Tis true...spy photos of the Ford Fusion Hybrid rumored to be ready for the 2009 model year.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/6070816....rid-spy-photos

Nate

Well, you can see where they got the HYBRID emblem from lol. It looks normal on a FEH but huge in a Fusion (Esp. next to the FUSION emblem)

Mods: EV mod, VVT-i emblem, sport pedals, OEM cargo mat, JDM Prius interior footwell lighting, Sylvania Silverstars 9003ST, DICE iPod kit, OEM all-weather mats, TomTom ONE v2, LED licence plate lights.

The text mentions new front and rear styling is expected before it is released... so it sounds like its an "engineering model" to work out the kinks in the system. Presumably at that time it will get its own dedicated HYBRID emblem thats a bit more appropriate, but I'll guess they just slapped on the one that is already for the FEH as you stated.

The 2009 Fusion Hybrid is rumored to run on "a brand new system dubbed “Gen II” – which is modeled after the Escape hybrid, but offers more US-sourced technology, better packaging flexibility, and better fuel efficiency."

http://www.autosavant.net/2007/09/pr...09-fusion.html

Fuel efficiency should be class-leading then, considering the Escape Hybrid already gets (negligibly) better '08 EPA city fuel economy than the Camry Hybrid.

Considering that the Chevy Malibu Hybrid gets only 2 mpg more than the standard Malibu, don't hold your breath for the Fusion.

And be wary of the ol' Saturn-style mpg comparison -- where they build a 4-cyl. hybrid and compare the mpg to the standard V6.

I give Ford a bit more credit than GM, since the Escape Hybrid has been in production for years now, and offers a real improvement in mpg. But, like GM, Ford is WAY late to the game on fuel efficiency.

Toyota and Honda were hybrid BEFORE it was cool.

That's like saying, "Considering that the '06 Accord V-6 Hybrid gets only 4 more mpg than the standard Accord V-6, don't hold your breath for the '07 Camry Hybrid." What does GM's light-hybrid BAS system have to do with Ford's full-hybrid system, especially when they're from different companies? That doesn't make any sense.

OK, thanks, but no mpg comparisons have even been made for this Fusion. And FWIW, Saturn compared the VUE Green Line mpg against the VUE 4-cylinder for both 2007 and 2008 models.

Honda currently has the Civic Hybrid... and what else? Similarly, Ford has the Escape Hybrid (which, btw, has a greater FE % increase, saves more gas, and offers improved acceleration vs. the non-hybrid, as opposed to worse).

As far as non-hybrids...

Focus - 24/35
Civic - 26/34

Taurus - 18/28
Accord - 19/29

Escape - 20/26
CR-V - 20/27
Element - 20/25

Taurus X - 16/24
Pilot - 16/22

F-150 V8 - 14/19
Ridgeline - 15/20

So was Ford. Hell, they had a full-hybrid system that could propel itself on electricity before Honda.