WINNING WITH CONSUMERS
The Ford Fusion Hybrid has won numerous awards for its technology and styling elements.
The all-new Fusion Hybrid arrived in dealers in March, complete with a powertrain system that combines the best attributes of the gasoline engine and electric battery-driven motors to deliver the optimal experience for the customer in terms of driving performance and fuel economy.
The Fusion Hybrid also offers drivers a way to be more connected to the hybrid driving experience, thanks to Ford’s SmartGauge with EcoGuide, a unique instrument cluster execution that helps coach them on how to optimize the performance of their hybrid.
Despite the slump in overall industry sales, 2009 was a record-breaking year for the Ford Fusion. Sales are at an all-time high, with the Fusion Hybrid accounting for almost 20 percent of total Fusion retail sales.
Dikedi Enyia-Ohaeri, an urban lifestyle marketing consultant, said the scope of “going green” has definitely changed.
“American consumers have tended to associate ‘green’ automotive technology as catering to ‘hippies’ or ‘tree hugging,’” said Enyia-Ohaeri. “In essence it’s felt that ‘green’ cars don’t have the power, speed, size or style that cars with traditional internal combustion engines possess. No more are hybrids limited to the Toyota Prius.”
TAKE A RIDE
An all-new Electric Avenue area at the Detroit auto show presented by The Dow Chemical Co. will showcase vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi MiEV and the Commuter Cars Tango 600.
Featured on the main floor as a 37,000 square-foot area dedicated to showcasing the latest in electric vehicles and technology, the area will feature products by both traditional automakers and innovative entrepreneurs. The all-new exhibit area will feature nearly 20 vehicles.
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) will also feature the return of the EcoXperience, featured in Michigan Hall. It will offer a quarter-mile track through a Michigan-designed landscape. Journalists will be able to drive low-emission vehicles indoors while the public can experience the same track by taking rides during public days.
Honda has unveiled a production version of the 2011 CR-Z, a sporty hybrid, showcased at the Detroit auto show. Toyota has unveiled a hybrid concept called the FT-CH, targeted at younger buyers.
Hyundai is showing off a hybrid model of its all-new sleek 2010 Sonata Hybrid and Toyota will showcase a hybrid concept rumored to be a baby brother to the Prius.
Oh, and that sporty BMW X6 crossover you
can’t take your eyes off when you see it on the road? There’s a hybrid version of that as well.
So, still saying you’d never do hybrid or an electric car?
Marcus Amick is a national automotive writer and marketing consultant. He can be contacted at Marcus@WheelSide.com.
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