2010 Ford Fusion setting records in the US

By Tim Beissmann | March 05th, 2010

The mid-sized 2010 Ford Fusion is attracting more buyers to the Blue Oval from other brands than any other car in the US range.

In February, 60 percent of total Fusion sales were “conquest sales” (sales to customers new to Ford) which is up six percent from January and 11 percent on 2009 as a whole.

The Fusion Hybrid – the 2010 North American Car of the Year and America’s most fuel efficient mid-sized sedan – is proving even more attractive to new buyers, with conquest sales of 82 percent in February, up 19 percent from last year.

Ford vice president of marketing, sales and service, Ken Czubay, said the Fusion is on track to post another sales record in 2010.

“It’s extraordinary that a car could set sales records and continue to excel in an environment where overall industry sales in the mid-size segment are down 19 percent from a year ago,” he said.

Sales increased 22 percent last year for a total of 180,671 and the Fusion has set monthly sales records in every month but one since the introduction of the redesigned model in March 2009.

It currently holds a 12.2 percent share of the mid-size segment, which for a long time has been dominated by the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima.

Naughtyius Maximus

No wonder Hyundai is catching up and heading to Number 1 for worldwide sales….look at this Fusion car and its old, tired looking, slab like side one, boxy, tacky (look at that BS grill) mainly whilst still appealing. Look at Hyundai or Kia and there designs are slick, not boxy as very svelte, more flowing and newer! Ford is average mainly and slow on updates or letting go of this boxy over chromed look it has been caught in!

Andrew M

Actually this article is about how this boxy chrome grilled thing is stealing sales from other manufacturers.

I think we all know the Americans have “unique” tastes, and this thing is obviously selling. Have a look at Fords designs outside of US and you will see they get them to flow very well and better than most.

Naughtyius Maximus

OK blueblood. You can tell me that sideon this car does not look like a 10yr ago Hyundai Sonata! It looks old for a new design

Golfschwein

There’s a possible reason that it looks old, Naughtyius Maximus. I suspect it IS old. To me, the glass house, front and rear fenders and door stampings look identical to the previous generation European Ford Mondeo, the one that wasn’t sold here. The interior looks old, too.

Have a Google and say yay or nay.
Andrew M

OK dude with poor comprehension skills……..

Tell me where I said I personally like the design???
All Im saying is how can you say this thing is losing them sales when infact the evidence suggest this design (like it or not) is actually pulling buyers that once bought other brands.

Perhaps we will never understand the tastes of the Americans, but this is obviously what they like no matter how boxy it looks.

Im also saying the “Boxy” designs you speak of are only in the US.
Ford US is making profits and continuously gaining market share, so they are only delivering what the people want.

Naughtyius Maximus

I commented on design elements…..you never as your admitting its a USA success – so do you like its look! My point always has been it looks very old, very very bland and that grill is not blending in to front with bonnet & lights and then the par for course lower air intake that seems to be a Ford design theme signature across most of its range. I appreciate your point….but it looks tired and stale for me. Not bad mind you but will age very quick!
Andrew M

Actually, you implied Ford was losing sales to hyundai because of the design of cars like these.

I infact corrected you by pointing out that this design like it or not is obviously what the yanks want, because it is lighting up the sales chart
Andrew M

Ooops, I never answered your question….

No, This design is not of my liking. For me its a Camry shade of bland. The Taurus IMO looks great, but not this.

Just because I point out the figures that proved your point misguided, doesnt mean I like the design.

Just because you or others dont like the design, doesnt mean they should change their design traits because, heck, its selling by the truck load, so just leave the yanks to lap it up, and Ford obviously know that

Golfschwein

Well, done my research. My money’s on the glasshouse being the same as the MkII Mondeo, circa 1995, and everything else is closely related. Wikipedia, for what it’s worth, says some interior components are shared.

Naughtyius Maximus

Yep thats right. Real cutting edge new stuff from a spare parts bin of a bygone era. Looks it to…..from a distant bygone era!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
adam (aka mada)

You are incorrect. It shares nothing with any previous mondeo.

Wikipedia is NOT the most accurate source of information, try again…

The platform is the same as the Mazda 6.

Stop making things up in order to have something to comment about.

If you think the design looks old, that your subjective opinion nothing more or less, you could say the same about many other cars.
Golfschwein

I’m simply having a discussion with someone, Adam, and don’t feel the need to be criticised for it. I said at the outset that I could be wrong and invited others to research and comment. I’m not ‘making things up’ and I’m well aware that Wikipedia is not the last word in accuracy.

