Ford launched its Ford Fusion+ combine SUV styling with the touch-up of a hatchback and the utility of an MPV. 

 

This 4-cylinder all aluminum engines develops maximum power of 100PS at 6500rpm and 143NM of torque at 3400rpm. This more modern engine has been adopted in keeping with the positioning of the Fusion and features throttle-by-wire technology. The engine breathes through 16 valves (intake being 30.1mm and exhaust 24.1mm) which are controlled by belt driven double overhead camshafts. The car gets to a 100kmph in 12.74s and to 150krnph in 33.39s. Quarter mile comes up in 18.20s while it gets to the one kilometer mark in 33.88s. Top speed though is a respectable 174kmph which it gets to in fourth gear. The car gave over 9kmpl in the city; it returned just 15.5kmpl on the highway with the air con switched off. If this figure had been close to the 20kmpl mark.

 

Alloy wheels come as a standard fitment in Fusion+. Besides imparting impressive looks to the Fusion+ they also help in vehicle performance by virtue of them being stronger and lighter weight as compared to normal steel wheels. Its sized 15-inch wheels and tyre combination - 195/60R 15 tyres. Fusion’s vertical tailgate goes down so low that there is no place on the bumper to accommodate the rear number plate which has been housed on the tailgate. A stand-alone, enlarged Ford oval below the ridge and under the tail lamp line adds welcome relief to the wide and plain expanse of the tailgate above the recess for the number plate. A very thoughtful design element is that the tail lamps are mounted vertically, high on the C-pillars so as to stand out in the traffic and increase safety as well as to ensure that they do not get damaged in the bump and grind of normal city traffic or while parking in cramped spaces. The B-pillar has been designed to provide high strength in its centre and crushability in its lower and upper joints. This ensures that the structure has inherent capability to absorb crash energy.

 

Fusion+ sports body colored outside mirrors, rear and front bumper cladding, body colored door handles and tailgate handle. The look is further accentuated by stylish body colored wheel arch and rocker panel cladding. Fusion’s body structure has been designed to minimize footwell intrusion in a frontal crash and a decoupling brake pedal assembly has been designed to minimize the potential for injuries to the lower extremities.  Fusion’s MacPherson strut front suspension incorporates Ford’s newly developed techniques for better road performance and handling speed-breakers. These techniques include dual-path top mounts that enhance steering precision as the large-diameter springs are offset to be in line with load inputs. This full lateral compensation reduces operating friction and facilitates optimal damper operation. Monotube dampers are fitted as standard equipment on Fusion’s rear suspension. The dampers are also compact, which helps to minimize their intrusion into the vehicle’s luggage space. The cabin itself has a number of cubby holes and storage spaces, with the glove compartment itself not being too small. There are a couple of power outlets - useful for charging mobiles and the Fusion Plus comes with a removable centre console for the rear seat which can serve as an armrest as well as a cup holder and storage for knick knacks. In case four people use the car this can be left on all the time but in case the fifth seat is needed it can be removed and stowed in a custom-made bag that comes with the car.

 

 

Ford Fusion used the standard power-assisted steering system that optimized for significantly improved steering feel and for reduced effort in low-speed manoeuvres. A hydraulic power-assisted steering system, with a high-pressure/low-flow engine-driven pump, gives Fusion superior feel and strong linear response characteristics plus low parking effort. The optimized steering gear combined with its very low turning circle of 9.8 metres is ideal for making it a very handy vehicle around the city. Its leather-wrapped steering wheel takes only 3.3 turns from lock to lock. With a view to provide the driver with the confidence of predictable handling characteristics the twist-beam’s toe-correcting pivot bushings have been optimized at an angle of 25° to achieve strong lateral compliance. The seats are comfortable and supportive with the front seats being adjustable for height. That combined with the steering adjustment, it is very easy to arrive at a good driving position in no time at all. Except that you do not know what to do with the left foot because there is not much space to put it on the left of the clutch pedal. So you have to withdraw it and then push it under the clutch pedal - a process that feels quite laborious perhaps because one is not used to it. The Fusion+ comes fitted with an Audio CD player and radio system. The CD system is connected to 4 factory fitted speakers.

 

The air conditioning system features the same mechanicals that are used in the Ikon - so cooling is excellent but what is most annoying is that one has to press the re-circulation button each time either the system or the car is switched on. It may be a good thing for it to be in the fresh air mode most of the time but in the polluted Indian cities it works the other way round. There will be just a few occasions every week when one can use the fresh air mode without gagging or taking in fumes. One remembers that the button has to be pressed only when one wonders where the smoke is coming from. So it will be a good idea for the engineers at Ford to put the recirculation mode as default.

Filed under: Ford Cars in India