Ford CEO Alan Mullaly brought out the Fusion through a rock-star like entrance of smoke and spotlights, at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.
Mullaly said, “2013 will be a significant year for Ford.” He promised that there will be five different Fusions, including a fully-electric version.
All the Fusions will feature Ford’s new Ecoboost technology. And, according to Mullaly, the Fusion will “change the way people think of midsize cars.”
Midsize and smaller cars were the clear theme at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).
Chrysler revealed their much-anticipated 2013 Dodge Dart, to perhaps the biggest crowd Monday. It shares a similar look to the Dodge Charger, but is compact and has Fiat’s multi-air engine technology.
Chevy made a push to attract youthful buyers by unveiling the 2013 Chevy Sonic RS. Targeting the under-30 demographic, General Motors CEO Mark Reuss bragged about the Sonic’s new MyLink system. It features a 7-inch touchscreen where drivers can stream music through their phone. The Sonic will have a base price of around $20,000.
Then, Reuss surprised everyone by unveiling one of two concept vehicles. The TRU 40S is a four-passenger coupe with a sporty look. Additionally, the Code 130R concept revealed a throwback to classic Chevy design. Neither concept car is slated for production, yet.
Besides, unveiling concept vehicles, automakers displayed the latest in fuel-efficient technology at NAIAS. This is in preparation and anticipation of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) standards, where the federal government will require new cars to average 35.5 mpg by 2016.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2115 or jdinsmore@coxohio.com. Follow him on Twitter @wheelseditor.
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