Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan

ANT14 · December 2004

Yes, scroll to the beginning of the forum so you can read up on it.

2.3L I-4, 3.0L V6.

johnclineii · December 2004

You didn't answer the question about command seating, he noted sneakily...

ANT14 · December 2004

Yes it'll have command-like seating, did I mention the trunk ?

johnclineii · December 2004

Something about an elephant?

ANT14 · December 2004

That's the 500, this one could hide a Rhino...

baggs32 · December 2004

That's the 500, this one could hide a Rhino..

That's not surprising to me and it's good to hear nothing changed. My Mazda6 sedan has a large trunk as well. Rear seat leg room suffers a bit because of it but I only keep the one year old back there. His gear goes in the trunk and I'm very glad to have the extra space in there.

badgerfan · December 2004

Mazda Sedan trunk space is 15.2 cubic feet which is a bit less than some of the competition in this size car. I would hope the Fusion is closer to 17 cubic feet like my 2000 Taurus. Best of both worlds would be a Fusion of about 185"-190" long with about 17 cubic feet of trunk space and with the newer linkage style trunk hinges that do not infringe on trunk space. My guess is this is about what Ford is shooting for.

This size differentiates it enough from Focus on the small end and Five Hundred on the large end to have three sizes of sedans that cover the market without stepping on each other.

Crown Vic can soldier on unchanged for the police, taxi and "geezer" market. (No insult intended as I am closer to "geezer" in age than I am to "tuner"), though I would never consider a Crown Vic.

johnclineii · December 2004

I OWN a Five Hundred. AWD SEL.

Put a decent trunk on the Fusion, give it command seating, and I am just apt to buy one while I await the larger engine in the Five Hundred.

Just let me get all the options without having to accept a hole in the roof or old dead cow seats. Ford did that right on the Five Hundred (and WRONG on the Montego--to get an outside temperature display, you have to get leather seats! UGH!)

andyman73 · December 2004

I am really interested in the Fusion, and Milan. But I will most likely be shopping the 2nd gen. models. Just bought wife a new car 3 months ago. Make mine a 6M/awd/270hp ST! Thank you very much!

baggs32 · December 2004

Mazda Sedan trunk space is 15.2 cubic feet which is a bit less than some of the competition in this size car.

I never said it was bigger than the competition, just that it is pretty big considering the smaller overall size of the car. Looking at the numbers though, I'd say it's right on par with the others.

Make/Model (MY05) Trunk space (cubic feet)

Honda Accord 14

Chevy Malibu 15.4

Nissan Altima 15.6

Toyota Camry 16.7

Mazda6 15.2

'06 Fusion 17?

All numbers were taken from right here at Edmunds.com.

mschmal · December 2004

I understand that the Fusion is going to be bigger than the 6 apparently the chassis can be extended.

baggs32 · December 2004

Yes, a little. I think that's what we're getting at albeit in a roundabout way.

ANT14 · December 2004

It's taller, wider, and longer. Unless you don't know about it, you won't be able to tell it's built on a modified Mazda6 platform. Same with the 500 and Volvo S60/S80/XC90, etc.

skibry1 · December 2004

Fuel ain't going down so I'm glad to see Ford thro

a 4cyl 5 spd back on the market. Pity the 500 does

not offer this but I am excited about the design

and fuel effiency of the fusion. We own a 626 and

love stirring the gears. Seat backs made for asian

males? We built up head-rest restraint 3"...comfy

now. Does "command seating" include accomedation

for the USA 6'male?

dudleyr · December 2004

Love the 4-cyl 5 spd combo. Would also love to see a wagon version. Best way to get the most efficient space out of a vehicle - plus sedans just don't have good rear headroom compared to wagons.

ANT14 · December 2004

Skibry,

All the seats on Ford's N.A. are built with american average heights, that fit majority of it's buyer's. Using a 5-10, 170lbs male, even up to 6-2, 210lbs male. On SOME vehicles, (Mountaineer and Monterey as examples), the seats are designed with women in mind, to facilitate ingress/egress. And the buttons/levers designed for the seats, make it easy for older folks to be able to adjust if need be.

Dudley,

A station wagon version will be available soon after.

bigdaddycoats · December 2004

Will there be manual transmissions with any/both engines?

