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Ford Fusion (European)
Encyclopedia
Ford Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta is a front wheel drive supermini/subcompact manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company and built in Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, China, India, Thailand and South Africa...
supermini
Supermini car
A supermini is a British term that describes automobiles larger than a city car but smaller than a small family car. This car class is also known as the B-segment across Europe, and as subcompact in North America....
produced by Ford of Europe
Ford Europe
-History:Ford of Europe was founded in 1967 on the merger of the British and German divisions of the Ford Motor Company. The original Ford Transit range of panel vans launched in 1965, was the first formal co-operation between the two entities, simultaneously developed to replace the German Ford...
since 2002 and sold in Europe and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
The design includes elements of both estates
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
and multi-purpose vehicles. Its extra height compared with the Fiesta is due to both roof racks, increased ground clearance and taller roof, which makes it roomier and more comfortable for taller drivers than regular superminis, drawing it closer to mini MPV
Mini MPV
Mini MPV is a car classification used to describe superminis or subcompacts which have taller build, fitting below the compact MPV and large MPV classifications....
s and mini SUV
Mini SUV
Mini SUV is a class of small sport utility vehicles with a length under . This class should not be confused with compact SUV, which refers to slightly larger vehicles, from ....
s.
A no-frills
Economy car
An economy car is an automobile that is designed for low cost operation. Typical economy cars are small, light weight, and inexpensive to buy. Economy car designers are forced by stringent design constraints to be inventive...
XUV
Crossover SUV
A crossover SUV is a vehicle built on a car platform and combining, in highly variable degrees, features of a sport utility vehicle with features from a passenger vehicle, especially those of a station wagon or hatchback.Using the unibody construction typical of passenger vehicles, the crossover...
version of the Fusion called the Ford EcoSport
Ford EcoSport
The Ford EcoSport is a mini SUV designed by the Ford-US Truck Vehicle Center and built in Brazil by Ford. The EcoSport is one of Ford's best-seller models in Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and Mexico...
is produced in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and sold in many Latin American countries. It is similar to the Fusion, but as any XUV
Crossover SUV
A crossover SUV is a vehicle built on a car platform and combining, in highly variable degrees, features of a sport utility vehicle with features from a passenger vehicle, especially those of a station wagon or hatchback.Using the unibody construction typical of passenger vehicles, the crossover...
it features an increased ride height, off-road suspension, larger wheels and dark bumpers.1.6 and 2.0-litre Duratec
Ford Duratec engine
The Duratec is a range of four, five, and six-cylinder gasoline engines produced by the Ford Motor Company, used in Ford, Mazda, Volvo, Caterham, Morgan, Tiger, Ginetta cars and by specialist engine tuner Cosworth....
petrol engine
Petrol engine
A petrol engine is an internal combustion engine with spark-ignition, designed to run on petrol and similar volatile fuels....
s and 1.4-litre TDCi diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
s with front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive is a form of engine/transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitudinal engine arrangement generally found in rear-wheel drive and...
or four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
are available.
Ford also used the name "Fusion" before the launch of the European Ford Focus, in communications with contractors working on elements of that model's launch publicity. Ford did not reveal whether the late change to "Focus" had been the result of a genuine change in its plans, or simply a desire to conceal the real name from the press until the company was ready for the launch.
In November 2005, a revised version of the Fusion went on sale. A number of cosmetic changes were introduced: both front and rear lights feature new detailing; and bumpers, side mouldings and door mirrors were also altered. Furthermore, a bright new colour palette was introduced.
Inside, the dashboard featured both a new design, and high-quality 'soft touch' materials. A new analogue instrument display features in a style similar to the Mk 2 Ford Focus.
Advanced new technology was also made available, including power-folding mirrors, automatic and 'home-safe' headlights, automatic windscreen wipers, Bluetooth with voice control, Trip computer, MP3 player connectivity and the Electronic Stability Program.
Fusion sales are strong, with Ford stating that the car accounts for fifteen per cent of sales in its sector.
In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the car is currently available in Style+, Zetec and Titanium trim levels. (1, 2, 3 and '+' were the trim levels for the original Fusion).
Equipment on the entry-level 1 included a cassette player, central locking, and dual front airbags. The 2 featured electric heated mirrors, electric front windows, a CD player and air conditioning. The 3 added alloy wheels, front fog lights and an alarm. The + model added larger alloys and privacy glass. This + model was introduced in May 2002.
Ford is bringing out a new Mini MPV called the B-MAX
Ford B-MAX
Ford B-MAX will be Ford's new subcompact mini MPV, built on the Ford B3 platform. It was unveiled for the first time at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show as a concept-car...
in 2012. It will have no pillars between the doors, giving a panoramic view from inside the car. It is believed that this glass will be shatter resistant and extra tough in case of an accident.
In media
In the 2002 Top Gear Awards it won the Most Pointless Car for being, as Richard HammondRichard Hammond
Richard Mark Hammond is an English broadcaster, writer, and journalist most noted for co-hosting car programme Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson and James May, as well as presenting Brainiac: Science Abuse on Sky 1.-Early life:...
described it, "a Ford Fiesta, in a hat."