In their second year on the market, the 2014 Ford Fusion Hybrid and its plug-in hybrid sibling, the Fusion Energi, remain attractive and efficient versions of the stylish and well-received Fusion mid-size sedan that was all new for the 2013 model year. All Fusions share remarkably good handling, sleek lines that remind some of nothing… …read more
By John Rosevear, The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
Ford’s Fusion Hybrid. Photo credit: Ford Motor Company
Here’s a bit of good news for Ford : The Blue Oval’s sales of hybrids were up 324% in the first quarter, thanks to strong sales of several new models.
Ford now has a 16% share of the U.S. market for “electrified vehicles” – electric cars and hybrids, it said on Wednesday.
And even better for Ford, many of the hybrids it’s selling are loaded.
A serious push into the green-car market for Ford
Ford said that it sold 21,080 hybrid vehicles in the U.S. in the first quarter. That’s not a huge number when compared to something like Ford’s pickup sales, but hybrids don’t (yet) represent a huge market. Market leader Toyota sold 55,724 Priuses here in the first quarter, along with hybrid versions of several of its other models.
Clearly, Ford has a long way to go to catch up with Toyota on the hybrid front. But, just as clearly, the automaker that only a few years ago was known mostly for its pickups and SUVs has made good progress with its greener models in a short time.
It’s already paying off for Ford. The company said on Wednesday that its hybrid and plug-in versions of the Fusion sedan and C-MAX compact were helping Ford make inroads into markets that were previously cold to the Detroit automakers – like California. Ford says that 73% of Fusion Hybrid buyers in Los Angeles, and 77% in San Francisco, are coming to Ford from another brand.
What’s more, those sales are particularly profitable ones for Ford, because hybrid buyers turn out to like lots of high-tech options.
Why these sales are particularly profitable
As is true with most automakers, options packages are worth big bucks to Ford. The profit realized by the manufacturer on any given car or truck increases significantly if it’s loaded with options, and Ford has put a lot of effort into offering premium options packages that have strong appeal with buyers.
Ford says that 70% of Fusion Hybrid buyers are opting for the MyFord Touch package, Ford’s well-known touchscreen “infotainment” system, versus about 50% of buyers of the conventional gas-powered Fusion. Ford also says that Fusion Hybrid buyers select high-tech safety options, like its blind-spot alert and active parking assist systems, at about twice the rate of regular Fusion buyers.
That should add up to an outsized contribution to Ford’s bottom line — and another reason why this is a good business for Ford to be capturing.
Competing well with Toyota
As I said above, Ford still has a ways to go to catch Toyota, still the undisputed global hybrid leader. But Ford’s making progress: Ford cited data from Edmunds.com showing that the Fusion Hybrid and C-MAX Hybrid were getting “consideration” from potential buyers roughly equal to Toyota’s Camry Hybrid and Prius.
The company also pointed out that it was winning those sales with incentives that
From: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/04/11/ford-is-selling-a-lot-of-hybrids/
By Zach Bowman
Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Ford, New Car Reviews
Your Mileage May Vary
As difficult as it is to write this, I was actually excited about the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid. With the beautiful looks of the newest midsize fighter from Ford and a fuel economy estimate capable of shaming even the stalwart Camry Hybrid, the battery-augmented four-door seemed like a recipe for unabashed success. But appearances love nothing more than swapping our boundless enthusiasm for cold platters of disappointment. The 2013 Fusion Hybrid gets hobbled right out of the gate with a lofty price tag, and real-world driving keeps the sedan from even approaching those EPA figures.
With so many excellent midsize hybrids on the market, is there any reason to consider the newest Fusion Hybrid? Are sharp aesthetics, a well-executed interior and capable driving dynamics enough to overcome the machine’s shortfalls? Not from where I’m standing.
Continue reading 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid
2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Apr 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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A California lawsuit over the fuel economy claims for the 2013 Ford C-Max was first reported back in December. Based on the numerous reports we’ve heard of disgruntled owners failing to get their car’s EPA fuel economy ratings on the C-Max and 2013 Fusion Hybrid, we suspected there would be more to this story. The Detroit News is reporting that two California law firms are combining their lawsuits against Ford on this matter for “false and misleading” claims.
