it. Cars don't interest her more than their ability to get somewhere safely, and cost as little as possible to run.
Therefore, I have a real-world reason to keep up on what's out there in the world of new cars. Even though I'm not shopping now, there will come a time when her MPV needs to be replaced, and if I don't have to rely on Consumer Reports to get a good idea what's out there, so much the better. We've got plenty of old and weird to go around – no reason we can't get the Hoons take on new stuff too.
And, on point, I love the look of this car. A+ to Ford.
Wow, that just got me thinking. My eldest son's car is older than my youngest son. Does that count?
All in all, I skip a lot of the new car reviews. Not that they're bad, I'm just not interested enough when I don't have a lot of reading time. If the car seems interesting & I have the time, I'll read. For a while I didn't read oldlongrooffan's posts because I couldn't stand his writing style (I think his style has mellowed a bit, as has my ability to read it, so I read most of them now), but that doesn't mean he shouldn't be posting here.
I read 'nerds 2nd comment, and his position is understandable and appreciated by me.
One of my cars is older than I am, while the other is only about four months shy. That has to count for something, right?
I read nearly all of the articles here, for what it's worth. I usually skim TTAC afterward for new-car and industry news and for Murilee's contributions, and… that's about it, these days. Most of what's here is a cut above most of what can be found elsewhere, that's my point.
I feel you on that. After months of searching for a first-gen bronco in decent condition to be my next daily-driver… I'm driving a 2004 Denali. I suppose it rumbles like a muscle car with the 6.0 in it, and it gets comparably terrible gas mileage, but that's about it. I'll get another old car/truck someday — just not anytime soon I reckon. Though, the heated seats are kinda nice I suppose.
My take FWIW: I agree with pretty much everyone here. I'm relatively new here, but I already knew I would get along well with you all, partially because I already knew half of you from [Redacted] but mostly because the content here is almost always relevant to my interests. I like the balance, but agree that staying true to the roots is important.
Two main factors make a great blog in my opinion: Informative writing and facilitating discussion. The rest comes down to the members and commentary. Mutual respect trumps common opinion. That way, even when tastes clash, the discussion remains respectful and productive.
I like it here because this blog accomplishes just that. The editors and commenters all make that happen. As long as balance is maintained, leaning heavily towards that fringe aspect, I have faith it will remain that way.
Sorry, that got kinda gross and touchy-feely-ish. Here's a LeMans wagon doing a burnout.
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/6RsL2.jpg" width="500"/>
On the subject of the Code 130R, anyone else reminded of an '80s Mustang? It's making me all nostalgic for high school.
Honestly, I like the full spectrum here, from old to new, just because sometimes I want to talk about something new and where else am I going to do it? I mean, maybe it shouldn't be more than the weekly news and an odd special event, but sometimes you want to say something about a new thing, and I'd rather say it to smart, interesting people.
Me too. It made me think of this-style Celica coupe that an upperclassman had when I was in junior high.
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Celica_GTS_1983.jpg" width="500"/>
Maybe I'll get the HTML right this time around?
Noted, but cut Rob some slack.
He's done like 2.5 years of Hooniverse Askses, and they're not all gonna be winners. It's topical to the events of the day, and a few people around here seem to care. Hell, even you cared about the Dart yesterday. One could argue it's the spiritual successor to the SVT Contour…or is it?
As far as I can tell, we're not resorting to press release journalism. We give you once a week summaries of news and racing news, just enough to keep you aware of what's going on in the world (or even broaden your horizons). Please let me know if we're dissecting a whole press release, because I haven't seen it.
In case anyone's curious, the two biggest contributors to our pageviews are
1) Running more posts every day
2) Inbound links from big sites, primarily Jalopnik. One off-hand mention of us over there doubles our traffic for the day.
If all we cared about was traffic, we'd organize a strategy aimed at getting them to link to us. For a whole bunch of reasons, that's not going to happen.
Oh Jesus, has it already been 2.5 years?! I just searched my gmailz, and the earliest response I had to a comment from IntenseDebate was on this Hooniverse Asks:
http://hooniverse.com/2009/12/18/hooniverse-asks-…
Sorry, I didn't mean to hijack one of Rob's posts. I know how difficult it is to find material for a daily post. I do it for Atomic Toasters, and there are days where I just stare blankly at my screen. And had this been surrounded by more typical Hooniverse-type stuff, I probably wouldn't have even noticed.
I didn't mean to completely derail things, I was just trying to hold y'all accountable and make sure we aren't heading in the same direction other sites who started off focused on the quirky and unusual have gone. I saw a bit of a trend, and I wanted to make sure we aren't "going there".
Tim, I hope there are no hard feelings. Of course I meant to stir the pot, you know me and I stated it from the get go, but I didn't mean to stir it quite this much.
What will tomorrow's Hooniverse Asks be, you may wonder?
"Is engineerd a dick?"
There should be about 100 "Yes". I will be the lone no.
If it makes you feel better, I'll abstain.
With the usual banter about specific reasons why.
Seriously though, we all remember that you jump ship early (and then return for several months), so I wouldn't worry about it.
Dammit, we really do need that sarcasm font so I can stop using
's.
Nah man, you're good. I'm of the opinion that everyone's entitled to their opinion; right, wrong or otherwise.
The point of this site was never to do only old stuff, so much as take a unique perspective and voice. Shit, I'll basically cop to using early-2008-and-before Jalopnik as a model.
For the most part each of our writers posts "their" content, with the mix thereof depending entirely on who's got time to post.
Rest assured we're not motivated enough to get really mainstream and terrible. Believe it or not, that shit takes work.
I don't get people complaining that it looks too much like an Aston Martin. It's like saying you should dump your girlfriend because she looks too much like Rachel Weisz. That's sort of the opposite of a problem.
Not a problem with a style. Problem with it doing what car companies used to do to Ford. That is, steal others designs instead of setting your own trend.
Edit: It's like if your wife looked like Rachel Weisz, but had male genitalia.
…Perhaps your analogy hasn't quite left the desired impression here.
"For a company founded in a suburb of Detroit – so long ago that no body even knew what a suburb was…"
Ford Motor Company was founded in Detroit and then later moved to Dearborn actually
ugly oh my it is ugly
No, no it's not. Sorry, but even as a Volkswagenista, I have to give Ford props. That's a damn fine looking car.
A Volkswagenista that just so happens to drive a Lincoln. Hypocrite…
AND a Volkswagen, thank you very much. I have the least reliable Volkswagen they ever made, and I kept it running reliably for 290,000 kms with the only problem coming from delays in sourcing parts for a very low-production car. That keeps my VW street cred points topped up so I can drive anything else I want.
But, 290,000 kms is, like, 28 real units of measure, isn't it?
That depends on whether "kms" an abbreviation for kilomillisecond or for kilometersecond. The former interpretation would make it a little under three and a half days, which seems reasonable. The latter would involve all sorts of awkwardnesses with space-time, which also seems reasonable.
Worse than that… it's just .967 light-seconds.
Hah! Both of my cars have over a light-second on the clock, and they're chock-full of Bosch electronics!
…They're also Volvos, so I suppose that might be cheating a bit.
I was proud of my T-bird's reaching that mark, though not proud enough to clean the gauge cluster face.
<img src="http://i847.photobucket.com/albums/ab40/ptschett/Thunderbird/DSC03415.jpg" width="500"/>
And in all those miles, only one wheel had fallen off!
<img src="http://i847.photobucket.com/albums/ab40/ptschett/Thunderbird/DSC02657.jpg" width="500"/>
I'll give you that about your vr6 motor and we all know about your unholy lust for a type 2 bus.
Oh it's worse. I have the G60. The VR6 was a great engine.
AND a MINI.
That reminds me, we may have to come see you about its next service. The local dealership has not… been… excellent…
I'd like to hear your reasoning, not trying to be defensive just want to understand where you're coming from.
I've been watching the car blogs carpping about this for almost 24 hours now and really all I can get out of this is a big Meh. I don't know, I just don't see anything revolutionary or captivating in this design.
Someone put some Aston in my Ford. And damnit, I like it.
I agree. It's a pretty handsome car. Much better than the
500Taurus or even the 300. I can't stand the high-nose COE look that all the European designers have gone to since the EU imposed the pedestrian impact laws.My first thought has always been "funny-looking Mustang" whenever I see one of these:
<img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4096/4785831744_e30666ec76.jpg" width="325">
Unless, of course, it's a rear view:
<img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4075/4785197677_53c2777a32.jpg" width="325">
in which case it's "funny-looking Mustang fastback… maybe a Torino."
Maverick?
<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qRKEugtLg4A/TaZokSmeJtI/AAAAAAAAIsk/1uzZ0GaKEtY/s1600/1971%2B71%2BFord%2BMaverick%2BFastback%2BFastback%2BSedan%2B4.jpg" width="500">
For the rear view I see some 1st-gen Charger.
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/Dodge_Charger_1966_V8-383_Heck.jpg/800px-Dodge_Charger_1966_V8-383_Heck.jpg" width="500"/>
Right, yet another Boss Fatstang.
gotta admit, that's a good looking car!
Visually, I like it. Sadly, their AWD offering (or, if you prefer, the hi-po FWD offering) is saddled with the 6F35 SelectShift automagic slushbox. I don't want a continuous slip torque converter. Come on, Ford, you have a DSG. Why not use it?
You'll see the DSG rolling out a whole lot more in the next year or two. Ford has been watching Volkswagen's experiment with their DSG, and now that VW has ironed out the bugs and created a very reliable transmission, Ford will likely follow their lead.
You're right about that, they don't like to make mistakes twice and after the awful PR they got from jumping on CVT transmissions before they worked out all the kinks it's understandable that they'll let another manufacturer take the risk when it comes to new tech (for now).
Ford already has a twin-clutch gearbox offered in the Focus, but from everything I've read it picks gears like it's on drugs and doesn't have any way to control it manually.
Add me to the nay column. The nose is too high and blunt. Others do it much better. It wears its Aston grill less well than a Beetle wears a JC Whitney Rolls Royce grill. The roof is low right where it should be high to allow rear seat headroom and a decent rear seat cushion height. It is time to abandon arched roofs, and whoever does it first will look like a genius.
It looks better than a Camry. It looks better than an Accord. It looks better than a Malibu.
Not that my opinion matters.
I'm withholding final judgement until I see it in person. It looks attractive in the pictures, and its cleaner than the Sonata, but that roofline is totally impractical for a sedan. It can't do any favors for headroom or trunk access, and I bet that rear window is just as impossible to clean as my Mustang's was.
Speaking of my Mustang, that's the biggest reason I have no interest in this car. Between the Chinese junk transmission, ticking V8, clunky SYNC and slapdash assembly quality, I don't trust Ford enough to be a repeat customer.
I like it, "yay" for me. This design speaks a lot more than the previous Fusion design, although it might not age very well. Taking design cues from Aston is a good thing.
Now where's the wagon version, or Tournier as they like to call it in Europe?
I dig it! Ford has really stepped up to the plate lately. First, not subsiding to the Gub-ment bailout coupon drive, and then that sexy new metallic brown that they are painting the trucks=WIN!
I wonder if I can get one of these Fusions in metallic brown???
I don't use the email response as I don't want my inbox full of notifications. I just bookmarked my ID page which shows my comments and how many replies to them.