Ford Fusion wins Motor Trend Car of The Year

[rrocket]

Ford Fusion is car of the year.  Discuss! 

[Jaeger]

Were they the same ones that ran that bogus rigged "mountain-top" comparo with the Lincoln, or was that a different rag?

Jaeger

[rrocket]

That was Motor Trend and Automobile mag...tag team!

[articsteve]

Not bad for $4.50 and hour. 

[Mitlov]

Even the pre-facelift model was one of the most underrated cars in its class IMO.  With the facelift addressing basically all of the complaints people had about the car, I think the award is well-deserved.

Plus, for all of you people who are infatuated with the business side of cars instead of the driving side you should love the Fusion.  It's busted into the top ten best-selling cars in the States a couple of times since the facelift, and it is almost certainly part of why Ford didn't ask for any government loans (unlike GM and Chrysler from the US and Canadian governments and Toyota from the Japanese government).

[rrocket]

Even the pre-facelift model was one of the most underrated cars in its class IMO.  With the facelift addressing basically all of the complaints people had about the car, I think the award is well-deserved.

Plus, for all of you people who are infatuated with the business side of cars instead of the driving side you should love the Fusion.  It's busted into the top ten best-selling cars in the States a couple of times since the facelift, and it is almost certainly part of why Ford didn't ask for any government loans (unlike GM and Chrysler from the US and Canadian governments and Toyota from the Japanese government).

And VW from the German Government

http://us.ft.com/ftgateway/superpage.ft?news_id=fto120920081018016913

Though neither VW nor Toyota used the money for day-to-day operations.  They both used the money for their financial arms.

[Honda Owner]

I wonder how big Ford's ad contract with Motor Trend was?

[Mitlov]

Even the pre-facelift model was one of the most underrated cars in its class IMO.  With the facelift addressing basically all of the complaints people had about the car, I think the award is well-deserved.

Plus, for all of you people who are infatuated with the business side of cars instead of the driving side you should love the Fusion.  It's busted into the top ten best-selling cars in the States a couple of times since the facelift, and it is almost certainly part of why Ford didn't ask for any government loans (unlike GM and Chrysler from the US and Canadian governments and Toyota from the Japanese government).

And VW from the German Government

http://us.ft.com/ftgateway/superpage.ft?news_id=fto120920081018016913

Though neither VW nor Toyota used the money for day-to-day operations.  They both used the money for their financial arms.

Sure, VW too.  That wasn't meant to be an exclusive list.  The fact is, most companies have gone to governments for a little helping hand during this economy, and Ford hasn't.

[Mitlov]

I wonder how big Ford's ad contract with Motor Trend was?

Ford bias?  For Motor Trend COTY?  Seriously?

2010 Ford Fusion
2009 Nissan GT-R
2008 Cadillac CTS
2007 Toyota Camry
2006 Honda Civic
2005 Chrysler 300
2004 Toyota Prius
2003 Infiniti G35

I only see one bias, and that's for good cars.

[rrocket]

I wonder how big Ford's ad contract with Motor Trend was?

Ford bias?  For Motor Trend COTY?  Seriously?

2010 Ford Fusion
2009 Nissan GT-R
2008 Cadillac CTS
2007 Toyota Camry
2006 Honda Civic
2005 Chrysler 300
2004 Toyota Prius
2003 Infiniti G35

I only see one bias, and that's for good cars.

There are those who insist that this award is bought and paid for every year....

[Mitlov]

There are those who insist that this award is bought and paid for every year....

If it's for sale to the highest bidder, don't you expect you'd see some total crap cars mixed in there?  Isn't it a big coincidence that ONLY really good cars manage to buy the award?

[rrocket]

There are those who insist that this award is bought and paid for every year....

If it's for sale to the highest bidder, don't you expect you'd see some total crap cars mixed in there?  Isn't it a big coincidence that ONLY really good cars manage to buy the award?

Well 2001 was the PT Cruiser winning the award over the 1st mass produced hybrid vehicle for sale on the US market.  I thought 2001 was VERY questionable since the award is for the "most significant new vehicle".

[Mitlov]

There are those who insist that this award is bought and paid for every year....

If it's for sale to the highest bidder, don't you expect you'd see some total crap cars mixed in there?  Isn't it a big coincidence that ONLY really good cars manage to buy the award?

Well 2001 was the PT Cruiser winning the award over the 1st mass produced hybrid vehicle for sale on the US market.  I thought 2001 was VERY questionable since the award is for the "most significant new vehicle".

You had to go back ten years to get a questionable call?  I didn't say that it'd been good for all time, but since 2003 I think they've named a good car every single year.  Hardly a "highest bidder" thing if you ask me.  If it was up for the highest bidder, you'd expect a highly-promoted-but-flawed car (like the second-gen Insight or the Camaro) to win, but for eight straight years now every winner has been deserving.

[rrocket]

There are those who insist that this award is bought and paid for every year....

If it's for sale to the highest bidder, don't you expect you'd see some total crap cars mixed in there?  Isn't it a big coincidence that ONLY really good cars manage to buy the award?

Well 2001 was the PT Cruiser winning the award over the 1st mass produced hybrid vehicle for sale on the US market.  I thought 2001 was VERY questionable since the award is for the "most significant new vehicle".

You had to go back ten years to get a questionable call?  I didn't say that it'd been good for all time, but since 2003 I think they've named a good car every single year.  Hardly a "highest bidder" thing if you ask me.  If it was up for the highest bidder, you'd expect a highly-promoted-but-flawed car (like the second-gen Insight or the Camaro) to win, but for eight straight years now every winner has been deserving.

Hey...I'm not fighting you on this.  I've got no arguments with their choices over the last while.  For once, you and I are on the same page..

[Juke1]

I wonder how big Ford's ad contract with Motor Trend was?

...as big as the Camry, Prius and Civic contract fanboy

[toolatecrew]

Even the pre-facelift model was one of the most underrated cars in its class IMO.  With the facelift addressing basically all of the complaints people had about the car, I think the award is well-deserved.

it is almost certainly part of why Ford didn't ask for any government loans (unlike GM and Chrysler from the US and Canadian governments and Toyota from the Japanese government).

Not true Ford asked and recived plenty of loans from the Government.
http://www.thenewamerican.com/index.php/economy/markets-mainmenu-45/1290

They did not require bailout loans to stay afloat (a bailout being loans which likley will not be repaied and without which the company could not maintain operations).

This is not to take credit away but to point out the difference between using exisitng Government loan programs  (Japan has had them in place for automakers for YEARS) and desparatley begging for government loans to maintain operations .

[toolatecrew]

Oh COngrats to Ford. I've long been a fan of the Fusion. Very competive car in the Midsized Segment as well as class leading in many repects in the Hybird segment.

[MKII]

MT video of the testing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G911eAtEYeQ&feature=player_embedded#

Seems one of the main factors the Fusion was picked was on the broad selection of variants, I4, two V6, AWD & Hybrid, with special mentions of the SE I4 equipped with the 6 spd tranny & well done Hybrid model.
After listening to the comments on the video I got the impression many of the testers preferred the Fusion SE I4 6 spd tranny combo over the V6 AWD Sport.

Was also nice to hear Motor Trend Editor-in-chief Angus MacKenzie say how he is looking forward to next Mondeo based Fusion.

[Wolverine]

I wonder how big Ford's ad contract with Motor Trend was?

Don't start with that, please.

I guess the award was well deserved.

Here in Brazil the Fusion was named COTY too, by popular vote.

[stodge]

Has Ford's medium to long term quality improved? That's the main thing keeping me away from Ford. Oh and they have nothing I want.