Ford and SYNC have combined to be the peanut butter and jelly of automotive tech combo deals. 80% of the vehicles Ford sells now has the infotainment system, helping the Blue Oval and Microsoft reach 1 million sales of the infotainment system in less than two years.

Since Microsoft created the SYNC software, it has just as much reason to celebrate its success as Ford. Microsoft CEO and Detroit native Steve Ballmer decided the best way to celebrate was to get his hands on SYNC vehicle number 1 million; a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. The 41 mpg sedan was delivered by none other than Ford CEO Alan Mulally.

Mulally reiterated his support of SYNC, saying that Ford would "continue to innovate and expand the capability of SYNC by integrating even more new technologies that fit our customers' lifestyles." SYNC already interfaces with navigation and entertainment systems, and 911 Assist helps call emergency services in the event of an accident. SYNC will receive further updates this summer when it gains the ability to deliver traffic, directions and information services. Hit the jump to view the Ford press release, and check out the gallery below to see Mulally deliver a 2010 Fusion Hybrid to the Microsoft CEO.



[Source: Ford]

The Ford Fusion Hybrid we talked about yesterday, the one that had as of our last report cleared 1,000 miles on its hypermiling publicity stunt, has finally reached the end of the road its fuel supply. The final number: 1,445 miles on a single tank of gas.

For the high-mileage odyssey, the Fusion hybrid was pushed to an average of 81.5 mpg. Even considering that hypermiling techniques were employed to reach these numbers, we're quite impressed, as the event took place on city streets and public freeways, not on a closed course. Better still, the entire 69-hour event raised $8,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. You can read the details of how the driving teams managed the 80 mpg in the official press release after the jump – and no, they didn't find a thousand-mile downhill road. Thanks to everyone for the tips!



[Source: Ford]

What we have here is a rare breed. A mid-size sedan from a domestic automaker equipped with a manually actuated clutch. In fact, the 2010 Ford Fusion (and its rebadged brother, the Mercury Milan) are the last examples offered with Detroit Three nameplates. The Fusion's competition from Chrysler and General Motors are only available with automatic gearboxes, and while the import brands all offer the option to shift-it-yourself, few are actually purchased by stick-averse Americans.

So when Ford released its powertrain combinations for the 2010 Fusion, we were surprised to find that not only was a manual available on S and SE four-cylinder models, but the Blue Oval also upgraded ye olde five-speed cog-swapper to a six-speed unit. As fans of the three-pedal arrangement, we promptly requested a manual Fusion to see how it stacks up to the high expectations set by the V6-powered 2010 Fusion Sport we've already reviewed.



Photos Copyright ©2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Despite the recession, tumbling auto sales and an uncertain future, good cars are still being made. The 2010 Ford Fusion is one example. The Fusion Sport just spent a week in the Autoblog Garage and we're in the midst of reviewing the rest of the lineup, as well.

Whether it's from a domestic or import, good product needs to be talked about during these troubled times, because it's one thing that can get people back into show rooms and buying again. Ford has launched a new ad campaign to get people talking about the 2010 Fusion that kicks off with three commercials you may or may not have seen on TV yet. The "We Speak" commercials are fairly simple in execution, show a lot of the car and two out of the three spots hit home the message that the Fusion is the most fuel efficient mid-size vehicle sold in the U.S. You may say yay or nay on how effective the commercials will be, but we're talking about them, right? Follow the jump to view all three for yourself and let us know what you have to say in the comments.



[Source: Ford]

Since taking the reigns at FoMoCo, Alan Mulally has made it clear that one of the keys to Ford's resurgence is to leverage its assets abroad. Specifically, he wants to utilize the automaker's platform development in Europe to maximize engineering and manufacturing efficiency, creating several global models. While we're still waiting for Ford to ditch the old Focus platform for the Euro model's underpinnings, the next major implementation of Mulally's plan will come in the form of the next Ford Fusion, which will use the current Mondeo platform.

The CD3 platform, which is derived from the Mazda6 and underpins the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln MKZ, Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX, will be abandoned in favor of the Mondeo's EUCD platform and will be the foundation for Ford's global mid-size/CD-segment vehicle. Ford of Europe has been tasked with reworking the platform for the U.S., which has been internally dubbed CD4. Expect the Mondeo-based Fusion to arrive in the U.S. in 2012 for the 2013 model year.


[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

Last month at the LA Auto Show, Ford finally took the wraps off its refreshed 2010 Fusion and this week we returned to LA to actually drive it. For a car meant to compete in the heart of the highest volume segment in the U.S. market, Ford chose a rather surprising way to show it off. This is after all a segment long dominated by cars that typically have more in common with a Kenmore refrigerator than a Corvette.

We kicked off the festivities with a mileage challenge through downtown Beverly Hills and Hollywood in the Fusion Hybrid, but then things got really interesting. The Toyota Camry and Honda Accord have seemingly been the top selling cars in America since they supplanted the Model T early in the last century. After a similar number of decades of soulless, unattractive and unreliable alternatives, U.S. automakers have been battling back in recent years with mixed success. Since the Fusion debuted in 2006, it has earned a reputation of being among the most fun to drive offerings in the segment, as well as having quality on par with the Japanese brands. For 2010, the crew in Dearborn have focused on enhancing what was already good and getting best in class in efficiency with more style. Read on to find out if they succeeded.



Photos Copyright ©2008 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Ford pulled the silk sheets off the 2010 Ford Fusion and Fusion Hybrid this afternoon. Sporting new front and rear fascias, an updated interior, and four engine choices, the mid-size Fusion is a direct shot across the bow of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. In fact, in nearly every engine combination, Ford boasts that their Fusion offers faster acceleration and better fuel economy than its Japanese rivals (plus, the automaker is quick to point out, the 2010 Fusion is available in both FWD and AWD configurations). Ford is offering the Fusion with three fuel-efficient gasoline engines: Duratec 2.5-liter I4, Duratec 3.0-liter V6, and the 3.5-liter V6 Duratec bumped to 240 hp for 2010. The hybrid model features a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated to an electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission (e-CVT). According to Ford, the combo offers a bladder-busting 700-mile range in the city cycle. Expect the Fusion twins to roll (efficiently, of course) into showrooms in spring 2009.

Live photos copyright ©2008 Michael Harley / Weblogs, Inc.

Ford has already released an official image of the 2010 Fusion's new front end, as well as unveiled the heavily revised engine lineup for its mid-size sedan that now includes a new 2.5L I4, revised 3.0L Flex-Fuel V6, new 3.5L V6 and hybrid powertrain good for 38 mpg in the city. Reactions are split to the Fusion's new face, but we haven't seen official shots from any other angle and certainly have yet to view full-motion video of the final version.

Sharp-eyed Autoblog reader Jamieson, however, caught a Fusion prototype on the road this weekend and had the sense to whip out a recording device. After the jump you'll find the short video of Jamieson passing the Fusion prototype that shows the sedan's rear end and profile nicely, as well as the already seen front fascia. He also took pics, which we've added to our gallery of 2010 Ford Fusion spy shots below.

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]

We love mid-size sedans if for no other reason than buyers benefit from the incredibly high level of competition between each player in the segment, and Ford's just-revealed 2010 Fusion appears ready to compete. We only have one image, but it shows the Fusion's new face with an even bigger three-bar grille, nicely contoured hood, angry-eye headlights and a sharply redesigned lower bumper. There's also a new engine lineup with three mills to choose from. The first is an all-new Duratec 2.5L four-cylinder with 174 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque (up 14 hp/16 lb-ft from prior 2.3L). The second is a reworked version of the current 3.0L V6 with 19 more horsepower for a total of 240 hp and 228 lb-ft of torque. And finally Ford will be offering the Fusion with its new 3.5L V6 for 2010, which will make a class competitive 263 hp and 249 lb-ft of torque. The best part? All three engines will be paired with Ford's 6F35 six-speed automatic transmission.

Ford hasn't revealed fuel economy numbers yet, but says the four-cylinder's fuel economy will go up a full 10% and the sixes between 4-6% thanks in large part to the new tranny. This will also be the year Ford introduces the Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid, which will feature the previously announced SmartGauge and can travel up to 47 mph in all-electric mode with a range of more than 700 miles. Unfortunately, it appears that the 2010 Fusion won't be available with any turbocharged, direct-inject EcoBoost powertrains, but the new engines and transmission, along with the nose job, are a big step forward for Ford's already competitive Fusion.

[Source: Ford]