"The replacement for the aging Taurus finally arrives this Fall in the form of the all new 2006 Ford Fusion, unveiled today at the 2005 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. "


http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/05de ... fusion.htm

This is sweet - should be a real Camry killer. Thanks for the Pic.

I can really see that vehicle be turned into a new SVT sedan!

Question is... what would it be like with a 5.4L S/C?

what....the Fusion get 10 more horsepower than the five hundred. how come

No ...it only has 7 extra horses...but still I'm shocked to read this news...

But three pounds less torque. My guess is the dual exhaust is a factor. BUT, don't forget, it also weighs about 500 pounds less than the Five Hundred. And AWD is coming in fall 2006!

The car is supposed to have much more European style handling than does the Five Hundred, as well.

You might also like this:

http://media.ford.com/products/model.cf ... le_id=1231

By the time you load it up with options to the 500 level (V6, 6 speed auto) my guess is that the price point ends up very close to the 500 SEL. For that price you won't have the room, ride, safety, etc. The car is a winner against the Accord, Camry, but probably won't match the 500's value.

Looks real nice in the pictures, and I'm sure, once again, Ford will have a vehicle that will beat the Accord and Camry. One thing you won't get is the room the Five Hundred gives us owners. Glad to see Ford coming out with these great new vehicles.

I got to see the car at the NAIAS yesterday. Couldn't get in it but the exterior looks great in person, better than the photos. Ford will do well with this vehicle.

I'm leaving for Detroit on Saturday morning to go to the car show. I'll definaetly check it out!

Just saw the Fusion in person (along with the Zephyr) and must say the Fusion is stunning in real life! Crisp styling, the interior is superb, and those tail lights are not nearly as offensive as the pictures would make one believe. This car is so much better than anything that any competitor has to offer in the class from appearance sake. The three bar grill is jewel like and really makes the Fusion look more upscale than the Five Hundred.

The Zephyr was also far better looking in person than in pictures. I had a chance to see one of those ugly Cadillacs, the CTS, after having seen the Zephyr and the CTS looked like a $10,000 car compared to the Zephyr. Even those huge tail lights on the "Z" that don't look good in pictures look great in person.

As a sidebar, I had the chance to check out the new Cobalt 4-Door that is so hyped on GM message boards that I read and that car is PURE JUNK. There is absolutely no rear seat leg room when the front seat is set for a tallish driver. I don't know how GM can pass this junk off as a 2005 model, but it is inexcusable in this day and age to offer a 4 door car and to then make it so that when the back seat rider has the front seat backs pushed all the way back the back seat passenger is PINNED between the rear seat cushion and the back of the front seat. There is no room to put your knees in this car. Pure crap!

..so I take it the Fusion has plenty of rear seat room, then?

I may be one of the few, but if the Fusion has European style (tight) handling, steering and suspension, I may well trade my Five Hundred for one...

The 06 Avalon gets bigger, and had definate 500 cues, so I guess the Ford/Toyota/Honda comparisons are:

Focus=Corolla=Civic
Fusion = Camry=Accord
Five Hundred = Avalon=Nothing

adding Chevrolet:


Focus=Corolla=Civic=Cobalt
Fusion = Camry=Accord=Malibu
Five Hundred = Avalon=Impala

I would change the = to vs. though!

I finally had a chance to post some of my NAIAS pics in my gallery.

Here are a few Ford Fusion pics:







Let me tell you, the Ford display was packed!