What's the weird circle on the front fender?

 

I'll give you one guess and give you a hint: "parging chort."

 

looks nice....

 

This car is 7 years old already. But I do not blame them for not investing in new Sedans right now.

 

Didn't Mary B. say similar about the Malibu? The danger here is that, though declining, the midsize market is still big and the domestics shouldn't let their cars become jokes (Buick Century around for 20 years as an example) and hand over the market to the likes of the Accord and Camry. That will further cement Detroit's image as NOT the place to buy midsize cars from.

 

A lot of 2019 Ford FWD based vehicles are getting an 8 Speed. Just mentioning.

 

Why not the jointly developed 9 speed with GM that Chevy started using over a year ago? Using an externally sourced 8 speed doesn't make sense.

 

Did they accidentally use a photo of the 2018 model?

What is the styling difference?

 

Nothing to see here

 

For real.

ZZzzzz

 

They all need to simplify there lineups. If the most common selling Fusion is the SE with 1.5T and optional Sync then make them all that way with limited options. Thankfully that looks exactly like what Ford is doing. If I were them I would have eliminated the base mediocre 2.5 also and made the 8 speed std across the board for a much needed MPG and power improvement.

The Malibu also needs to do this and eliminate the fleet oriented L model and made a similar safety feature set std across the board from the base LS right up to the Premier. I chronicled this several times for the Malibu but it looks like Ford got there first.

 

After posting the above I found this:

http://www.autonews.com/article/201...icle/20170522/OEM01/170519722/ford-to-build-an-8-speed-transmission-in-michigan

Ford is cutting the cost it appears, it wasn't due to problems with the design. The report says:

The transmission is based on the nine-speed developed with General Motors, according to a source with knowledge of the company’s plans. Ford removed a gear to save on costs and improve performance, said the source, who requested anonymity discussing internal plans.

Performance improvements? Hard to buy that since I've lived with the 9 speed for over a year now. Save on costs? That has to be the real reason.

 

After posting the above I found this:

http://www.autonews.com/article/201...icle/20170522/OEM01/170519722/ford-to-build-an-8-speed-transmission-in-michigan

Ford is cutting the cost it appears, it wasn't due to problems with the design. The report says:

The transmission is based on the nine-speed developed with General Motors, according to a source with knowledge of the company’s plans. Ford removed a gear to save on costs and improve performance, said the source, who requested anonymity discussing internal plans.

Performance improvements? Hard to buy that since I've lived with the 9 speed for over a year now. Save on costs? That has to be the real reason.

Decontenting at its finest!

 

Oooh, they tweaked the lower bumper facia. Whoopie. I still think this is a mistake to can these midsize cars just because they have slumping sales.

 

Still a nice looking everyday car, though it's becoming a bit more like a Kia Optima with this update.

 

I sure hope they put in that new 8 speed and the MPG and performance go up. The base 2.5 gets V6 gas mileage with 2010 standards 4 cylinder performance. The 1.5T isn't much quicker and only slightly more efficient and the 2.0T drinks more gas than my 3.6 LFX equipped Impala does with lower performance. The 8 speed, if designed correctly, should help in all of these cases.

 

All the mid size sedans are so good that monthly lease payments or purchase payments are all that matters to most in this segment.

The segment has consumers that want the lowest payments for a nice respectable mid size sedan.

The fusion looks fine and I'm sure it drives quite nicely.

 

Well, at least it looks better than the Honda Accord.

 

I'm not a big consumer in this segment yet the Honda Accord just released actually looks pretty slick this year...imo


but the Camry in the sales race seems to be doing 20 percent better ...than the accord and accord sales have fallen off this year about the same amount because Camry lease deals are surprisingly 20 percent less expensive. (Plus Camry does big fleet and Honda does none)

This entire segment has become loaded with excellent product and this segment is primarily a commodity driven and it boils down to cost to own.

I believe Ford is on the right path with the fusion if it is doing so to lean out cost for its mid segment competitor and of course still offer an excellent and stylish product...

I happen to have always thought the fusion was a good looking vehicle...

Personally this segment seems to be similiar to appliance shopping and he who offers the best subsidized lease deals gain the best unit sales volume..in the segment..

When shopping sports cars or luxury cars or even cuv s price becomes less of a factor than in the mid size segment...

This segment seems to find logical rational consumers who are driven more strongly on cost to lease or even purchase. While the Camry has become more stylish...it's still somewhat behind stylewise than competitors like the fusion or accord...

It's those dam 20 percent less per lease that makes the Camry sales king..and for families struggling that 20 percent lower cost means a lot...

For the consumer reports reader that lower cost means everything...or rather it takes a lot to sway them as consumers beyond price and the first few years the fusion was so far ahead of the competition in styling...Ford was giddy with its profitable sales...and good unit volume increases...

Now comes the dredging wars for market share ....and of course the cuv craze is affecting mid size sedan sales...

Cost becomes an even greater aspect for mid size passenger car segment success...

I can't say for sure if I'd buy or rather lease a 20 percent per month less slightly boring looking Toyota Camry or a 20 percent more expensive to lease better looking Honda Accord and I'm an enthusiast.....

I don't follow Ford pricing n subsidized leasing that closely....as its often not a big player in subsidized leasing wars ...GM is playing hardball with Toyota in this sense.

I recently had a Chevy loaner while my corvette was being serviced and it was the latest Chevy Malibu...which seemed like a nice vehicle in the segment...the little turbo motor seemed surprisingly adequate and peppy.....the space in the vehicle was tremendous, the transmission seemed efficient...I think it was the 9 speed...the styling overall was nice...but i think if I were shopping this segment....it would be the lowest cost per lease deal that would sway my opinion in the end...this is an appliance ...for the 24 or 36 months of ownership..of a lease..

I did find waiting for the little four cylinder to spool up a bit bizarre on the highway but it wasn't bad...I guess the gas mileage on the government testing is better than the v6 s...

Real world I'm not convinced tiny turbo motors are actually more fuel efficient and just add cost...

My worthless insight to the mid size segment ..


Cuv s hold more room for manufacturers profit...more passion in purchase decisions than mid size sedans..

Fords on the right path...toolings paid off long ago..and the fusion is a strong competitor..( shave cost add value)