10 Things You Need To Know About The 2013 Ford Fusion

The Ford Fusion has always been a standout in the mid-size family car segment and with its most recent redesign the Blue Oval is looking to keep that streak alive.  The 2013 Ford Fusion is a dramatic statement that pushes the boundaries of styling and efficiency while still delivering a four-door automobile that is more fun to drive than might be expected given its pricing and practicality.  The vehicle also marks the changing landscape in family transportation, one that has seen its focus shift to providing more than just a comfortable box for commuting purposes.

Let's take a look at 10 things you need to know about the 2013 Ford Fusion.

01. The 2013 Ford Fusion Looks Like No Other Mid-Size Sedan

The 2013 Ford Fusion is much bigger - and brawnier - than the model it replaces, adopting some of the same cues found in the full-size Ford Taurus while incorporating unique traits of its own.  Most remarkable is the broad Aston Martin-inspired grille treatment, which leads the eye back along the vehicle's swelling hood and smooth sides.  At the rear of the Fusion potential buyers will notice the swept and tucked bumper, trunk lid and tail lights, set off by a pair of exhaust outlets and a rear-sloping roofline.  Although the Ford Fusion does contain a few visual concepts that can be found in one form or another throughout its class, there are no other mid-size sedans that incorporate such a brash personality into their outward appearance.

02. The 2013 Ford Fusion Is A Complete Redesign

In addition to its new sheet metal, the 2013 Ford Fusion also comes with a host of fresh features, including LED tail lights, a larger interior and a platform that has been cribbed from the brand's successful Mondeo sedan, which was previously restricted exclusively to the European market.  This means that the already fun-to-drive Fusion gains an even greater degree of handling capability without sacrificing comfort.  A longer wheelbase, a taller roof and a wider chassis are also hallmarks of the Ford Fusion's stronger and stiffer platform, which Ford intends to market as a daily driver for those who would prefer to retain a connection with the road.

03. The 2013 Ford Fusion Eschews V-6 Power

Gone from the 2013 Ford Fusion's spec sheet are any of its previous V-6 engine options and in their place are a new group of four-cylinder motors.  The base Ford Fusion will be offered with a 2.5-liter unit that delivers 170 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque, while two additional EcoBoost options can be ordered with the sedan.  In 1.6-liter trim the EcoBoost motor provides 179 horses and 172 lb-ft of torque, while the most robust Fusion drivetrain displaces 2.0-liters and develops 237 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of twist.  Each of the EcoBoost engines makes use of a turbocharger in order to achieve its rated output, and the 2.0-liter can also be had with available all-wheel drive.

04. The 2013 Ford Fusion Is Poised To Deliver Solid Fuel Economy

The 'Eco' in Ford's EcoBoost engine lineup refers to their thriftiness at the fuel pump, and the versions found in the 2013 Ford Fusion are no exception.  The smallest of the two EcoBoost units (1.6-liters) is expected to deliver fuel economy figures of 26-mpg in stop and go driving and 37-mpg on the highway, while the more powerful 2.0-liter will most likely drop to 23-mpg in the city and 33-mpg during highway cruising. 

Fuel mileage for the entry-level model has yet to be released, but the EcoBoost editions of the car are already close to the current class leaders when examining efficient family sedans.  In addition, buyers can choose to add an optional engine auto-stop feature to the 1.6-liter EcoBoost model to improve efficiency by as much as 10 percent in the city.

05. The 2013 Ford Fusion Will Offer A Pair Of Transmission Choices

The 2013 Ford Fusion is available across the board with a six-speed automatic.  This transmission is tuned to balance performance and fuel economy and it also offers drivers the ability to maintain manual control over the vehicle's shift points, if desired.  The 1.6-liter EcoBoost Fusion will carry the torch for drivers who want to row their own gears the old fashioned way, as it will be available with the option of a six-speed manual tranny.  Few mid-size sedans have retained a traditional manual gearbox, which adds to the 'driver's car' appeal that Ford is hoping to paint the Fusion with.

06. The 2013 Ford Fusion Offers A Hybrid Option

The 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid will continue the brand's dedication to refining its battery-powered sedan initiative.  The Ford Fusion Hybrid makes use of a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that isn't quite as large as the mill found in the previous generation of the car but which still provides a hefty 185 horsepower and 130 lb-ft of torque which paired with its electric motor.  A continuously-variable automatic transmission is included with the Fusion Hybrid and fuel economy is projected as 47-mpg around town and 44-mpg on the highway, with the ability to run on battery alone at speeds of up to 62-mph.

07. The 2013 Ford Fusion Will Provide A Plug-In Hybrid Model, Too

The 2013 Ford Fusion also debuts the very first plug-in hybrid family sedan from the domestic automaker.  Dubbed the Ford Fusion Energi, the company has played it close to the chest in terms of the details of its drivetrain.  That being said, expect the Energi - which will come out after all other versions of the Fusion have hit the market later this summer - to come with a modified version of the Fusion Hybrid's engine and electric motor setup that delivers over 100 mpgE, which would best both the Chevrolet Volt and plug-in Toyota Prius in terms of overall efficiency.  Other tidbits leaked regarding the Fusion Energi's capabilities include a 21 mile electric-only range.

08. The 2013 Ford Fusion Can Be Had With Advanced Safety Technologies

Ford has stuffed the 2013 Ford Fusion with an appealing range of available safety technologies that go above and beyond what might be expected in a vehicle at its price point.  The Ford Fusion will be offered with a Lane Keeping System that uses cameras to detect if the sedan is straying from between the lines, alerting the driver by vibrating the steering wheel and eventually nudging the car back in place if no response is detected.  Adaptive cruise control with collision detection, a blind spot monitor and an automatic parking system are also in the cards for the Fusion.

09. The 2013 Ford Fusion Also Comes With A Full Complement Of Standard Safety Gear

Even the base 2013 Ford Fusion is designed to provide the utmost safety to those seated in all five positions.  The vehicle comes with adaptive front airbags, seat-mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags that deploy along the entire length of the cabin as well as knee airbags for the driver and front passenger.  Electronic stability control is of course included as standard equipment, and traction control is present and accounted for to help prevent wheel spin when traveling over a slippery road surface.  The Fusion will also automatically flash its four-ways, unlock the doors and sound the horn in the event of a serious accident.

10. The 2013 Ford Fusion Is Facing A Host Of Tough Competitors

The 2013 Ford Fusion finds itself in one of the most competitive yet at the same time difficult-to-differentiate segments of the new car marketplace.  Vehicles like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord continue to sell well, but upstarts like the Hyundai Sonata - and the new Ford Fusion - aim to steal as many sales as they can based on looks, features and performance.  The Fusion is as finely honed a weapon as any automobile that Ford has unleashed in the mid-size field, which bodes well at a time when its domestic rivals are still in the middle of resetting their own respecting family car lineups.