Ford Futura is renamed Fusion

coolcaddy · 07-20-2004, 01:30 PM

Ford Futura is renamed Fusion
By Brett Clanton / The Detroit News

DEARBORN — Goodbye, Futura. Hello, Fusion.

Ford Motor Co., after losing a naming rights battle with auto parts chain Pep Boys, seller of Futura brand tires, has renamed its upcoming midsized sedan “Fusion,” company sources told The Detroit News.

The automaker has been quietly telling dealers of the change and is expected to reintroduce the car as early as this week.

Ford announced the Futura name at the 2003 New York International Auto Show, explaining the five-seat sedan is aimed squarely at midsize sedans such as Toyota Camry.

In April, a federal court ruled Philadelphia-based Pep Boys had a better claim to the moniker. Last year, Ford also lost the right to call its 500-horsepower supercar the GT40 when a vehicle-kit maker stepped forward with the same label. A newly named Ford GT launches this summer.

The Fusion name fits in with the Ford brand’s strategy of beginning the names of its cars, minivans and crossover vehicles with the letter F. The Mustang and GT sports cars are the exceptions.

The Fusion will arrive in showrooms next year.

source

MalibuZ31 · 07-20-2004, 01:39 PM

Ford seriousely wants to name all it's products with "F Words". I can think of a few if they need help!

3eb · 07-20-2004, 01:50 PM

i really don't get the "F" names at all. it's hard enough to come up with new names for cars the way it is, so why limit yourself by having them all start with the same letter? i don't even see a marketing sense behind it, it's just dumb. i find it unfortunate though that ford didn't get to use the futura name. i don't care much for fusion and from what i've seen of this car i think it may be pretty decent.

xellow · 07-20-2004, 02:06 PM

Naming is a pain aint it?

I didn't really like the futura name anyway.

Truth is, Youve got to come to terms and relize Fords con-Fusion adventually. :P

**BigAls87Z28** · 07-20-2004, 02:18 PM

hopefuly no one has a trademark on that name either... by the time Ford rolls out with this car, its gunna be 10 years from now.

Maetrix66 · 07-20-2004, 02:19 PM

So, I guess they redrew the alphabet, huh??

I thought that "Escape" ended with "E"

Maybe I'm wrong, though.

bmwboy2007 · 07-20-2004, 02:25 PM

You know, I can recall a time when Chevrolet named all (most) their models with names that started with a 'C'.. Caprice, Chevelle, Camaro, Corvette, Cavalier, Corvair, Chevette, Cheyenne (truck), (El) Camino, (Monte) Carlo..

usa1 · 07-20-2004, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Maetrix66@Jul 20 2004, 01:19 PM
So, I guess they redrew the alphabet, huh??

I thought that "Escape" ended with "E"

Maybe I'm wrong, though.

The Escape is considered (at least by Ford) an SUV. Escape, Explorer, Expedition, Excursion, etc. The crossover they are referring to is the upcoming Freestyle.

Mark

ByTheLake · 07-20-2004, 03:00 PM

Fusion? <_< I suppose its no worse than Solstice, Equinox, G6, or Velite.

Funny, we complain about names that are made of numbers/letters, and when a name comes along that is a real word, we complain about that, too.

If the car is good, it will sell, regardless of the name.

giagastormer · 07-20-2004, 03:13 PM

so, when is it expected pics will be released of the "Fusion"?

Hudson · 07-20-2004, 03:44 PM

Ford already owns the name, but this one isn't for North America:

http://www.ford.co.uk/fusion

SUPERBADD75 · 07-20-2004, 04:18 PM

Fusion sounds cool to me. rather dynamic. better than resurrecting an old name for a new car..... as in Malibu....

MN12Fan · 07-20-2004, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bigals87z28@Jul 20 2004, 11:18 AM
hopefuly no one has a trademark on that name either... by the time Ford rolls out with this car, its gunna be 10 years from now.

10 years from now? Ford's supposed to be "rolling out" the Fusion early next year as an early 2006 model; that's like six or seven months from now, not years. I can't imagine rebadging a Mazda 6 and then finally deciding on a name would be that hard. Ford's still being oddly secretive about it though, usually by now you'd hear more about a car with well under a year before its launch.

3eb · 07-20-2004, 04:59 PM

Quote:

10 years from now? Ford's supposed to be "rolling out" the Fusion early next year as an early 2006 model; that's like six or seven months from now, not years.

sarcasm, my friend. sarcasm.

Hudson · 07-20-2004, 05:06 PM

The Futura...er...Fusion is hardly a rebadge of the Mazda6. And you haven't heard much about it because there are other products in between that need to be hyped. First, it's the F-Series...then the Five Hundred/Freestyle...then the Mustang...and THEN the Fusion.

