More details on 2013 Ford Fusion and Escape

[JoeyToronto]

Published On Sat Oct 29 2011

 

COURTESY OF FORD

The next Ford Fusion will look a lot like the sexy Ford Evos concept above (but with normal doors), while driving like the current Mondeo.

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John Leblanc

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

 

COLOGNE, GERMANY — The final production details and on-sale dates of all-new versions of two of Canada’s most popular new vehicles, the Ford Escape and Fusion, are still being held under lock and key behind Ford’s doors.

 

But during this year’s Frankfurt auto show, Canada’s best-selling automaker offered several puzzle pieces as to how its next model-year Escape compact crossover and Fusion mid-size family sedan (due sometime next year) will look, drive, ride and handle.

 

Despite the Escape being around since 2000, riding on a platform that dates back to the 1990s’ Mazda 626, it remains a solid seller in Canada.

 

With more than 31,000 sold through the end of August this year, the small SUV is Ford’s second best-selling vehicle, only behind the top-selling F Series trucks.

 

The Fusion, which debuted in 2005, also qualifies as an oldie but a goodie.

 

More: Ford’s stunning new concept shows off future style and features

 

More: Ford falls hard in new Consumer Reports ranking

 

With more than 14,000 sold so far this year, it’s the best-selling mid-size sedan in Canada.

 

Ford has already previewed the looks of the 2013 Escape in the shape of the Vertrek concept, first seen at last January’s Detroit show.

 

The 2013 Fusion and its European Mondeo platform-mate had their design previewed by the Ford Evos concept at the Frankfurt show.

 

The Ford concept’s gull-wing doors won’t make it to production. But the 2013 Fusion (expected at next January’s Detroit show) should wear a similar rendition of the Evos’s front grille, swept-back side window treatment, and production-ready versions of its head- and tail-lights.

 

To get a feel for how the next Fusion and Escape may drive, Ford offered me the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a current 2012 Mondeo sedan and the Escape’s European counterpart, the Kuga crossover, near the German city of Cologne, where many of Ford’s European engineering facilities are found.

 

Like the recently introduced Fiesta and Focus, Ford is minimizing the differences between its vehicles globally.

 

I was told that, in regards to steering, ride and handling, the current European Mondeo and Kuga give big clues as to what to expect in regards to driving dynamics for our next Fusion and Escape.

 

In the case of today’s Escape, that can only be a good thing.

 

Similar to rivals like the Kia Sportage or Volkswagen Tiguan, piloting the Kuga is similar to driving a tall compact hatch.

 

The model I drove (powered by a diesel engine that will not be initially offered in the next Escape) offered a lot more linearity and feel in its steering than today’s Escape.

 

In fact, the Kuga had a trio of driver-adjustable steering settings.

 

The Escape has one: numb.

 

Of course, much of the Kuga’s driving appeal comes from its compact dimensions, which more than likely are upsized slightly for the North American Escape.

 

The difference between today’s Fusion and Mondeo sedans is more subtle.

 

The current Fusion is one of the more fun-to-drive family sedans, but it lacks the driving refinement of its European counterpart. The Mondeo feels more composed, better planted in corners, and with more communicative steering than its North American cousin.

 

Even at speeds up to 180 km/h on a stretch of unrestricted speed on the autobahn, the Mondeo felt rock-solid.

 

If Ford can make the next Fusion drive like today’s Mondeo, fans of European sedans on a budget may have to add the Ford to their shopping list.

 

The other piece of the 2013 Fusion’s puzzle was what was under the Mondeo’s hood.

 

It’s the same 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder EcoBoost gas engine that’s becoming optional in the Canadian-market 2012 Edge and Explorer.

 

If you haven’t heard, “EcoBoost” is what Ford calls its new powertrain strategy. It involves using gas engines, but with smaller displacements to reduce fuel consumption (the “Eco” bit), then bolstered with high-tech (turbo charging, direct-injection and twin-independent variable cam technology, etc.) to make up the difference in performance (the “Boost” part).

 

The 2.0L four is one of four EcoBoost engines, which also includes the 3.5L V6 iteration (now offered in various Ford and Lincoln full-size products, including the F-150 truck), a 1.6L four available in the European Focus, and a new 1.0L three-cylinder (that will become the smallest engine Ford makes) available in European Fiesta and Focus models in 2012.

 

Ford won’t confirm it, but I expect the 2.0 EcoBoost four will replace the current Fusion’s V6 engines as an upgrade over a naturally aspirated four in the base model.

 

Compared with the 2012 Fusion’s 2.5L four, the Mondeo’s 2.0 EcoBoost has a lot more horsepower (237 vs. 175), and pound-feet of torque (251 vs. 172). But it sips about the same amount of fuel: around 7.5L 100 km combined city and highway.

 

Back on the autobahn, the Modeo’s 2.0 EcoBoost is more refined than racy.

 

As with the Mustang, Ford added a bulkhead-directed “sound symposer” to create the addition of some “naturally aspirated” engine sound at high engine revs and during stomps on the accelerator.

 

The engine is smooth, but the power won’t startle you. Turbo lag is non-existent. And the Mondeo is heavy for its class, which may have dulled the EcoBoost’s responsiveness as well.

 

Also know that there’s a large performance gap between the 2.0 and 3.5 EcoBoost engines.

 

A fifth engine to fill that hole, and possibly power a high-performance Fusion ST, would offer some competition to my current family sedan pick: the Kia Optima SX, with its 274 hp four.

 

With the looks from the Evos and Vertrek concepts, power from the EcoBoost engine family, plus vehicle dynamics and driving characteristics developed in Europe, Ford has outlined many of the pieces that will make up the 2013 Fusion and Escape models.

 

How all those pieces come together is another thing. Come this time next year, we should have our answers.

 

Travel for freelance writer John LeBlanc was provided by the automaker.

 

Check out article here;

http://www.wheels.ca/columns/article/800688

[Moosehead]

Some more info here: http://www.fordinsidenews.com/forums/showthread.php?7950-Lincoln-Axes-Small-Car-Plans

 

-2013 MKZ pushed back again, to late 2012. Good news though is that they are looking at some new Ecoboost V6s. I wonder if the MKZ would get this or if it would stay with the MKS. (Maybe they realized that to go back to competing with the real luxury brands you need either RWD or AWD and a 300+ HP option... or do they just want to compete with Buick.) I had the 2013 MKZ on my test drive list but it might not be out for when I'm ready to say goodbye to my Fusion

-2013 Fusion still on track for mid 2012.

 

Not Fusion-related but:

-MKC "luxury Focus" cancelled.

-RWD Lincoln based on Mustang being considered, would compete in the near $100,000 price range (!!!)

Edited November 2, 2011 by Moosehead

[Fusionpursuit]

I am a little reluctant on KIA vs Hyundai, it seems the Hyundai line is of better quality and Hyundai has cheaper parts/cost with the KIA division. I know the Optima sx looks better and has nice engine vs the Sonata, but the reliability/quality of the Sonata seems better.

[autoxr1]

I am a little reluctant on KIA vs Hyundai, it seems the Hyundai line is of better quality and Hyundai has cheaper parts/cost with the KIA division. I know the Optima sx looks better and has nice engine vs the Sonata, but the reliability/quality of the Sonata seems better.

 

???????

 

What does this have to do with this (old) thread on 2013 Fusion/Escape details?

[Fusionpursuit]

Just referring to the person in the article who was gearing toward a Optima even reviewing the 2013 Fords