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)

 

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.

 

Very nice, just a question whats under the hood and whats the reg consumption of it, i just hope it has a cheap tag price.
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Autopartswarehouse

 

It's interesting that you don't event know the difference between mild and full hybrid vehicles. And as another person stated, Ford beat Honda to the hybrid market. The Fusion will be a full hybrid, while the Malibu is a mild hybrid, so expect very good gas mileage.

 

It's good that Ford wants to *finally* compete against the Camry hybrid. If Ford can match the Camry's FE for a slightly cheaper price, or get a slightly better FE for the same price, they'll have a real winner!

 

The Ford Fusion Hybrid will feature the 2.5L ICE with the modular hybrid system. Rumors from insiders at the Ford Plant are indicating fuel efficiency that exceeds the Toyota Campy. It should be noted the modular hybrid system (hardware) is different from the Escape Hybrid. As mentioned before, there is additional software changes to be introduced that the current 2009 Escape Hybrid does not have. Ford actually had a 2005 Fusion Hybrid that was shown to Escape Hybrid Owners at the Escape Exprience in October 2005 but...determined it would be cost effective to design a hybrid system that can be "dropped" into a number of different engine bays and vehicles. Thus the delay and look for the hybrid version of a Lincoln Vehicle next year.