Maybe It’s Time to Think Domestic Again
Monday, November 16th, 2009Shopping for a car for the holidays? Maybe, just maybe, it’s time to think domestic. Yeah, that’s right. Things are looking up for American car makers, especially for Ford, the only one of the Detroit Big Three to weather the storm without government loans. The 2009 Ford Fusion has edged into the ranks of the top-ten best-selling cars in America and it is the best-selling domestic.
For the first ten months or so of 2009, Ford has sold 151,137 Fusions, up 15 percent over previous sales. If you haven’t been paying attention, industry wide sales are down 25 percent. So, what’s so attractive about the Fusion line? Well, in particular the hybrid, which touts a combined fuel-efficiency rating of 39 mpg. About 20 percent of overall Fusion sales go to the hybrid model and 60 percent of those buyers are returning to a domestic car after owning an import. Times, are they a changing?
There’s no reason to think the 2010 Fusion hybrid won’t be just as popular with its 2.5-liter four cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine and two batter-powered electric motors. (Don’t forget the continuously variable transmission.) Together the output is a quite respectable 191 hp for the class. Ford has put the nickel-metal-hydride battery pack in the trunk and it is cooled by air drawn from the cabin rather than a separate system. The best news is that the batteries now produce 20 percent more juice than their predecessors, meaning the Fusion can reach speeds of 47 mph on all electric power. Definitely one to consider if you’re in the market for a new car this holiday season.