07-20-2004, 02:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
BigAls87Z28 GMI Mod/Camaro Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 9,489	hopefuly no one has a trademark on that name either... by the time Ford rolls out with this car, its gunna be 10 years from now. __________________ Any Inside Info? Questions or Coments? Ideas? Email me at BigAl@GMInsidenews.com 1993 Caprice 9C1 1987 Camaro Z28 1972 Camaro RS

07-20-2004, 02:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
bmwboy2007 2.0 Liter Supercharged ECOTEC Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 150	You know, I can recall a time when Chevrolet named all (most) their models with names that started with a 'C'.. Caprice, Chevelle, Camaro, Corvette, Cavalier, Corvair, Chevette, Cheyenne (truck), (El) Camino, (Monte) Carlo.. __________________ Given enough rope, the capitalists will hang themselves. -Karl Marx

07-20-2004, 03:13 PM	#10 (permalink)
giagastormer 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 6,156	so, when is it expected pics will be released of the "Fusion"? __________________ -Your Type-R has never beaten JL W7 in any contest. -Your eD is not louder than a Stroker -You dont know what 160.0dB is like -You wont bully a multi-million dollar company via Internet -No one cares who You are, how many amp's You've installed, nor what "Your Buddy" can hit "in the kick". -You are a consumer. Shut the up and gobble up the products that You think are worth Your meager funds.

07-20-2004, 03:44 PM	#11 (permalink)
Hudson 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,224	Ford already owns the name, but this one isn't for North America: http://www.ford.co.uk/fusion __________________ Hudson www.carspace.com/hudsonthedog

07-20-2004, 04:18 PM	#12 (permalink)
SUPERBADD75 6.2 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: at the corner of walk and don't walk Drives: 2008 Trailblazer LT3 2005 MB SLK350 Posts: 2,898	Fusion sounds cool to me. rather dynamic. better than resurrecting an old name for a new car..... as in Malibu.... __________________ Acura: Because if you want a really nice Honda, there's only one choice. "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." --Albert Einstein - 2008 Trailblazer LT3 - 2005 MB SLK350 SUPPORT AMERICA: BOYCOTT WAL-MART

07-20-2004, 01:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
coolcaddy 6.0 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 1,939	Ford Futura is renamed Fusion By Brett Clanton / The Detroit News DEARBORN — Goodbye, Futura. Hello, Fusion. Ford Motor Co., after losing a naming rights battle with auto parts chain Pep Boys, seller of Futura brand tires, has renamed its upcoming midsized sedan “Fusion,” company sources told The Detroit News. The automaker has been quietly telling dealers of the change and is expected to reintroduce the car as early as this week. Ford announced the Futura name at the 2003 New York International Auto Show, explaining the five-seat sedan is aimed squarely at midsize sedans such as Toyota Camry. In April, a federal court ruled Philadelphia-based Pep Boys had a better claim to the moniker. Last year, Ford also lost the right to call its 500-horsepower supercar the GT40 when a vehicle-kit maker stepped forward with the same label. A newly named Ford GT launches this summer. The Fusion name fits in with the Ford brand’s strategy of beginning the names of its cars, minivans and crossover vehicles with the letter F. The Mustang and GT sports cars are the exceptions. The Fusion will arrive in showrooms next year. source

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07-20-2004, 01:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
MalibuZ31 3.8 Liter Supercharged V6 Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 556	Ford seriousely wants to name all it's products with "F Words". I can think of a few if they need help!

07-20-2004, 01:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
3eb 3.8 Liter V6 Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 317	i really don't get the "F" names at all. it's hard enough to come up with new names for cars the way it is, so why limit yourself by having them all start with the same letter? i don't even see a marketing sense behind it, it's just dumb. i find it unfortunate though that ford didn't get to use the futura name. i don't care much for fusion and from what i've seen of this car i think it may be pretty decent.

07-20-2004, 02:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
xellow Banned Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Either Mc Donalds or Computer Posts: 327	Naming is a pain aint it? I didn't really like the futura name anyway. Truth is, Youve got to come to terms and relize Fords con-Fusion adventually. :P

07-20-2004, 02:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
Maetrix66 3.8 Liter V6 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Hartland, ME Drives: 1984 Fiero SE 3100TT 1966 Grand Prix Posts: 324	So, I guess they redrew the alphabet, huh?? I thought that "Escape" ended with "E" Maybe I'm wrong, though.

07-20-2004, 03:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
ByTheLake 6.2 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Traverse City, MI Drives: '04 Corvette, '08 CTS Posts: 2,695	Fusion? <_< I suppose its no worse than Solstice, Equinox, G6, or Velite. Funny, we complain about names that are made of numbers/letters, and when a name comes along that is a real word, we complain about that, too. If the car is good, it will sell, regardless of the name.

07-20-2004, 05:06 PM	#15 (permalink)
Hudson 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,224	The Futura...er...Fusion is hardly a rebadge of the Mazda6. And you haven't heard much about it because there are other products in between that need to be hyped. First, it's the F-Series...then the Five Hundred/Freestyle...then the Mustang...and THEN the Fusion. __________________ Hudson www.carspace.com/hudsonthedog

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