Ford pulled the silk sheets off the 2010 Ford Fusion and Fusion Hybrid this afternoon. Sporting new front and rear fascias, an updated interior, and four engine choices, the mid-size Fusion is a direct shot across the bow of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. In fact, in nearly every engine combination, Ford boasts that their Fusion offers faster acceleration and better fuel economy than its Japanese rivals (plus, the automaker is quick to point out, the 2010 Fusion is available in both FWD and AWD configurations). Ford is offering the Fusion with three fuel-efficient gasoline engines: Duratec 2.5-liter I4, Duratec 3.0-liter V6, and the 3.5-liter V6 Duratec bumped to 240 hp for 2010. The hybrid model features a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated to an electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission (e-CVT). According to Ford, the combo offers a bladder-busting 700-mile range in the city cycle. Expect the Fusion twins to roll (efficiently, of course) into showrooms in spring 2009.

Live photos copyright (C)2008 Michael Harley / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading LA 2008: 2010 Ford Fusion and Fusion Hybrid make their debut [w/VIDEO]

LA 2008: 2010 Ford Fusion and Fusion Hybrid make their debut [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joining in the massive Autoblog crew at the LA Auto Show, AutoblogGreen saw the show through our green-tinted glasses. The big surprise, natch, was the FC Sport concept but we also oohed and ahhed over the 2010 Lexus RX 450h and the Ford Fusion hybrid. And all these:

• LA 2008: Honda pulls a surprise with FC Sport concept
• LA 2008: Volkswagen’s imposing Touareg TDI Trophy Truck
• LA 2008: Hyundai rolls out HED-5 i-Mode for first time on U.S. soil
• LA 2008: Ford Fusion hybrid, and its Mercury Milan cousin, unveiled
• LA 2008: 2010 Lexus RX 450h live unveiling
• LA 2008: Confirmed - AC Propulsion provided the electric drive systems for the MINI E
• LA 2008: Hyundai announces production approval for HED-5 i-Mode
• LA 2008: BMW 7-series ActiveHybrid
• LA 2008: Hyundai announces Blue Drive efficiency strategy, 2010 Sonata hybrid
• LA 2008: Nissan Altima Hot Rod hybrid
• LA 2008: Toyota Camry CNG Hybrid
• LA 2008: Nissan announces electric car partnership with Oregon
• LA 2008 anticipation: Which debut are you most excited about (POLL)
• First 22 officially registered X-Prize teams announced
• LA 2008: Toyota Camry CNG Hybrid Concept gets early reveal
• Nissan Cube makes an early appearance
• More shots of the 2010 Prius leak out
• Ford ekes out more mileage and lower CO₂ from European models
• Huh, so that’s what a million dollar moped looks like…
• ZAP report 52% revenue increase for third quarter of ‘08
• Toyota Auris gets stop/start in U.K., introduces Optimal Drive
• Micro hybrid drive (mhd) smart fortwo gets upgraded
• SolarWorld offers to purchase Opel, kind of
• Three wheels + 60 Mpg = EMC³

AutoblogGreen for 11.20.08 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There’s more to driving green than just the car you choose. The way you pilot the vehicle makes a huge impact on your fuel mileage, and automakers are now beginning to endow their new wares with technology that teaches you how to drive green. Honda’s upcoming Insight is a perfect example, with its new Eco Assist dashboard that keeps tabs on the driver’s right foot and relays information back via a color-changing speedometer and and “economy scoring function.” Honda aims to make “the hybrid experience more fun and rewarding” with these technologies — kinda like a video game — that are activated by a green ECON button on the dash. When pressed, the CVT transmission changes modes and computers adjust the operation of the A/C, stop the engine from idling sooner and increases regenerative braking capabilities.

With this announcement, Honda joins Ford in the eco-dash wars. The Blue Oval recently revealed its LCD gauge cluster called SmartGauge with EcoGuide, which will debut in the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid. The tech wars are heating up fast and new innovations such as these green gauge clusters may make driving a rewarding experience for a completely new reason. Progress?

[Source: Honda]

Continue reading LA 2008: Honda shows off Insight’s Eco Assist dashboard

LA 2008: Honda shows off Insight’s Eco Assist dashboard originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There are a few standouts in the emerging green sector of the U.S. auto market that are hitting the market in 2009. BMW’s first clean diesel in the United States, the 335d, is one such vehicle that has torque-loving enthusiasts salivating, and General Motors’ upcoming Saturn Vue is the first application of the 2-Mode hybrid system in a front-wheel drive vehicle. No green car discussion is complete without a mention of the smart fortwo, which sports the best mileage of any non-hybrid car available. Of course, the new Fusion Hybrid and Milan Hybrid from Ford are shaping up to be real contenders in the green mid-size sedan sweepstakes and they may take a chunk out of Camry hybrid sales when it finally debuts. Still, there is one ‘09 car that seems to offer the best of all worlds, with a relatively low starting price, excellent fuel economy and refined driving dynamics: The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. For these reasons, the oil-burner from Germany has been selected by Green Car Journal as the 2009 Green Car of the Year. We’re not arguing with the decision, but you are, of course, free to make your voice heard in the comments section.

Gallery: 2009 Green Car of the Year: VW Jetta TDI

Gallery: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading LA 2008: VW Jetta TDI named Green Car of the Year

LA 2008: VW Jetta TDI named Green Car of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ll spare you from going over the laundry list of changes for the new 2010 Mercury Milan since you’ve already read about them in the post above on the 2010 Ford Fusion. Both cars share a lot in common, so instead we’ll tell you what’s different between them. The 2010 Milan gets its own redesign that includes new front and rear fascias, which we see as big improvements over the current model that further separates, at least visually, the Mercury from its Blue Oval brother. The Milan also only gets two gas engine options compared to the Fusion’s three. Buyers can order up the new 2.5L four-cylinder that produces 175 hp or the upgraded 3.0L V6 that makes 240 horsepower. Unfortunately, Ford’s 3.5L V6 producing 265 horsepower is reserved exclusively for the Fusion Sport. There’s also the new Milan Hybrid, which again is identical to the Fusion Hybrid in all but its looks and can drive up to 47 mph on all-electric power. Follow the jump for Mercury’s official press release and peruse the gallery of high-res images in the gallery below. If you want our deeper analysis of the changes, check out our full post on the new Fusion.

Continue reading LA 2008: Mercury debuts 2010 Milan

LA 2008: Mercury debuts 2010 Milan originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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