ANT14 · December 2004

How the manual versions will be allocated, has yet be panned out yet. But there will be manual version.

bigdaddycoats · December 2004

I hope they offer one with the 4 and the 6?

skibry1 · December 2004

Thats a big bonus w/ Mazda -a stick with either-

ANT14 · December 2004

True, although Mazda is going for the "Zoom Zoom Zoom" appeal. Don't wish to step on what makes them stand apart.

deadfish · December 2004

First pictures I've seen...

ANT14 · December 2004

Yes, there will be more when it's released next week.

dudleyr · December 2004

I am glad to hear a wagon is coming, I just worry that it won't be available with the 4cyl / manual tranny combo just like the Mazda6.

I suppose there is always the Focus, but it has a few things that annoy me, like no rear headrests (there are far more low speed rear end collisions than high speed crashes where all those air bags come into play).

dudleyr · December 2004

This has probably been mentioned before, but how does this Fusion relate to the one available in Europe right now. Isn't that one a much smaller vehicle? Seems unusual to have the same name for vehicles on a different platform.

ANT14 · December 2004

All they share is names...

The Fusion over in Europe is based on a B-segment platform the Fiesta...Here, we knew the Fiesta, as the Festiva, and we all know how that went. Overthere, the Fiesta is quite the car for it's class, therefore the Fusion is derived from the Fiesta platform. In South America, it's called Ecosport.

Because Pep Boys argued over the trademark of the Futura name, it was ruled Ford wasn't able to use the Futura name (which was a trim level in Ford's line long ago). So keeping with the new naming tradition, it had to start with an "F", and the Fusion went well in consumer clinics.

f111d · December 2004

Station Wagon YES! for us WW II baby-boomers! Great for all the grand kid hauling chores, not to mention ingress/egress in the winter time. Sounds like Mr. Nasser's BAD influence over the Contour/Mystique is gone? I love the chassis/driving traits of my 98 Mistake LS. The sharing of info(nations wide) via Contour.org has greatly enhanced living with this awesome drivers car. Something I call point & shot handling! Ant 14 has promise us if we liked the Conique chassis will will like the Fusion.

I like to add, Ant 14, that I've talked many people that weren't that interested in buying a Contique until they did a test drive.

Chassis dynamics IMHO especially RICHARD PERRY-JONES's should sell a bunch of cars. Hope Hope

Ole phoneman

Paul

N8BUU

Alias F-111D/F

deerlake7 · December 2004

Is anything being done to make the Fusion's side impact performance better than the Mazda6? Although Mazda's front impact ratings are good, their side impact performance is mediocre.

ANT14 · December 2004

"Sounds like Mr. Nasser's BAD influence over the Contour/Mystique is gone?"

While the Contour/Mystique were a bit lackluster here in the N.A. market, it was a hit elsewhere in other countries...Specially in Europe, with the amazing Mondeo (Euro twin) which is one of the benchmarks in it's class. Unfortunately, the Contour/Mystique came at the wrong time, for the wrong market, where most people were appreciating marshmellow-like driving dynamics. Luckily nowadays, people are warming up to "european driving dynamics", where cars respond, feel, drive a bit more controlled.

In this case, if you liked the Contour, you'll LOVE to Fusion. Now let's keep in mind, from this same platform a few other vehicles will be spawned from it. IN sedan variant, there's Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln Zephyr. While they are all using the same platform and drivetrains (to a certain point), their driving dynamics will differ between each other.

In other words, similar driving senario to the Volvo S40 (european, sporty), Mazda3 (sporty, fun), Focus (fun, people pleaser). The same senario will be true with the Fusion (sporty, people pleaser), Milan (trendy sporty), Zephyr (sophisticated, elegant).

This same platform will also spawn a derivative platform that will underpin the next European Mondeo and Volvo S60. We just happen to get it first because we need it NOW.

"Is anything being done to make the Fusion's side impact performance better than the Mazda6?"

