What Makes the Ford Fusion Hybrid So Good?

Levi Quinn
http://www.autoinsuranceratesdirect.com

With so many hybrid vehicles suddenly popping up all over the world there is definitely a lot of competition in the market. However, deciding which make and model is the best is generally a personal opinion because it comes down on the need of each person from their vehicle. While many of the leading auto manufacturers in the world are developing and producing a variety of hybrid vehicles, many people think that the Ford Motor Company may be leading the way. If you really want to know if the Ford hybrid is the best available, it would be a good idea to do some research on the cars and test drive one as well. Reading as many reviews as you can get your hands on will also help.

On Jan. 11, 2010, the Fusion Hybrid received the 2010 North American Car of the Year award at the recent version of the auto show held in Detroit. A group of 49 automotive journalists from North America sat on a panel and selected the winners after judging the cars on a variety of factors. These include innovation, safety, design, handling, value, and driver satisfaction. These Hybrids have set a record for winning the award five times in total.

The Ford Fusion set a brand new bar by raising the hybrid technology up to a higher level. The vehicle combines a sophisticated and seamless hybrid powertrain with an exceptional Fusion platform that is entrenched firmly in the centre of the auto world's mainstream market, and it resulted in a winning venture. Most reports state that the car is exciting to drive. It is very refined all around, including its braking and handling along with its convenience and comfort. However, the Ford Fusion has sold a lot less cars than the Toyota Prius and Camry Hybrid.

USA Today newspaper stated that "the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid is the best gasoline-electric hybrid yet." A popular website -- Cars.com -- also praised it by saying that the car "is a significant step forward for the technology, particularly for family sedans".  And the popular magazine -- Car and Driver were quoted as saying - "the Ford Fusion Hybrid "wipes the floor with the Toyota Camry Hybrid."

At this point in time, the Ford Fusion, Nissan Altima Hybrid, and Toyota Camry Hybrid are the top three hybrid vehicles when it comes to the medium-size family sedan models. The Fusion Hybrid can drive 41 city and 36 highway miles per gallon. The Camry Hybrid can get 33 and 34 miles. The Altima Hybrid can go 35 and 33 miles per gallon. According to most experts, the Fusion Hybrid also transfers from gasoline to electric very smoothly.

The Fusion and the Mercury Milan Hybrids are the first cars to utilize the company's second-generation system for hybrids. The new system reportedly supplies a tighter combination of power delivery and engine operation. These are some of the things that make Ford one of the leading companies on the planet when it comes to hybrid technology. However, there is only one way to decide if their products are for you, and that is to try one out for yourself.

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Toyota, Tesla to develop electric SUV

Wikinews
July 17, 2010

 

Toyota Motor Company announced they have formalized an agreement to develop an electric version of the RAV4 SUV with Tesla Motors. 

In May 2010, Akio Toyoda and Elon Musk, leaders of Toyota and Telsa, respectively, announced they would work together on electric vehicles. The agreement formalizes this announcement and would allow Tesla to work with Toyota at an automobile production plant in California. 

The plant will open 2011, when Tesla reopens it after it bought the Fremont, California plant. The plant was previously used by Toyota and General Motors, but was shut down when Toyota said it would not produce cars in California. 

Tesla currently produces only a single model, the US$109,000 Roadster, although it is currently designing a second model, the Model S, which will be produced at the Fremont factory. 

Analysts supported the move; John Boesel, CEO of a green-transportation trade group, said that "Toyota's willingness to partner with Tesla to provide an electric version of one of the Japanese automaker's existing vehicles suggests the partnership between the two companies is going to be a meaningful one."

Following this announcement, Telsa's shares rose $0.75, while Toyota's fell $1.65.

This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License. 

2010 Toyota Prius/Lexus HS Recall

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/results.cfm?rcl_id=10V039&searchtype=quicksearch&summary=true&refurl=email

NHTSA Campaign ID number : 10V039000

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
LEXUS / HS 2010
TOYOTA / PRIUS 2010
Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. Mfr's Report Date: FEB 09, 2010
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V039000
N/A
NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Potential Number of Units Affected: 148549
Summary:
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS AND LEXUS HS250H PASSENGER VEHICLES. CUSTOMERS HAVE EXPERIENCED INCONSISTENT BRAKE FEEL AFTER ABS ACTUATION DURING SLOW AND STEADY APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES ON ROUGH OR SLICK ROAD SURFACES. STOPPING DISTANCES MAY BE INCREASED COMPARED WITH A CUSTOMER'S EXPECTATION FOR A GIVEN PEDAL FORCE.
Consequence:
VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCES MAY INCREASE RELATIVE TO A CUSTOMER'S EXPECTATION INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REWRITE THE PROGRAMMING OF THE ABS CONTROL UNIT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN LATE FEBRUARY AND BE COMPLETED IN LATE MARCH 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 AND LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
Notes:
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

Ford Transit

The Ford Transit van is hardly what anyone would consider a true "green vehicle." However, green comes in many shades, and in this case, a slight change in shade will make a big impact in America.

Ford announced that the Transit will be coming to the US market. The vehicle is more fuel efficient than the current Ford Econoline sold here. With it's V8 engine, heavy metal body that appears to have been borrowed from tank designs, and technology that hasn't changed since 1992, the Econoline is a beast...but also a very necessary workhorse for many businesses. Ford sold 168,722 of them in 2007, capturing 79.6% of the full size van market against competition from Chevrolet and Dodge.

Not everyone needs the heavy hauling capacity of the Econoline, and for those who simply need some mobile enclosed space, the Transit should do more than adequately. Even if Ford converts just 1/3 of its sales of Econolines to Transits, it's still potentially selling over 50,000 of the far more efficient of the two vans. While the Transit may not be green next to the Honda Clarity, it's plenty green next to the Econoline. It's not perfect, but it's a step in the right direction.

Green Motoring Forum

Check out the Green Motoring section of The Green Forums at Ethical Directory.