Do you know the MkII Mondeo I’m referring to? If the Fusion is Mazda 6 based, that’s great. Thank you. If it is indeed partly based on the middle generation Mondeo, that’s great, too. I’m not criticising Ford for effecting a crafty makeover, if that’s what they did.

Stevo the Devo

Classic designs have much more long lasting appeal. Current fashions come and go out of date very quickly. Look at any Hyundai more than a few years old – they look like sh1t. I’d rather have a car with character than some generic whitegoods styling.
Shak

I thought some GM cars had too much chrome. Look at THAT grille! yikes.

adam (aka mada)

You have the option of body coloured grille also.
Some of you need to check the manufacturers websites out first before making silly comments, honestly.

Kevin

Boy I hope the Falcon retains rear wheel drive and looks like this. That is awesome for an american vehicle – less chrome but the shape is classic
Frenchie

Martha Stewart loves her Fusion. She can grate cheese on that grille.
David

I rented one for a week in California in December. First and only American car I genuinely liked driving. Very nice. A ggod car by any standard.
Save it for the track

The US Ford grille that is apparently going to become the ‘global’ look is appaling. Much prefer the ‘Euro’ look of Focus, Mondeo and as in use of Falcon currently.

Andrew M

Since when were grils set to become standard??

Even Toyota the global platform sharing kings localise the styling

Fenno

Toyota the platform sharing kings????
Have a look at the VW group with its 3 platforms and 50,000 models (yes these are meant to be inflated – just to make the point)

Lynchy

As many have said over the last 12 months, the “one ford”, global vehicles will be based on the platforms, drivelines and most body parts but there will still be region specific differentation in some cases, mainly front and rear bumpers and the grill, I think 80 percent commonality in models and componentry is the goal. That said, there’s no way the US design theme will dominate the global ford products, it just won’t float anywhere other than the US.
adam (aka mada)

Please prove what you have just said with a link to show it’s fact…for once.

bruzzer

i dont see the point of these news, we dont even sell this car in australia, so why bother posting it here?

t

if we only had aussie car news on here, what would we have…. one update per month?

bring on stories about ANY car, if its an interesting read, great!

GT

bugger the mondeo….why cant we have this instead!
Fiesta ECOnetic

It is a falcon, if we exported the falcon the yanks would go made for it. everyone knows this but yet nothing.
Martin

I dunno, I think in black the chrome grille looks pretty good. Going from the Ford Edges they used in Quantum of Solace.
Gratto

It looks like a bloody Hybrid Camry!!! Maybe its Toyota’s new survival strategy! Sell the dodgy Camry to Ford who tweak them and sell them as a Ford model without the current Toyota baggage!!
Think Camry bonnet and grill on the car in the photo and you’ve got it, a Camry!
Win win for manufacturer lose lose for the unsuspecting car buyer!
Naughtyius Maximus

Obviously lost on some as blue blood to the core…….wake up as Ford dont sell well as there designs are stale and old. They have great cars like the Kuga…..but in true form it takes Ford forever to get them to production! In the mean time Hyundai or Kia are updating really svelte lookers that sell in droves!

Andrew M

Where is the LPG cerato?? where is the Genesis??

These are a couple of winners Hyundai/Kia is bloody slow in getting out.

I think your comments of stale design in Fords stable only really applies to the US (bar the Taurus). But in saying that, the Americans dig that stuff. Have a look at other manufacturers US range, they all share the American styling traits.

Sure, I reckon the Kuga should be here, but im guessing the economics of it being around the 50K is whats makes it not add up. Until they make it in a slave labour country I doubt we will see it here

The Menace

If ever there was evidence of just how blind auto brand loyalists are, it is with this car. This car is ugly to the hilt. That some can come in here and keep a straight face and say that grill is nice is evidence of just how desperate the Ford fans are for something half decent to come out of Ford USA. I wonder how many of you B.O (blue oval) lovers criticised the grill on the new sonata replacement and have then gone on in here to praise this car?

Currently the Falcon/ Mustang are the best looking cars in Ford’s range worldwide and that isn’t exactly heaping much praise. *prepares for minus 50*

Andrew M

one person said they dont mind the chrome grill, yet you make out there are hundreds…..
Naughtyius Maximus

very true….they are caught in timewarp as if this looks classic and nice. Look at car sideon as looks stale as and front on is worse
http://bent Millatime

Styling is subjective. By all accounts the car is a great drive, and has hybrid power. Not at all bad for the septics…
noj

The Falcon is the best looking sedan in Fords line up but it isn`t exactly selling. I wonder how many of the so called Ford supporters on here have bought the current one?

