Type to search

Auto

’13 Ford Fusion blends elegance, strength and efficiency

Featuring a sleek silhouette and fresh face reminiscent of some of the most expensive European vehicles, the 2013 Fusion is as efficient as it is elegant.

Featuring a sleek silhouette and fresh face reminiscent of some of the most expensive European vehicles, the 2013 Fusion is as efficient as it is elegant.

ISABELA, P.R. — It’s a car that pretty much drives itself. That just about sums up the experience of driving the 2013 Ford Fusion, a sedan that is not only good on gas, but that offers a broad portfolio of driver assistance and convenience technologies based on sensors, cameras and a radar that enable it to see and respond to most challenges on the road.

Featuring a sleek silhouette and fresh face reminiscent of some of the most expensive European vehicles, the new Fusion is the latest in a series of vehicles from Ford developed to satisfy drivers who want fuel efficiency, helpful technologies and comfort.

The Fusion comes equipped with a handful of features that can help drivers maintain proper lane position, adjust the speed to changing traffic conditions, identify suitable parking spaces and help park, even helping out when backing out of parking space where visibility is obstructed.

That latter feature, coupled with the Fusion’s active park assist function, make for some stress-free driving. Employing sensors, the car can identify a suitable parallel parking space, calculate the trajectory and steer itself into to the proper position within the spot. All a driver needs to do is operate the accelerator and brake pedals.

On the open road, the car’s forward-looking adaptive cruise control and blind spot sensing features help drivers maneuver traffic, even in challenging conditions like those found on Puerto Rico roads.

Under the hood, the Fusion’s powerful 1.6-liter, four-cylinder “EcoBoost” engine delivers fuel efficiency of 26 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. During a test drive this weekend, this reporter drove close to 200 miles in the vehicle, from Carolina to Isabela — a straight shot on highway PR 22 — using up about half a tank of gas.

“The Fusion and Fusion Hybrid are examples of the new face of Ford vehicles and demonstrate the company’s commitment to safety in its vehicles,” said Mark Buzzell, director for Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and Central America Ford Motor Company.

Inside, the 2013 Fusion offers a sporty, driver-oriented environment with next-generation seating that brings expanded functionality. A higher center console supports the driver-centric theme and yields clever storage for items a driver wants to keep handy.

Fusion offers the latest version of Ford’s signature “SYNCcommunications and entertainment system, which enables voice-activated communication through the driver’s mobile phone and interaction with the car’s audio system.

Fusion also offers the latest version of “MyFord Touch,” allowing a driver to interact with the car’s systems through voice control, a touch screen tap or a conventional button.

In tandem, the features help reduce the potential for distraction through voice-controlled functionality, helping drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

Author Details
Author Details
Business reporter with 30 years of experience writing for weekly and daily newspapers, as well as trade publications in Puerto Rico. My list of former employers includes Caribbean Business, The San Juan Star, and the Puerto Rico Daily Sun, among others. My areas of expertise include telecommunications, technology, retail, agriculture, tourism, banking and most other segments of Puerto Rico’s economy.
Tags:

2 Comments

  1. Kenneth McClintock February 11, 2013

    I recently purchased the hybrid version of the Ford Fusion and its mpg is consistently nearly 40 mpg. I’m very, very pleased with this car. Now, if we could only disappear the potholes….!

    Reply
  2. Kathy February 12, 2013

    I had a 2001 Ford Focus with only 18,000 miles on it. It had an electrical short and burned up on the freeway. Very frightening.

    Reply

Leave a Comment Kenneth McClintock Cancel Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *