2013 Fusion sets Detroit standard
Detroit Auto Show media mobbed the Ford Fusion after its introduction.
By John Gilbert
DETROIT, MI. — Is it too early to proclaim a breakthrough vehicle for 2013? If the Detroit Auto Show press preview is any indication, the completely renovated Ford Fusion makes a bold stand as the early leader among a Cobo Hall filled with impressive automotive statements for styling and technical advancement.
But there was plenty of competition, also. Ford unveiled the new Fusion a month ago to selected auto journalists, under the promise of secrecy until the Monday, January 9, first press day of the 2012 show, which runs through January 22. If that was to assure thorough technical understanding of the new car, Chrysler did the same thing with its all-new Dodge Dart, which was shown as a concept car last year at the Chicago Auto Show, and was shown in production form with similar orders of nondisclosure, for the new compact with the old name, based on the Alfa Romeo Giuletta.
Familiar name in an all-new compact, the stylish Dodge Dart is based on the Alfa Romeo Giuletta platform.
Chevrolet, which recently introduced its new Malibu, unveiled at the show an RS model of its just-released subcompact Sonic, and introduced two other youthful performance cars, the TRU 140S, and the 130R rear-drive coupe. And Cadillac previewed its compact ATS sedan, then displayed at the show its XTS, a sleek sedan that will replace both the departed STS and larger DTS.
The press preview started with Monday morning’s naming of the Hyundai Elantra as 2012 North American Car of the Year, and the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque as North American Truck of the Year. The Elantra amassed 174 points from the 50 jury members, who could apportion 10 voting points among among the three finalists. Second was the Volkswagen Passat at 161, with the Ford Focus third at 155, in one of the closes races in the award’s 19-year history. The Evoque accumulated 254 points, outrunning the Honda CR-V’s 142, and the BMW X3, which placed third with 94 points.
It is the first victory for Land Rover, while Hyundai won with the Genesis two years ago, was runner-up with its iconic Sonata last year, and wins again with the Elantra. John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai of America, vowed the Korean company intends to continue on its current rise, and after the introduction of the sporty new Veloster upgrading to a turbocharged model, and a Genesis coupe with high-tech upgrades, Krafcik said, “Hyundai has become known as a terrific value brand, and we are now becoming a valuable brand.”
Restyled Fusion offers a 100-mpg Hybrid model with 500 patents on the technology.
But the Domestic Three — formerly known as the Big Three — soon took over the spotlight amid an array of compacts, compact utility, hybrids and futuristic styling concepts. The Fusion was a little bit of all those features, with eye-popping lines, and became arguably the most talked-about introduction at the show, forcing an abrupt transition from displays of the best of the 2012 models to the newest coming vehicles for 2013.
“When the Fusion was first introduced in 2006, it quickly became a cornerstone vehicle for Ford,†said Mark Fields, president of the Americas for Ford. “It also has become Ford’s conquest vehicle, and it has continued to sell well, selling 248,000 in 2011.â€
The new Fusion has dramatic styling, with a completely new grille that replaces the horizontal bar grille that had become identifiable on virtually all Ford vehicles. The new car has a low, open grille that resembles an Aston Martin, with sleek horizontal headlights wrapping around and creating an overall low and exotic/sporty look. The silhouette is also distinctive, and the tail wraps together with a fast-sloping rear angle that looks similar to the Audi A7. Just as impressive is that under the hood, the Fusion will come with a standard 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, plus a pair of EcoBoost turbocharged 4s, measuring 1.6 and 2.0 in displacement.
The 1.6 EcoBoost comes with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic, while the 2.0 EcoBoost has only an automatic, but offers an all-wheel drive alternative. Ford’s biggest splash with the Fusion will be its completely revised hybrid system, using lithium-ion technology. Ford sources said 500 patents were made off the hybrid system, and suggest it might be the best hybrid in the world, using Atkinson-cycle technology on the 2.0 combining with the hybrid to get over 100 miles per gallon.
Lincoln made its bid to regain relevance among luxury buyers with a slick new MKZ that could attract traditional luxury buyers back to the brand.
Acura NSX concept replaces the much-loved but discontinued NSX 2-seat, mid-engined sports car.
