Possibly I missed it, but this is the first time I've run across a press release on a Ford Fusion Hybrid. With 60% improvement in City mpg (four cylinder), I'm assuming this translates to 20mpg city x 1.6 = 32mpg city for the new hybrid Fusion, with the 20mpg city from the Ford web site. Ford Vehicles: 2008 Ford Fusion - Specifications
I looked at a Ford Escape Hybrid (and its Mercury twin) when it first came out and again last week. It was completely unacceptable. These hybrid vehicles are NOT available with electronic stability control (ESC). The non-hybrid Ford Escape is, but not the hybrid. According to Consumer Reports, they have incredibly bad braking. How do you make a brand-new vehicle and ignore these little details? I know there's a lot of equipment mounted on the wheels of a hybrid, but other manufacturers seem to have managed. I never could get any straight answers about the Mazda Tribute, so I just went away. Is there any indication if the new Ford hybrids will have ESC and brakes not borrowed from....oh, I don't know....the Pinto?
It's probably their way of turning people away (as you've just did) and then saying "see? No one wants to buy our hybrids"
Supposedly, the ESC will be available later this year. Why they didn't just offer it to begin with? The first Escape hybrid released was delayed a few years, and they didn't want to mar the restyle release with an even minor delay. Ford didn't have the money to buy the parts at first, and needed to sell some units before getting them. Don't know, but stupidity and incompentence is more likely than maliciousness. Ecoboost is limited to Lincoln for now. I did see a pre-Ecoboost announcement report which stated a direct injection 4cyl. would be available for the Fusion. It would have the economy of the4 and power of the 6.