Shak

Im in no way a Ford supporter, and i prefer the Taurus styling, but i feel for Ford. Its a great car, as is our other local. Ford just need better marketing than this “who else” nonsense. The Falcon deserves to sell to keep up competition fro Holden. If there’s no competition Holden gets slack, just look at the Full sized segment. Holden rules in Australia, and this has made them lazy with innovation and tech.

Reckless1

Add twin overhead foxtails, chrome dipstick, and some bling chrome wheels and the boguns will buy even more of these.

Change the ridiculous grill and the car would look good.

Not sure if Hybrid captures my imagination yet.

Hung Low

So you bought a Golf to hide your bogan identity?

Reckless1

Aw, gee, I’m touched – you care for me and what car I buy. I have 3 cars, incidentally, more than you’ve had birthdays. Only one is a Golf GTI, though.

Golfschwein

Touche, Reckless! (I’m about to score 15 thumbs down, he he…. watch ‘em)

adam (aka mada)

wow…

Amazing what some say to have a reason for that contructive comment.

Woohoo!!

Andrew M

Well if Hunglow has only had 3 birthdays and string together sentences, I would see that as a compliment.

Not many 3yr olds can do that

Joe

Some of you bloggers out there really need a dose of reality. This car sells in the same market segment in the US where the Camry and Accord are kings. In this market segment, up to the minute styling is not the be all and end all obviously. Things like fuel economy,safety,reliability and being seen to do the right thing are the most important factors.

To all those who bag the chrome grille, what are your priorities when buying a new car, if you’ve ever even bought one?

Jeep Jeep

Grille styling obviously, You’ve answered your own question.

Why would anyone by a car with a pretentious grille?

Andrew M

Why would anyone by a car with a pretentious grille?

Ask the Americans, they are loving it….and always have
noj

Well Ford is an American Company.

adam (aka mada)

bravo!!

Someone has a comment worth reading.

ohreally

This thing doesnt look as good as Australias G6, too much chrome.

And why did the fairmont name get dropped for G ? so american? feel what im saying G?
Cupid Stunt

Really funny reading the comments slagging the Fusion off. The point is Ford is doing well against Honda Toyota etc. I suspect that improvement for Ford will continue now Toyota have been rumbled for building crap and basically recalling 9 years worth of sales in 1 month.

Roll on Ford.

Style wise the Fusion is a good effort for tasteless yanks.

The Oracle’s Teacher

…or a tasteless effort for good yanks. The grill needs a good yank. Right off the car.

The Oracle’s Teacher

The front of that car is aweful.
My Cars Called T-Rex

Still looks better than the current mazda 3 thats got that idiotic smile look.
Sam 300TD

It looks even more boring than a second hand Camry to me.

The Oracle’s Teacher

Careful talking about fords like that in here. You’ll get a strong negative reaction like I did Anyone that can keep a straight face and say that front is nice is high. It’s digusting and typical American overstatement. Just like most other cars they do. The actual lines of the car are not bad. But that grill…….

fasthonda

I saw a black one in Geelong about a week ago.That grille makes it look quite intimidating and big.
http://bent Millatime

My goodness, by the strength of some of these posts on the styling, and how badly some of you have your knickers in a twist about the grill, a lot of you obviously are also avid subscribe to Womens Weekly, Womens Day and Dolly, swap your favourite recipes and knitting tips online, and then put your hair up in rollers before illuminating us all with more of your take on “style”.

birdie

I secand that comment , not every car design can please every one . its pritty sad to think that all they can bag out is the grille , i think ford us have improved a great deal in car design . the current taurus is a nice looking car

Shak

But a designers job in this car segment is to impress the mass market, and as you can see by the comments they have failed to impress the educated world(i dont count America for obvious reason’s). Its just TOO MUCh for us.

nick

Which is why we get the Mondeo and the Americans get this. The Fusion isn’t a bad car IMO, Americans just don’t seem to like good looking cars (except the Camaro.

Shak

Sort of what i was trying to say. The civilised western wolrd like “good looking” product, whereas Americans have three citerion they shop by.
1. CHROME!!!!
2.BIGGGER IS BETTER
3. V8
oh and for the southerners.
4. Would Bush like it?
nick

Couldn’t agree more. I’m sure that Ford could make the Fusion a great seller elsewhere, it does seem a good car. They’d just have to revise the styling.

Andrew M

Shak,
Too right the designers job is to impress the mass market, but this is for the Mass American market, and since its selling well, they have obviously done well at impressing the mass..

Comments on this site on the topic are pretty much a useless reference.

America has to be counted because thats who the vehicle is for. We shouldnt be counted in OZ because the vehicle isnt for us.

