2013 Ford Fusion: Up Close

Last year, Ford design chief J Mays said he thought headlights on cars were getting out of hand. They're functional elements; there's no reason they need to be huge, Mays (no relation to me) said.

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You can see the results for yourself on the 2013 Ford Fusion, whose thin headlights are only as big as they need to be. The Fusion's grille, on the other hand, is huge and slung forward, perched atop a lower inlet. At least most of it is functional, which is something I couldn't say for the grille on Ford's 2013 Lincoln MKS.

2013 Ford Fusion Video

The redesigned 2013 Ford Fusion is all-new for the model year, featuring unique Euro-influenced styling. The new midsize Fusion will be sold nearly unchanged in Europe as the Ford Mondeo, according to Cars.com Industry Analyst Kelsey Mays. Its looks aren't the only thing that’s changed; the model no longer features a V-6 option but instead opts for five fuel-efficient four-cylinder engines, including a hybrid and Ford's first plug-in hybrid powertrain.

2013 Ford Fusion, Fusion Hybrid, Fusion Energi at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show

• Competes with: Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Chevrolet Malibu
• Looks like: Ford's Evos Concept bore fruit ... right away
• Drivetrain: 170-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder, 179-hp, turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder or 237-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with six-speed manual (1.6-liter only) or six-speed automatic; front- or all-wheel drive (Fusion); 185-hp (combined), 2.0-liter four-cylinder with electric motor (Fusion Hybrid, Energi)
• Hits dealerships: Fall 2012

Car shoppers returned to family sedans in December, and a fresh round of products will greet them in 2012. Ford kicks things off with the next-generation Fusion, which hits U.S. dealers this fall and international markets as the Mondeo in early 2013.

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Ford says 70% of consumers see midsize sedans as a lookalike group, and 43% who trade theirs in say they did so just to have something different. The Fusion cuts through this, falling into Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata territory for outside-the-box styling. Design cues mirror the Evos Concept from last year's Frankfurt Motor Show, with thin headlamps that sweep clear toward the front fenders and a low, forward grille. The beltline stays visually flat — in contrast to the rising lines on most sedans — and the bumper runs flush with the trunk lid, with integrated tailpipes beneath. Wheels range from 16 to 19 inches, and trim levels include the S, SE and Titanium. There will also be Fusion Hybrid and plug-in Energi models; the Energi arrives closer to the end of the year.

PickupTrucks.com Tests the 2012 Ford Transit Connect Electric

Ford plans on selling an electric version of its Focus compact car, but the automaker’s first gas-free offering is the Transit Connect Electric. Based on the van that was launched in the U.S. for 2010, the Transit Connect Electric trades the traditional version’s 136-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engine for a 74-hp electric motor and a 28-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. But are more robust acceleration and a smaller carbon footprint enough to justify the 2012 Transit Connect Electric’s $35,000 price premium over the base version? According to Cars.com Editor Mike Hanley, Transit Connect Electric’s high cost will be a significant hurdle to its success.

2012 Ford Transit Connect Electric Review

2013 Ford Fusion, Explorer to Get Lane Mitigation System

For the 2013 model year, the completely redesigned Ford Fusion will get an available lane departure warning system. The safety feature, usually reserved for luxury vehicles from Mercedes-Benz or Volvo, will help keep drivers aware of lane markings and alert drivers if they're drowsy.

The feature, which Ford calls the Lane Keeping System, uses a camera mounted on the windshield in front of the rearview mirror; it helps record and detect lane markings. Once the car is traveling faster than 40 mph, the steering wheel will vibrate — simulating the feel of going over rumble strips — if you try to change lanes without using a turn signal. If the driver doesn't respond and continues to drift into another lane, the electric power-assisted steering will kick in and slowly steer the car back into its lane, Ford says. (Mercedes' system works in a similar way.) If the driver is actively trying to switch lanes without indicating, the slight tug of the Lane Keeping System can be easily overridden, Ford says.

Reader Review of the Week: 2012 Ford Fusion

Lowell from Niagara Falls, N.Y., is a new owner of a 2012 Ford Fusion. After looking for a replacement for his 2001 Mercury Sable wagon, Lowell considered several Ford vehicles — including the Escape and Focus — but settled on the Fusion because of its quiet and comfortable ride. This reader holds out hope that Ford will build a proper station wagon one day, however. Continue reading the full review to find out more. Once you're done, write a review about your own car here.

Dodge Caliber, Dodge Nitro, Ford Ranger Officially Dead

The oft-forgotten Dodge Caliber and Dodge Nitro are officially dead; both vehicles ceased production this month. The old, but still popular, Ford Ranger compact pickup has also ended production, according to PickupTrucks.com.

The 2012 Caliber officially kicked the bucket this past Friday. The Caliber, which was produced at Chrysler Belvidere Assembly in Illinois, will be replaced by the 2013 Dodge Dart. The new compact sedan will go into production at the plant in August or September. In preparation for the Dart, the plant got a $600 million upgrade.

Naughty or Nice: Multimedia Systems

Automakers have the challenge of integrating the latest multimedia devices and their massive capabilities into new cars. It’s no easy feat when advanced functions like streaming Bluetooth audio, voice recognition and Pandora internet radio are part of the package. Of the systems that aim to do it all, some have succeeded while others are still a work in progress.

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Naughty or Nice: Shifters

A proper shifter inspires confidence in the overall driving experience by adding precision to the transmission’s operation. Manual transmission shifters may automatically come to mind as potential culprits when done wrong, but automatic transmissions can drop the ball in similar ways even without a manual clutch to get in the way.
 
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Recall Alert: 2011 Ford F-150, 2012 Ford F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550

Ford is recalling more than 16,000 F-Series pickups from the 2011-12 model years because the transmission can be shifted out of Park without pressing the brake pedal, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall affects the 2011 Ford F-150 and 2012 models of the F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550. The vehicles were built between Sept. 9 and Sept. 22. You can check the vehicle’s build date on a sticker on the driver-side doorjamb.

A defective brake shift interlock switch may allow the driver to inadvertently shift the vehicle into gear without pressing the brake pedal, increasing the risk of a crash or injury to a nearby pedestrian.

Owners will be notified next week, and dealers will inspect the brake shift interlock switch and replace the switch if necessary at no charge. Owners can call Ford at 866-436-7332 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.