DEARBORN – The 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan will be the first significant refresh of the mid-sized sedans since their 2005 debut and fuel efficiency is a major component of the upgrades. For the first time, Ford is building a hybrid version of the mainstream sedans and city fuel economy is expected to beat the current class leader, the Toyota Camry hybrid by at least 5 mpg. In the non-hybrid lineup, all the four and six cylinder engines will be paired up with six speed transmissions.
One thing Ford doesn’t plan on adding to the Fusion and Milan anytime soon is diesel engines. Barb Samardzich Ford VP for Global Powertrains explained that “We don’t want our sustainability strategy to be a public affairs exercise.” Ford’s plan is provide “affordable fuel economy for millions” through maximizing the efficiency of conventional engines and introducing technologies like EcoBoost (down-sized gasoline turbocharged direct injected) engines as well as more hybrid vehicles.
2.5L four cylinder
As US gas prices spiked to $4 per gallon and above in 2008, Ford along with every other carmaker was caught flat-footed by a sudden and rapid shift away from V8 engines toward smaller four and six cylinder engines. In March 2008, V8 engines accounted for 44 percent of Ford’s North American production volume while four cylinder engines made up 25 percent. By August that had been almost reversed to 22 percent V8 and 39 percent four cylinder.
The new 2.5L four cylinder that first appeared in the 2009 Escape last spring will move into the revamped Fusion for 2010, mated to either of a pair of six speed transmissions with or without a clutch pedal. Compared to the 2.3L engine in the current Fusion, power goes up from 161 hp to 175 hp and torque increased 16 lb-ft to 172.
For more information, click on GreenFuelsForecast.Com
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