While the platform is the same, it's the pillars that also come into play for such testing. The Fusion will do much better because of the structural reinforcements being integrated into the side structural members. Just recently, the Ford 500/Freestyle achieved 5 Star crash rating on side impacts, WITHOUT side airbags (NHTSA). Similar commitment towards improving side impacts will be implemented for the Fusion.

mschmal · December 2004

Hey anyone know if Ford is going to do a Nissan Murano sized cross over wagon? I know Mazda is showing a car like this at 2005 NAIAS, is there a Ford version in the works?

Is the hybrid being planned for 2006 model year or 2007?

Mark

ANT14 · December 2004

Yes, the concept name for the Ford version will be "Fairlane".

bigdaddycoats · December 2004

I am looking forward to seeing the Milan at the auto show. Hopefully it looks as good as the sketch. Give me a manual and a somewhat sporty ride and I will give it a look.

baggs32 · January 2005

Read the first paragraph of the 'SVT Still Kicking, Ford Says' article.

http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=7904

I think ANT suggested the possibility of a Fusion ST with about 270 HP. Are we looking at maybe 300 HP from the 3.5L Duratec for the SVT version? Honda squeezes 300 out of their 3.5 in the Acura RL so it isn't out of the realm of possibility.

bigdaddycoats · January 2005

Will we get official info on the Fusion? The 9th?

ANT14 · January 2005

Official Press Release

http://media.ford.com/products/model.cfm?vehicle_id=1231

cdlrt · January 2005

Is anyone else disappointed in the tail lights of the Fusion? I was hoping for something closer to the 427 concept. They were square and fitted into the trunk like a late 60's Ford Galaxy. Other than that, I think the car is going to be a hit.

theman123 · January 2005

ANT14 · January 2005

The Fusion has been well received. Positive comments exceeded expectations.

samnoe · January 2005

Thank You for your links, but I get a message that "You are not authorized to see that page..."

Can I see the photos elsewhere?

theman123 · January 2005

OK let's give this a try.

OK, now enjoy

skibry1 · January 2005

I got the same notice and would love to see more.

Where else,theman123,can one go for visuals?

dudleyr · January 2005

I just see a lot of x's no pictures.

theman123 · January 2005

GRGRGR

OK this is really gettin on my nerves, because when I log onto the web-site I see the pics fine and they pop-up on the screen.

I hate to say this, but go to Autoweek.com and go under there Auto show section. click the 2005 production car section and select the Fusion. that's the pics that I'm trying to post here, but it seems that I'm the only one that can see them.

theman123 · January 2005

Hey deadfish, this is really a stupid question, but how did you get your pics to pop-up on the web page. I thought I put the link there to show the pic's but it seems that I'm the only person that can see them. and all the Pics that I have of the fusion are stored on my computer on my HD. so a little help please !!!

thanks

robr2 · January 2005

Those MSN links are automatically launching a pop up with MS Passport and asking me to log in to see them. Um No Thanks.

theman123 · January 2005

Problem solved

http://www.autoweek.com/files/specials/2005_detroit/ford/fusion/p- ages/1.htm

go to this link, they have all the pics you would want to see

Enjoy

alpha01 · January 2005

ANT, curious as to your reaction to what seems to be an exceptionally well executed next generation Sonata. Strong motors, standard stability control on all models, good features content, a great looking interior, the Hyundai warranty....

This Fusion is a very sharp vehicle, and seems to be a better entry to the marketplace than is the super dry Five Hundred. But, it's going to face some serious competition.

This is a great time to be buying mid-size! Im only 23, but these cars are the best of most worlds- you can find power, handling, room, refinement, and economy in a single well priced package. Im not at a point yet where the luxury nameplate is worth the extra cash, and so the new entries to this market are awesome.

~alpha

dblagent · January 2005

Ant - Tell the powers that be to release some more photos.

It's to hard to find enough pics, so far I have only seen one or two of the inside. I'd also like to see some lower trim levels. I'm glad that the car has goten such a good reception from everyone. I have seen a ton of good things said about the car all over the web. I am sure looking at getting one, seems to be just what I need/want in a car. Now for the SHO/SVT version and I'll really have something to want!

dudleyr · January 2005

Now for the station wagon.

theman123 · January 2005

A Station wagon !?!?!?! Forget a station wagon. Ford please make a 2 door Coupe version with the 4 cylinder and V6 available Honda has a 2 door version of the Accord. then you can make a station wagon later.

I Love the Fusion

Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan

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