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Ford Fusion Energi Plug-In Hybrid Gets EPA Rating
[January 07, 2013]

Ford Fusion Energi Plug-In Hybrid Gets EPA Rating


Jan 07, 2013 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- The 2013 Ford Fusion, recently voted Green Car of the Year, has become greener as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency certified the new Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid at up to 108 MPGe, making it America's most fuel-efficient sedan.



According to a release, Fusion Energi is the Ford brand's fifth electrified vehicle to launch in the past year and is expected to accelerate the company's record hybrid sales pace, including its highest monthly hybrid sales month ever in November. Ford is seeing demand for fuel economy across its lineup as the brand ranks No. 1 in fuel economy customer satisfaction by J.D. Power and now beats Toyota for efficiency in every segment where both compete.

Ford said the EPA also certified Fusion Energi to deliver up to 92 MPGe highway and a combined 100 MPGe figures that could potentially help save customers an estimated $6,850 in fuel costs compared with an average new car over the course of five years.


"The Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid is the exclamation point for Ford's transformed lineup of fuel-efficiency leaders that now beats Toyota across the board," said Raj Nair, group vice president, Global Product Development.

Adding to Fusion Energi's value and the myriad ways it beats Toyota Prius plug-in are its technologies that are designed to help win over both novice and pro hybrid owners.

SmartGauge with EcoGuide, for example, provides in-vehicle customizable displays, including instantaneous fuel economy readings and coaching functions to help drivers understand and optimize their fuel efficiency.

Sync with MyFord Touch offers multiple ways including voice commands for customers to manage and control their phone, available navigation, entertainment and climate functions. Plug-in hybrids and all-electric models have additional options for monitoring information like battery state of charge.

EV+ combines the built-in GPS of Ford Sync with proprietary software algorithms developed by Ford engineers to learn frequent destinations. As a result, vehicles give drivers more drive time in electric-only mode.

Such technologies have helped get sales for Ford's electrified vehicle lineup up and running. With more than 19,000 hybrid vehicle sales projected, the automaker expects total fourth-quarter hybrid sales to set an all-time record for a three-month period, with more than half of hybrid sales this year expected to come in the fourth quarter.

In fact, the Company noted that C-Max sold 8,030 units in October and November. The pace beat Toyota Camry Hybrid's 7,300 sales in its first two full months of availability in May and June 2006.

"The response to C-Max really shows the amount of pent-up demand from a specific market for C-segment hybrids," said C.J. O'Donnell, marketing manager, Ford Electrified Vehicles. "Fusion Energi has a different audience in the midsize sedan market, but delivers many of the characteristics and technologies that make C-Max Energi so great, which is why we're anticipating a similar positive response." C-Max is geared toward those most concerned with fuel economy, but designed so that owners aren't forced to sacrifice comfort and convenience.

Fusion is designed with the driver's sense of style in mind, delivering a midsize sedan that offers functional design elements that enhance its sleek exterior and promote fuel economy. A video explaining the origin of Fusion Energi can be found here.

With Fusion Energi and Fusion Hybrid, the Company said the all-new Fusion lineup brings a range of powertrain options to the U.S. midsize segment. Fusion also is available in gas-powered versions with a choice between a pair of fuel-efficient EcoBoost engines and a normally aspirated four-cylinder engine.

The addition of Fusion Energi gives customers yet another Ford option when shopping for an electrified vehicle already available are Focus Electric, Fusion Hybrid, C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi.

Three of the vehicles Focus Electric, C-Max Energi and now Fusion Energi have received EPA ratings of 100 MPGe or more. Focus Electric delivers EPA-estimated ratings of 110 MPGe city, 99 MPGe highway and 105 MPGe combined, making it America's most fuel-efficient five-passenger car. C-Max Energi has an EPA-estimated rating of 108 MPGe city, 92 MPGe highway and 100 MPGe combined.

Focus Electric went on sale in late 2011, followed by C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi the two vehicles that make up Ford's hybrid-only line in North America this past autumn.

Ford noted that fusing technologies Many of the technologies of Fusion Energi are shared across Ford's electrified vehicle lineup and draw from the automaker's portfolio of about 500 patents related specifically to hybrid technology: -MyFord Mobile: Enables access via smartphone or Web-based interface to perform key tasks, such as monitoring a vehicle's state of charge and current range or locating charge stations and planning routes to find them -Eco cruise: Saves vehicle energy by relaxing acceleration compared to standard cruise control -EV mode button: Conveniently mounted on the console to the right of the shifter allows a driver to switch vehicle operation between three modes: all-electric, normal hybrid operation and conserve battery power for later use -Regenerative braking is capable of capturing and reusing more than 90 percent of the braking energy normally lost during the braking process -Hybrid transmission, designed by Ford engineers in-house, is capable of operating at high speeds and in a smooth, fuel-efficient manner at the same time -Lithium-ion batteries used in Ford's electrified vehicle lineup covered by an eight-year/100,000-mile component limited warranty are smaller and lighter than nickel-metal-hybrid batteries used in previous-generation hybrids -Charge port with LED light ring, conveniently located on the driver's side and near the front of the car, it features a light ring that illuminates to indicate charge status Ford Motor Company is a global automotive company.

More information: http://corporate.ford.com ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected]))

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