Ford's Big Bet

I have to hand it to the Ford Motor Corporation. They've managed to rebound from the glad handing trip to Washington, DC with General Motors and Chrysler demanding a multi billion dollar bailout and now say that they don't need the emergency loan that GM and Chrysler got from President Bush yesterday.

They have sufficient cash on hand, and they may have a vehicle that people would want to buy.

It's called the Ford Fusion Hybrid. It's supposed to get 52 mpg and can seat five comfortably. From the National Post:

Although official numbers are not yet available, Ford's results show the new Fusion will outperform the Camry Hybrid at the pumps, with city mileage pegged at six litres per 100 kilometres, outdistancing the Toyota by about 1.1 L/100 km. On the highway, the Fusion Hybrid runs at about 6.5 L/100 km, compared with the Toyota's 7.1 L/100 km. Those fuel consumption numbers are also an improvement over the Escape Hybrid, which is rated by the U. S. EPA at 6.9 L/100 km city, 7.6 L/100 km highway.

During a one-hour test drive in the new Fusion on urban streets and highways around Dearborn, I managed to post a combined average of 6.35 L/100 km, while a colleague got a close result with an average of 6.5. While we weren't exactly being delicate with the throttle, we did pay attention to Ford's SmartGauge instrumentation, which is designed to coach drivers to attain better fuel mileage.

This unique gauge package has four operating modes, from the basic large, centrally positioned analogue speedometer to the full show, a pair of 10.9-centimetre, high-resolution LCD screens on either side of the speedometer. The full-on mode relays such details as the battery power levels, average and instant fuel mileage, when the vehicle is running in electric-only mode and when the gasoline engine is engaged. One additional feature is a tree graphic with leaves and vines that "grow" as one's driving becomes greener. Conversely, the leaves disappear when one opts for a heavy foot. I was concerned my tree might become a flaming bush, but I actually ended up with some greenery on the branches.

The SmartGauge may actually be the one item that if adopted through the rest of the Ford lineup, could further increase fuel economy by drivers, who rarely ever see the EPA listed figures. If you drive to the SmartGauge's recommended driving style - slower starts (no jackrabbit peeling off heavy accelerations), coasting, cruise control, etc., you'll find that you get far better gas mileage than otherwise.

Driving style plays a significant role in how well your car's gas mileage does, and Ford's new gauges will certainly help drivers maximize their fuel economy if that is what they're looking to do.

The hybrid package is supported by a new battery pack that is lighter and more powerful than earlier Ford offerings, which were largely based on Toyota designs.

The Ford Fusion Hybrid is expected to MSRP at around $27,000.

Basic features like dual-zone climate control, automatic headlights, keyless entry, power windows, mirrors, and locks, capless refueling, traction control, and ABS are all standard equipment. Also included is a six-speaker stereo, eco-responsible seats, 17-inch wheels, traction control, and a reverse sensor.

Priced $1000 above the Toyota Camry Hybrid, customers can select an optional GPS system, heated leather seats, and/or a Sony audio system.

The hybrid system also lets the Fusion run up to 47 mph before the gas engine kicks in. That's significantly higher than the Prius and other Toyota offerings to date.

Ford's flashy promo for the Hybrid is here.

The problem I see is that it still looks like a Ford Fusion, which is to say bland. Will people buy it? For Ford's sake, I hope so. It's also interesting to remember that Ford didn't pursue this hybrid program because the government told them to, but because they wanted to compete with Toyota's hybrids.