Honda is the unquestioned best at keeping its new vehicles secret, and its upscale Acura brand unveiled an impressive trio of cars on the first press day, including a revised new RDX crossover SUV, an ILX concept sedan, and a long-rumored replacement for the NSX sports car.
Honda itself displayed what it calls a concept version of the 2013 Accord coupe, which is not greatly changed from the slick current coupe model, but it is downsized to be shorter in overall length and slightly lower, but maintains the same interior room. It finally foregoes its aging 5-speed automatic transmission by issuing a new continuously-variable transmission, and a 6-speed automatic, as well as a 6-speed stick. Honda is updating its engine line to something called Earth Dreams Tech, with strong but small engines for its mini cars, and suggests it will start putting a 1.6-liter diesel in some models. Honda also promises a plug-in hybrid that will automatically select when it can run on pure electric and when it will operate as a regular hybrid.
Not to be outdone, Toyota offers a new Prius c, for city, which is a smaller, more compact Prius. That gives the hybrid family the normal Prius, the larger, wagon-like Prius V for 2011, and now the smaller Prius c, which will start under $20,000 and put hybrids in reach of younger buyers on a budget. The plug-in hybrid on the 2011 Prius can run 10-15 miles on pure electric — like the Chevrolet Volt — but then can run as a full hybrid when the batter pack is totally depleted — unlike the Volt.
Toyota also is overing an electric version of its Scion iQ, and RAV4, the latter of which uises a Tesla system with well over 100 miles per full charge. Toyota also showed an NS4 concept, a sleek 4-door that uses solar panels in the roof and cameras instead of side mirrors. The Lexus brand for Toyota displayed its new GS sedan, which goes on sale in February, and a new LF-LC Coupe that is a beautifully sculpted exotic sports car.
From Europe, Mercedes showed a Smart for-us model, which is a mini pickup based on the Smart car. It also has a hybrid, and a BueTECH hybrid one with a 4.2-liter gas engine, and the other with a turbo-diesel that should get outstanding fuel economy in the E300, coming this summer.
BMW shows a new Mini hardtop, and its new 3-Series, plus a new line of hybrids. Among the show-stoppers is a BMW i8 concept car that takes BMW styling to its futuristic best.
Audi Q3 Vail is a new compact crossover SUV.
Audi surprised everyone with the Q3 Vail, a stubby but attractive compact crossover SUV that fills out a fleet with the full-size Q7, midsize Q5 and now the compact Q3. Audi’s dependable turbo-diesel will be coming in the A6 by 2013.
Bentley, known for its exotic and overpowering sports cars with astronomical horsepower and torque figures, offered its newest vehicle with a departure from 6.75-liter V8s and a 6-liter W-12 to a new and extremely high-tech 4-liter V8, twin-turbocharged to turn out 500 horsepower.
Nissan showed off a stylish new concept version of its new Pathfinder, which goes the low, sleek and stylish departure from the boxy traditional style of the mainstay SUV. Mazda, which recently introduced its Skyactiv Mazda3 and also previously introduced its stylish CX-5 compact crossover with Skyactiv, displayed both prominently.
Buick brought a return to the domestic flurry of late, adding a new Encore compact crossover SUV as a younger sibling to the popular Enclave. A 5-passenger vehicle, the Encore will be built in Korea and be powered by a 1.4-liter 4-cylinder with a 6-speed automatic — the same engine that was refined since starting life as an Opel Astra powerplant then evolved into the Chevrolet Cruze, and Sonic, and Buick Verano.
The optimism was tangible throughout the Detroit show’s displays, a major change from the depression of two years ago, and the greatly curtailed show of last year, when domestic dealers — particularly GM and Chrysler — were keeping their fingers crossed while proclaiming hope for the near future. That appears to have come to fruition, and the 2012 Detroit Auto Show proves it.
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About the Author
John Gilbert is a lifetime Minnesotan and career journalist, specializing in cars and sports during and since spending 30 years at the Minneapolis Tribune, now the Star Tribune. More recently, he has continued translating the high-tech world of autos and sharing his passionate insights as a freelance writer/photographer/broadcaster. A member of the prestigious North American Car and Truck of the Year jury since 1993. John can be heard Monday-Friday from 9-11am on 610 KDAL(www.kdal610.com) on the "John Gilbert Show," and writes a column in the Duluth Reader.
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