No Cold Fusion

Ford heats up its midsize sedan, with impressive results.
By Bill Heald

Whether or not you’re a fan of the Ford Motor Company, there’s no denying the company is full of surprises. This includes hiring former Boeing engineer and cockpit designer Alan Mulally as CEO in 2006, which has no doubt in fluenced the digital voice/touchscreen interfaces that are part of Ford’s strategy to bring these fresh technologies to automotive applications. Also integral to its plans are a family of all-new “EcoBoost” engines that combine smaller displacements, lighter weight, and state-of-the-art turbocharging to boost power and fuel economy while increasing refinement and overall drivability. This is cool stuff, sure, but with the Fusion we’re still talking about a car that competes with the likes of Camrys and Altimas. What could Ford do to really get our attention when there’s so much exotic hotness out there?

What the company has done is pack all the new hardware and software into a body that looks right at home parked with the aforementioned exotic hotness. More likely to be mistaken for an Aston Martin or a Jaguar than some altered Taurus, the Fusion’s aggressive, sophisticated styling is a great way of introducing a stout, well-mannered chassis along with an intriguing choice in power trains. There’s a 2.5-liter in-line four, but the fun begins with the two Eco-Boost offerings in 1.6- and 2-liter variants. We sampled the 1.6 to see if it was actually possible to take such a wee displacement engine and make it work satisfyingly in a car this size, and to test whether it can exploit the new chassis’ prowess. With only 178 horse – power on tap, could this mill get sufficient steam up through turbocharging to motivate a sedan that looks like it should be lapping the competition? Thanks to a very efficient six-speed SelectShift Automatic transmission calibrated to optimize power, the Fusion is surprising fun on tight stretches of road, and a manual six speed is also available for even more driver involvement. The goal of Eco-Boost turbocharging is to increase power across the rev range (compared to the more high-strung turbos of the past), thus giving the impression you’re driving a car with a larger engine. MacPherson struts up front, along with state-of-the-art multi link rear-suspension components (Ford compares it to BMW and Audi designs), deliver handling precision and a firm ride that is far sportier than what midsize sedans typically offer. You can toss the Fusion around with surprising ease, and ideal weight distribution (thanks in part to the EcoBoost’s small size) and body stiffness enhance every aspect of the car’s handling, braking included.

This aspect of the new Fusion, along with its striking packaging, are what make this car desirable, and a sign of Ford’s new commitment to make enthusiasts’ cars instead of mere conveyances. Substantial changes to the interior also round out the package, including sharp, contemporary design. As mentioned above, Ford is determined to be an industry leader in bringing touchscreen tech into the “cockpit,” and MyFord Touch is its solution to the notion that previous control designs have become too antiquated. Ultimately, by bringing a voice/touch interface to most common infotainment functions, this system is attractive, but a huge step sideways in mitigating driver distraction. Far more welcome is the bevy of radar-enhanced aids, such as adaptive cruise control, along with lane departure, cross-traffic, and blindspot alert systems. There’s even optional active-park assist that can moor the Fusion for you, but then this denies the driver the pleasure of the Blues Brothers–style parking that the taut chassis invites. The great thing about new technology is that a lot of it has an off switch, so you can appreciate the mechanical excellence the Fusion offers in its purest form. This alone is a big step forward, and the reason why this car’s overall performance is so surprising.