rprobst

Thanks! So it looks like an almost-fully-loaded Titanium Energi will come in just under $42K. Worth it.

Thanks, elle, yes, I have been there. They have Titanium AWD -- and that's the same price as Titanium Hybrid -- but they don't yet have Titanium Energi.

I saw my first Fusion in the wild this morning, in the parking lot at work. White Hybrid SE. I spent some time admiring it, remembering just how attractive this car is. I've driven a couple of them (ICE and hybrid), and seen several ready-to-go at the 2 dealers, so it's been surprising not to see any on the road (or in the lot) until now.

Thanks, chuckokie! I hadn't noticed the Energi pricing on NADA. It's still not up on the X-Plan site, but this is better info than I had an hour ago.

Ahh. Right. And do you have a dealer who will give you X-Plan pricing on a model that has not yet been posted on the x-Plan site?

Akirby, why do you think the X-Plan pricing for the Titanium Hybrid is the same as for the Titanium AWD? Do you have a dealer who will give you X-Plan pricing on the Titanium Hybrid now? (even though it's not posted yet) I want to order a Titanium Energi, but the X-Plan pricing is not posted for that model yet.

A while back, relgel posted that at "an inhouse Fusion training seminar ... the trainer said the Fusion Energi will not be delivered until late March early April." So that's consistent.

Just did! Let's run up the vote on this.

Yep, agree completely. My wife's Prius has push-button start, and I am hooked. I can't imagine ever again getting a car that required you to stick a key in a slot. If I have to get the Titanium in order to have that feature, so be it. I just wish I could get the Dune interior on the Titanium. I really don't want black -- but I do want push-button start more than I don't want black.

Ditto. If I knew it worked with all bands, not just FM/AM, I'd do it for sure.

Which auto tracker app do you recommend for iPad/iPhone?

Does the shark fin antennae work for Sirius? Did you have to give up anything to make this switch? Looks much cleaner than a buggy whip.

Hey, I got a Fusion for Christmas! Wrapped up, under the tree. My son gave it to me. Here's a picture; http://www.flickr.com/photos/91862534@N06/8343713032/in/photostream Impressions so far: Beautiful styling. Uses very little gas. Not a lot of room in the trunk -- in fact, the trunk doesn't open. If you want one, they are available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Greenlight-Fusion-Silver-Die-Cast-Vehicle/dp/B008IREGMK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353690116&sr=8-1&keywords=Ford+fusion+die+cast ETA is PDQ

No, valkyriewind placed his/her order 3 months ago, on 21 September.

If there was an MKZ Energi, I would seriously consider it. I like the big sunroof -- the Fusion sunroof is smaller than my current car's -- and I'm a real sucker for some wood in the dashboard. But I agree, the MKZ front end is not as attractive as the Fusion's.

I thought it was easy for Canadians to remain civil.

Yeah, this was also an issue for me. I would really prefer the dune interior. But from my point of view the deciding factor was not the interior color (and certainly not the tail lights!), but the pushbutton start. I plan on owning my next vehicle for a long time -- my current Audi is 15 years old and still going strong. I expect that in a few years, the notion of turning a key to start a car will seem "so Twentieth Century" that cars like that will feel dated. So I decided I could live with a black interior in order to get the pushbutton start. And I'm glad that the keyless entry and wrap-around tail lights come for free with the Titanium. Plus, the premium for the Titanium trim is amazingly low on the Fusion Energi. If you're willing to pay that much for extra batteries, Ford basically throws in the Titanium features. But I would gladly order a dune interior for my Titanium, if only Ford offered this. "Any color so long as it's black..."

superM posted an order guide for Fusion Energi on October 15: http://www.blueovalforums.com/forums/index.php?/topic/51180-fusion-energi-order-guide-info/

