The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) today named the all-new 2013 Fusion a Top Safety Pick.
To earn a Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must receive a rating of "Good" in the following evaluations: offset frontal impact, side impact, dynamic head restraint and roof strength testing. In addition to the Top Safety Pick, the new Ford Fusion offers leading fuel economy and smart technologies, such as auto start/stop.
"The new Fusion is another example of Ford's commitment to the highest standards of safety and we are proud that IIHS has recognized these efforts," said Steve Kenner, global director of the Automotive Safety Office.
Protection in case of crash
The all-new Fusion features the Personal Safety System with new safety belt technologies and frontal impact airbags.
The Personal Safety System is a network of components that work together to tailor the deployment of the front airbags during frontal collisions. The restraint control module (RCM) translates information collected by the front crash sensors, front outboard safety belt buckle switches, driver-seat track position and passenger seat weight sensor. Using this information, the RCM activates the safety belt pretensioners and determines how the dual-stage front airbags will deploy. This tailored deployment is designed to better protect an occupant by adapting its release to the size of the person.
The redesigned seat-mounted side airbags deploy lower in the pelvis area in addition to the chest and incorporate new venting technology. The side airbag's venting technology takes into account the size of the occupant. The tunnel vent on the seat mounted side airbag is designed to line up with the shoulder area of a larger occupant keeping the side airbag from venting. On smaller passengers, the effect is just the opposite because the occupant's shoulder is below the vent, the gas vents out of the airbag.
The driver's frontal airbag uses a reconfigured curve-shaped tether system that pulls in the lower section to create a pocket that help to lessen the impact of the airbag on the driver's chest and ribs in frontal crashes. Deploying at the same time is a driver's knee airbag.
Top fuel economy, driver assist technology
The Fusion boasts leading fuel economy and numerous driver assist technologies that help enhance the driving experience, reduce stress and assist in avoiding potentially harmful scenarios.
Fusion brings the broadest selection of fuel-efficient powertrains in the midsize car segment. Consumers have the choice of a pair of EcoBoost four-cylinder engines, a normally aspirated four-cylinder engine, an automatic start stop system to shut off the engine at stationary idle, front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive applications, and a choice between automatic and manually shifted six-speed transmissions. The Fusion also offers hybrid and plug-in hybrid alternatives. The hybrid offers 47 mpg on the highway and in the city. The plug-in hybrid offers 100 mpgE, a mile per gallon equivalency metric for electrified vehicles.
Maneuvering parking lots and traveling open roadways become even safer and less stressful with Fusion's available sensor-based BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert. BLIS sounds an alert when a vehicle is detected entering a blind spot. Cross-traffic alert warns if traffic is detected approaching from the sides, such as when Fusion is leaving a parking space in reverse.
Parallel parking the Fusion is virtually stress-free with the available active park assist system. With the press of a button, the system detects an available parallel parking space and automatically steers the vehicle into the space. Drivers control only the gas and brake pedals.
Other driver assist technologies featured in the Fusion include:
- Lane Keeping Assist
- Lane Keeping Aid
- Driver Monitoring
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Rearview Camera
- Front/Rear Park Aids
- Hill Start Assist
- Electronic Parking Break