Why should we care about the price of eggs in china????

Fenno

Too right Millatime….
You cant please everybody all the time…otherwise we’d all be driving in Ssangyongs!

adam (aka mada)

millatime…

Love it!

Aussie Sheila

Beautiful car, million times better than Korean junks like Hyundai and Kia.
Rocket

Americans buy this car because it is not Govt owned ie GM.

nick

As they should. Ford opted to weather the financial crisis on their own. If Americans were truly patriotic they would buy a Ford, the brand that didn’t take taxpayers money so it could keep making crap cars.

Ezz

People comment on something as subjective as looks as if their worthless opinions count. This adulation of anything European is reminiscent of the cultural cringe that many Australians suffer. If it isn’t from the motherland, it just isn’t up to it.

It is as if many posters are from those insular pockets in our large cities where anti-bogan sentiment is the norm – usually through utter ignorance of any other walks of life, ironically.

Presumably you all eat up everything said in Top Gear and take that as your own. Hey, if Lord Jeremy thinks it, it must be right.
toxic_horse

I like the grill, better than the boring black plastic grill on every other car these days.
The Menz

To be honest having just returned from the states, cars like this really do fit in to the US automotive landscape. They seem as suited to the American market as F150′s and Mini vans.

In the Australian context I wonder how it would fair. Frankly when you see Ford’s American line up it is a mish mash of design languages and apart from stand outs like Mustang, F150 and Edge, it becomes obvious how well proportioned cars like Falcon and Commordore are. I think the Yanks would eat up Falcons if they could get them.

But within the American context of snow prone regions where all wheel and front wheel drive are preferred, it is easy to see vehicles like Fusion and Taurus make sense and are killing the sales race over there. Which is a major major concern for Falcon to be honest.

For Falcon to survive it needs export, or derivatives to be developed off its platform and at the present time Ford US’ attitude to FWD/AWD is not inline with the characteristics which have kept Falcon RWD, and I think Falcons days may be numbered.

It is a shame because the the Falcon platform is world class and could easily underpin cars like Mustang if in SWB form. And if Ford were clever they would consider lwb applications like a fairlane/Crown Vic replacment as well.

If they built stuff like Fairlane/Crown Vic and Mustang in the US on the Falcon platform, it should give Australia the good grace of Detroit to continue with Falcon production here in Australia.

If you take that idea further, if Ford US were smart they would consider building the next generation Edge/Lincoln MKX as a sister car to the Territory with production in in Australia opening up an export role for the Australian operation adding to its viability and relevance beyond an engineering center.

It would make far more sense to me then making Focus here ever did.

We can only hope!
The Oracle

Everyone keeps on going on and on about the grille. Yes, it’s in your face a bit, but really, if the car was ever going to be sold here, which is unlikely, the grille is just about the cheapest and easiest panel to replace on a car. I would think Ford OZ would give some input into a facelift if it was to be sold in RHD markets. Check it out on the Ford USA website at Ford dot com. The interior looks quite good, but the rear end is a little plain compared to the front, the profile is OK too. On a side note, it has a 2.5L four as the base engine. I wonder if it is the same donk as the Mazda 6 and why the Mondeo doesn’t offer it. Does anyone know?

Styling is such a subjective thing, some like the Fusion, most down here don’t, but the target market seem to like it a lot. (Apparently there are people who like the styling on Bangle era BMWs! Go figure.)

But this is all a moot point, we aren’t going to see it down here.
safety first

Yep the car must be bad because you don’t like the grille. Check out the record books, 1275 (IIRC) miles to a tank in the hypermile contest last year… absolutely blowing away all other contenders. Also it must be so wrong in the design, like all other US Fords. How wrong Ford is for persisting in building those ugly oversized pick up trucks. You know the ones that all these Hyundai / Toyota / Euro loving bloggers say were the death nell of the US auto giants that still remarkably outsell all other vehicles on the US market (and just about all other single model vehicles globally)! Yep some real bad designs, this car actually looks good compared to it’s opposition like Camry, Accord (the US not the Euro) and the Malibu and Sebring…
jack

I noticed they have the ‘kinetic’ design language in the lower grille, just like the Falcon/Focus/Mondeo etc. The squarish, strong, angular bling in the upper grille and camry-esque lines concede to its intended market: USA.

Thank goodness the Falcon and Territory (and Commodore for that matter) still get Australian design input in their looks, are still RWD based platforms, and the former two still use an Australian motor. I, too, reckon the US would go nutty if they had a chance to sample an XR6 Turbo, G6E Turbo or F6…

Other than that, it’s fantastic to see the still-independent Ford claw back share in the US market.