This whole controversy strikes me as such a lot of whining. We all know that bad news sells newspapers, or consumer magazines, so not surprising that CR made headlines with this. I'm very glad to see Ford respond vigorously, and CR walk back a bit. CR acknowledged from the first that Fusion and C-Max had great mileage, but CR was getting too much "mileage" out of their headlines about overstated claims. That said, I think there is an important difference in how these test results were obtained. As I understand it, the top speed in the EPA test cycle is 60mph. CR has their own test protocol, with a top speed of 65mph. Ford designed the Fusion and C-Max Hybrids with a top speed under electric power of 62mph. That was probably not an accident; it allows Ford hybrids to produce better results on the EPA tests. CR's latest article points out this difference: "Ford's system can operate in full-electric mode at speeds up to 62 mph. That ability can greatly improve fuel economy in the EPA highway cycle, since most of the government's simulated driving test measures gasoline used while driving at lower speeds. But it won't help at all in the highway portion of the Consumer Reports fuel-economy test, which measures gas consumption at 65 mph. The gap between these results may disappoint those who regularly cruise on the highway at speeds greater than 62 mph." So in that regard, CR has a valid point. I usually drive faster than 60mph on highways, so in a Fusion Hybrid I would expect less time on electric power and thus lower mileage than the EPA test cycle measured. But I plan to buy the Fusion Energi, which has a top speed under electric power of 85mph, so perhaps my highway mileage will be close to 100 MPGe! -- of course, going electric at 80mph will drain the batteries and shorten the range, and then I'll be back to running on gas. In the end, going fast consumes energy. Let's be realistic. Ultimately, we need to see what real drivers report from their real-world use of hybrids and PHEVs. But, again, good for Ford for pushing back on this media mini-frenzy. I'm sure CR would agree that what we need is more people buying hybrids, PHEVs and BEVs, and creating bad headlines to win the news cycle is a mistake if it impedes improving our national efficiency. CR, shame on you!

Yet another reason to live in California...

I like that idea of batmobile mode! But I do not want to have to push a mode button in an emergency. A car with an automatic should respond to a throttle stomp with full power. Anything else is unsafe. Of course, the traditionalist would say that this is why sticks keep selling, because they give drivers more control over their cars. The perfect solution for Fusion Hybrid or Energi, in my view, would be steering wheel paddles connected to the CVT (like on the Mini). I wish Ford offered this option. (Edit) Ahh, the wonders of Google searching. This idea has already been mentioned, in Automobile magazine's review of the C-Max: "If we could introduce one improvement, we would add the Crosstrek's CVT paddle shifters and emulate six fixed ratios." Read more: http://www.automobil.../#ixzz2ExGU7xut (Edit 2) Doh! Ford does offer paddle shifters on the Fusion, but only with the 2L ICE. I wish they offered this option on the Hybrid and Energi.

Uhh, sorry, lggnutts, but I think this is a terrible idea. I may have stomped on that accelerator because an 18-wheeler is bearing down on me, and I don't want any computer ignoring me, whether in a hybrid or a 400-hp muscle car. My wife has a Prius, and it's good at what it does, but it is surely not a driver's car. I really enjoyed test-driving the Fusion Hybrid, because it was responsive to my inputs, despite being a hybrid. And I am really looking forward to driving the Energi -- if it is as much fun to drive as the Hybrid, then I'm reaching for my wallet. But if it ignores my input, then the deal's off.

Umm, I think that means 85 mph is the max speed on battery-only power. I would be really surprised if the Energi can't do 90, as long as you're willing to have the ICE running. I test drove a Fusion Hybrid and it did 90 quite easily, and very very quietly. Doubt that the Energi is much different.

Yes, I've seen the info from Car&Driver and from KBB. But I *would* like to see it on ford.com. I would also love to see the Energi on the X-Plan site. Hopefully that will follow soon after the Build&Price site.

I have heard that the Fusion Energi brochure only lists one wheel design for the Energi -- no options available. I've ordered my brochure but haven't received it yet, so this is hearsay. First, is that right? No wheel choices for the Energi?? Second, if I wanted to put aftermarket wheels on it (I do like the 5-spoke look), what should I watch out for to keep the efficiency up? Do larger wheel sizes cause lower MPG? Are some wheel designs better for low wind resistance?