Ford aims sexed-up Fusion at Camry

13:41 AEDT Tue Jan 10 2012

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Ford unveiled a new Fusion with distinct European lines Monday that it hopes will help dethrone Toyota's Camry in the all-important US mid-sized sedan market sector.

Analysts voiced surprise and approval for the sweeping, unrecognizable redesign of Ford's biggest-selling car, wheeled out at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit on the first day of the 2012 North American International Auto Show.

"We are going to change the way people think about mid-sized cars," said Mark Fields, Ford's president for the Americas.

The four-door, forecast to sell at around $22,000, comes in gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, all cloaked in distinctively European styling -- done in America.

"What we wanted was a car that looked visually like a premium car," said J. Mays, Ford vice president for design.

"I am proud that we came up with a world-class design here in Dearborn," he said, referring to Ford's home near Detroit.

The Fusion has already grabbed for Ford a strong position in its segment, picking up speed after the first hybrid version won the North American Car of the Year award at the 2010 Detroit auto show.

Fields said the company sold more than 248,000 of the cars last year, edging toward Camry's 308,500.

The redesign could help boost that, overcoming what was a relatively non-descript shape and styling common in the segment.

"I was really impressed with the Fusion," Jessica Caldwell of auto researcher Edmunds.com said after the launch.

pmh/sst

Source: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8400882

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