The article states that there are hundreds of C-Max and Fusion Hybrid owners who have joined the lawsuit, but the issue isn’t limited to customers. In December, Consumer Reports extensively tested both the Fusion Hybrid and C-Max and found that both hybrids performed significantly worse than their EPA claims. This all comes just a few months after Hyundai and Kia took the unprecedented step of lowering the fuel economy ratings for all of their 2012 and 2013 model-year vehicles.
Ford C-Max, Fusion hybrids subject of MPG lawsuit in California originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Today at The Car Connection, Hyundai recalled the 2012 Veloster and Volvo released more images of the refreshed 2014 S60 sedan. The convertible Scion FR-S has been previewed and Ferrari teased its new supercar before its debut next week. All this and more in today’s car news, right here on The Car Connection. The Ford C-Max and Fusion Hybrid gas… …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at The Car Connection
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The U.S. News Best Cars for the Money Awards picks winners by looking at the average transaction price, five-year total cost of ownership, the regard a car has from the automotive press, reliability figures from J.D. Power and Associates and safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The result, according to the magazine, is “the best combination of critical acclaim and long-term value.”
Ford nabbed six of the 21 categories that received awards this year, the Focus, Fusion, Fusion Hybrid, Taurus, Escape and Edge getting trophies. Toyota and its Lexus and Scion sub-brands took another five, the Tacoma and Tundra owning the two categories given to pickup trucks. The other ten awards were split between Honda with three, Buick with two, and one each for Subaru, BMW, Hyundai, Chevrolet and Mazda.
Follow the link to see all the winners and read about why they were chosen.
Ford, Toyota clean up in Best Car For The Money Awards originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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By Chris Tutor
Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Safety, Ford
Ford’s Fusion and Fusion Hybrid have both received the highest five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The rating is a big upgrade for the Fusion, which was completely redesigned for 2013. The previous model fell one star short of the top rating, after scoring only three stars in the frontal crash test and four stars in the side crash test and rollover evaluations. The 2013 Fusion received four stars in side crash and rollover testing and a full five stars in the front crash test.
Test results for the 2013 Fusion and Fusion Hybrid were greatly improved at least in part due to Ford’s Personal Safety System. The system utilizes smarter sensors to gather crash data and tailor the car’s restraint systems to the occupants. Seatbelt usage and seat position are taken into account to ensure airbags deploy with less pressure for smaller drivers, more for larger drivers.
The 2013 Fusion twins also received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick+ designation. Read the official press release below.
Continue reading Ford Fusion and Fusion Hybrid nab five-star ratings from NHTSA
Ford Fusion and Fusion Hybrid nab five-star ratings from NHTSA originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog
Filed under: Budget, Hybrid, Sedan, Hatchback, Ford, Electric
Waiting for a Ford compliment from Consumer Reports these days is like waiting for a low-cost new product from Apple. So we weren’t really expecting a glowing review of the 2013 Ford Fusion when CR got its hands on the car. The institute’s crew bought three different versions of the Fusion (Hybrid, 1.6-liter EcoBoost and a Titanium with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost) to put through its barrage of tests, and while we aren’t too surprised by some of the findings, they’re still interesting nonetheless.
CR praises the Fusion for its “eye-catching” design and says that the sportier Titanium trim level is the best-handling midsize sedan they’ve ever tested, but that’s about where the good news ends for Ford. The Fusion Hybrid also posted the best-ever fuel economy CR has recorded in a midsize sedan, but the only problem is that their number was 39 miles per gallon combined – far less than Ford’s 47 mpg rating for city, highway and combined. As expected, CR also dinged the Fusion for its MyFord Touch, but some of the other gripes about the car include a cramped cabin and poor fit and finish.
Other Ford products tested this time around include the Focus Electric and C-Max Hybrid. Like the Fusion, CR‘s observed fuel economy of 37 mpg for the C-Max fell well short of Ford’s advertised 47-mpg rating, and both cars were criticized for the use of MyFord Touch. CR notes that the Focus Electric‘s interior is also cramped, with the battery pack taking up a lot of cargo space.
In other news, CR slams the Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric car rather mercilessly, something that is perhaps less surprising. The institute digs into the low-cost urban runabout for its lack of speed, payload, and chintzy finish, among other things.
You can check out videos about the Fusion Hybrid, Focus Electric and i-MiEV by scrolling below.
Continue reading Consumer Reports: Ford Fusion fun but flawed; Mitsubishi i-MiEV slow, chintzy [w/videos]
Consumer Reports: Ford Fusion fun but flawed; Mitsubishi i-MiEV slow, chintzy [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog
