Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Green, Ford
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid expected to get 38 mpg city
Over on AutoblogGreen, our man Sam has published a thorough breakdown of all the new powertrains announced for the 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan. There's a new 2.5L four-cylinder with more power, a revised 3.0L V6 and Ford is making its 3.5L V6 available in these mid-size sedans for the first time, as well. But the most impressive may be the latest revision of Ford's hybrid powertrain that will debut in the Fusion Hybrid and Milan Hybrid next year.
Based on the same system in the Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid, the latest version is smaller, lighter, more powerful and less expensive to produce. While it still employs nickel-metal hydride batteries, the number of cells has been reduced but the power output remains the same. The battery pack is now 30 percent smaller in volume than the Escape Hybrid's pack and weighs 23 percent less, and this one doesn't need its own AC system to stay cool. The main numbers that everyone wants to know is MPG. Ford expects its new hybrid sedans to achieve 38 mpg in the city, which is 5 mpg better than its most obvious competitor, the Toyota Camry Hybrid. Click here to read Sam's explanation of what Ford did to improve its hybrid powertrain so much.
[Source: AutoblogGreen]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
PrintError 4:07PM (10/30/2008)
38mpg? So freakin' what? My neighbor's old Civic gets 40+.
Reply
cyb 4:21PM (10/30/2008)
Civic is not direct competition to Fusion though, right?
Big Rocket 4:16PM (10/30/2008)
A 1994 Geo Metro XFi gets 43 mpg city, 51 mpg highway, for a combined 46 mpg. That doesn't mean the Civic you cited is not fuel efficient, now is it? To put it another way, don't compare apples to oranges, or cars in different vehicle-size segments.
Source:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/10740.shtml
TKOsoccer03 4:20PM (10/30/2008)
that's because it doesn't have computers regulating its emissions, thus decreasing fuel economy.
my dad had a Plymouth champ and he couldn't get less than 40 mpg. but with the gov regulating emissions these days, it's much more difficult for cars to achieve high fuel economy.
however, adding to the article, that's only 8 mpg better than the current Fusion. Plus, if the all new 2.5L is supposed to get 10% increase in fuel economy, we're talking about 33 mpg in the base fusion for 2010. so why pay another 5-6 grand for the hybrid and only get another 5 mpgs?? seems silly to me.
RL 4:20PM (10/30/2008)
geez, you're just not that smart, are you?
pwcopy 4:24PM (10/30/2008)
Yeah... and a really old Citroen Deux Cheveau gets 50+.
But the 2010 Fusion Hybrid will kick their collective a$$es for performance, comfort and just about any measure of a modern automobile.
But I see yr point. Maybe if u combed yr hair a little differently...
PrintError 4:24PM (10/30/2008)
My point is that cars now are bragging about gas mileage that is at best decent. I see SUV commercials on TV bragging about a whopping 17-24mpg. My 12 year old Tacoma gets better than that, and it's a full-frame truck.
Seems like we should be excited about 48mpg, not 38mpg.
Gabagool 4:29PM (10/30/2008)
I think its good, hey it is better than Toyota.
A mid size family sedan at 38 MPG....beautiful. I think this could be a REAL game changer for Ford.
rem83 4:33PM (10/30/2008)
@TKOsoccer03 - The current fusion does not get 30 mpg CITY, which is the number they're throwing out here. It's most accurate to compare with the Fusion auto, which Ford lists as 20 city, 28 highway. 38 city is a HUGE gain over that, or even the 10% higher numbers of 22 / 31.
To everyone else - it doesn't make sense to compare a new car to a used car, totally different safety and emissions standards used when building them, plus what's more refined to drive, a fusion or an old metro / civic
Torrent 4:47PM (10/30/2008)
Well, it is an old civic. They're anemic subcompacts- they're supposed to get 40 MPG.
John 5:50PM (10/30/2008)
It takes steel, and lots of it, to pass today's safety standards. Steel (even HSLA or UHSS) has driven up vehicle mass.
Comparing a 2010 model to something 10 or 20 years old is like night and day.
Big Rocket 7:06PM (10/30/2008)
@PrintError: And the point made by pretty much everyone else is, compare apples to apples. A fuel mileage of 38 mpg is really good for a car the size of the Ford Fusion, with modern emissions requirement. If you disagree, feel free to cite another modern car that gets equal or better fuel mileage in the Fusion's market segment.
fixitfixitstop 7:49PM (10/30/2008)
Your neighbor's old Civic also has problems driving up hill. I had a 1982 1300FE which regularly saw over 40mpg, but it severe trouble getting out of it's own way. Also, it had power NOTHING.
Mi key 4:14PM (10/30/2008)
38mpg in the city that's great. Definitely will kick the Camry A$$ in the mileage department. Now if GM could step-up with the Malibu.
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Gabagool 4:57PM (10/30/2008)
5 MPG difference. Not a kick azz, but good, solid effort. But important thing to remember is that the NEXT generation needs to improve and get 40+ solidly.
Dave 7:37PM (10/30/2008)
A Two Mode Malibu can't be too far off.
GM just introduced their first FWD Two Mode in the VUE.
Todd 4:16PM (10/30/2008)
Ohhh, so they CAN make cats get better gas mileage, almost 40 miles to the gallon.
I remember when the EPA was being sued by California and Detroit was adamant 40 mpg was impossible, and even if they could do it, the car would cost 100 grand.
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miles 4:21PM (10/30/2008)
10 years ago that was true - 15 years from now it will be twice that MPG...
This car looks good - want it.
Joe 4:23PM (10/30/2008)
Wait, cats run on gasoline? What else haven't you people been telling me???
Nellydesign 4:37PM (10/30/2008)
No, the point of the whole "40 mpg is impossible" argument was that they wanted to impose it as an average across their WHOLE PRODUCT LINE, not just one car. One car is easy, EVERY car is incredibly expensive and in the case of trucks, nearly impossible.
And for those who see a 4 door C/D class car with the BEST MILEAGE IN IT'S CLASS and still complain about it "only" being 5 mpg more need to seriously wake up. Ford makes zillions of gas guzzling SUV's that people DEMAND and they get crap for it, so they retool all their plants and then build a 38 MPG family sedan with virtually no tradeoffs for fuel economy and they STILL get crap.
Seriously, enough with the negativity. Nothing is ever good enough.