Ford has revealed an updated version of their second-generation Fusion sedan, a.k.a the fifth-generation Mondeo, but since the American automaker prioritises the car under its domestic market moniker, it gets its 2019 debut under the Fusion badge first.
With any ‘facelift’, naturally there are the expected styling tweaks, but they remain quite subtle over the 2013 original, being new front and rear bumpers, different grille pattern featuring a five-bar or mesh design finished in chrome, new wheel design(s), an expanded colour palette for its exterior and interior, some remoulded fascia elements, new LED tail lamps, front fog lamps, and boot lid.
The Fusion range for 2019 will start, like it had before, with the entry-spec S, which is powered by a naturally aspired 2.5-litre Duratec four-cylinder petrol. However, nearly every engine in between that and the rang-topping Fusion V6 Sport (2.7-litre EcoBoost) has now been supplanted by the 1.5-litre turbo-four EcoBoost from the facelifted Focus.
In certain variants, the engine will operate as it does in the hatch, sending power to the front wheels via 6-speed automatic and presumed to generate the same 135kW and 240Nm. However, those with hybrid augmentation will pair these with an electric motor and brake-assist kinetic energy recuperation to reduce fuel consumption.
Optionally, the Fusion Hybrid SE has a secondary engine choice should the buyer prefer: a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder that runs the Atkinson combustion cycle. This motor is mated to a CVT for even greater gains in efficiency. Meanwhile, the Fusion Energi Titanium boosts its credentials as a PHEV by combining the 1.5-litre EcoBoost with a 9.0kWh air-cooled lithium-ion battery for an increased electric-only range of an estimated 40km.
Elsewhere, the new Fusion receives the SYNC3 infotainment system with 8-inch touchscreen display as standard feature with the Fusion SE and up, also including an embedded 4G LTE model to enable Wi-Fi calling for up to 10 devices, and dual-zone automatic climate control.
A significant technology push comes with the updated sedan as the Blue Oval has chosen to debut its more comprehensive Co-Pilot 360 active safety suite in the 2019 Fusion, available for all variants - it’s a proliferation of features that should be replicated when the Fusion reaches other markets, Europe, as the Mondeo.
This means that even the most basic spec will be equipped with Autonomous Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, rain-sensing wipers, and automatic high beam assist. However, only the higher grade Titanium and V6 Sport come with adaptive cruise control. However, the changes slated for a potential refresh for the Australian market are slated to be less far-reaching.
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