the combination of "ford fusion" and "sport" is not possible.

the combination of "ford fusion" and "grocery getter" works just fine.

this ranks right up there with the explorer sport. sport how? it rolls easier?

::sigh::

The combination of "Ford Fusion" and "Sport" is not possible.

The combination of "Ford Fusion" and "grocery getter" is much more feasable.

This ranks right up there with the Explorer Sport. Sport how? it rolls over easier?

::sigh::

Sorry about the double post. this website gets funky on me from time to time.

I actually think that the fusion is one of the better products in Ford's offering. And i think that it has feature that might compel people to choose it over its competitors products. I say that as a Japanese car owner, as well. It looks like it might be fun with the manual transmission.

And Dan, if you read the article you may find the answer to why this one is a 'sport' or is sportier than the garden variety fusion.

Nah, you're just impatient. Click, click, click, why isn't it going? Click, grumble grumble, oh wait, there's my post...4 times.

Many examples exist of this sport treatment to an otherwise point A to B vehicle. At least there is SOME kind of mechanical difference in this case. Most of the time, "sport" or "S" equals a corolla/camry/malibu with a "sweet" ground effects kit or an optional manual transmission.

I guess a market exists for these pseudo-sport packages for the same reason people put racing stripes on their Mazda MPV or whale tails on their 1990 Accord. You know, cause at a blistering 55 miles an hour, that extra downforce will really keep your tires planted.

Why should your car have to be able to walk the walk when talking the talk is good enough?

Since when is 18" wheels and a spoiler considered "sporty" ? On a car like the Fusion I call it "riced out"

I don't know Grey, I've clicked that damn button just once and the site still posted twice. I like to think that the bandwidth saved by using inferior management software allows kittens to live. And then there are no more complaints.

I sort of agree with Chris: if anything this stuff is just adding weight to the Fusion, not performance. The reason to increase wheel size is to reduce the amount of shifting in the tires in tight turns (and therefor you need fewer camber adjustments) and spoilers help with high speeds. But modern cars are designed to work up to their maximum rated speeds with optimal downforce anyway. If anything, the spoiler will just add weight and drag this time. And anyone trying to fling the Fusion through corners so tightly that the increased capabilities at the tires will be utilized will probably will we receive a *pleasant* surprise that the suspension cannot handle that anyway.

In other words, way to go Ford, this cost you a lot more money you do not have. How about a new Cobra Mustang for poor Chris here? He's turning blue goddamn it!

On closer inspection of those pictures, I am getting some nostalgia (not the good kind) of early nighties Ford cars. Like the Taurus back before it was a full-size.

That little spoiler and the rims that are just a little bit larger are not a big deal. They won't slow the car down. Just like all the rest of the cars out there, it's sportier because of some tweaks to the ways it looks and a few minor mechanical changes. Give me a break, stop hating just to hate guys.

I don't really see much difference other than the weird seats. I'm assuming that this car has front wheel drive so offering a rear-spoiler isn't going to do that much good other than add drag.

This actually reminds me of the Dodge Caravan Sport editions from a few years back.

Allen:

Well they messed up the new Cobra with all this Shelby garbage... it's just a name whore like Lucas is emblazoning THX all over anything that has a power cord.

I'd like to see John Coletti make a comeback and revive SVT myself and do a *REAL* SVT Cobra under 3,700 lbs and with IRS, not just a SVT engine in a Mustang with Shelby's name plastered all over it.

And a SVT Focus based on the European Focus... now that would be sexy.

But no, lets totally miss the point and stick spoilers, 'dubs' and fog lights on boxy gutless sedans that have suspensions tuned for grocery store parking lots and call it 'sporty'

Apparently, I am the only one who read this so, i will copy and paste from above:
"The new Sport package adds 18 inch rims, a rear spoiler, body-color fog-lamp surrounds, and the grille gets a new "smoky black chrome" look. On the inside the "sporty" Fusion gets charcoal black interior trim, contrasting red stitching and a brushed aluminum face plate for the center console.
there are a few mechanical changes although not much. A more sport tuned suspension with a bigger rear stabilizer bar, stiffer springs and adjusted springs and dampers are included."

So, they did more than just looks and the suspension is not tuned to the grocery store parking lot.

And also, if you read, available in AWD.

I guess that it is more fun to just come in here and make ignorant comments, though.

Well, that's what I basically said. It's some tweaks on the way it looks with some minor mechanical changes. People just like to hate simply because it says Ford on it. Gets old after a while.

I've always thought the Fusion was a good looking car. My only complaint was it's cheapish interior.

Now if they'd drop a little more power into it it may be a competitor for the Altima, Accord, etc..

Using the words 'sport' and 'ford' in the same sentence has about the same effect as 'sport' and 'volvo'. The only difference here is that Volvo know their place in the automotive industry. What's next the Five Hundr...I mean Tempo, no it's Taurus sport package lol. Ford is so out of touch with the car buying public they deserve all the red ink they've been bleeding.
Bring back SVT. Oh wait. That makes too much sense. We'll just milk the Shelby name and keep coming out with different variations of our ungainly sled the Mustang, our only saving grace.

i like the new door handles on the new Focus better.

Yes, me too longing for the Pinto

I think this is a waste. The black smoky grille is definitely a plus. (I saw a Fusion at the Woodward Dream Cruise in Michigan with a custom black smoky grille and it was MUCH nicer than that ugly sheet of chrome that Ford uses right now)

The red and black seats don't look good, and aren't going to help sell this car to young people. Go all red, it's less tacky.

At Jake "I actually think that the fusion is one of the better products in Ford's offering."

You do realize its just a rebadged Mazda 6? It it was really going to be a "Sport" Fusion they should have borrowed the 2.3 Turbo to go along with the AWD they brought over from Mazda.

The Ford Fusion is on my short list for my next vehicle. I like the idea of Mazda underpinnings with the Fusion styling. It has earned generally positive sales success and the reliability rankings have been very good. Ford has had a long standing relationship with Mazda, with both companies sharing in platform design.

Now is it a sports car, NO! . Howver, I feel it is a nice balance of handling and roominess. I actually perfer this to the Mazda 6's styling. I would want the 5speed/4cyl for efficency. The six cylinder is nice, but Ford does not offer a stick for that.

Looks nice...now if they could only do something with those ugly, ricer "euro" tail lights.

"I actually perfer this to the Mazda 6's styling"

The new 6? To each their own I guess.

I think Ford makes good looking trucks, and the Edge isn't too bad, but as far as styling of their cars, driving dynamics, plasticky low rent interiors, and "me too" styling cliches....no thank you.

I just traded my 2005 Mazda 6s - 5 spd in on this Sport Appearance Package Fusion.

Pictures of this car do not do it justice. I work for Ford and I have been looking for a new car for a few months. I had seen pictures of this car but the pictures didn't do anything for me. As most of you have said, it looks cheap, weird, blah blah blah. I felt the same way until 3 days ago when they unloaded this car from the transport. I drove it into the show room and I said "I'm driving it right back off tomorrow." I did just that.

For those of you who READ all this stuff online and see pictures, I can assure you that you dont know what you're talking about unless you've actually driven this car. The suspesion is stiffer, it steers and handles much better than my 6, and I feel that the power is sufficient for a DAILY DRIVER! Everyone is on here blasting the car and yadda yadda, but the seats do not look cheap, they are very nice in fact.

I wanted a car that is DIFFERENT from the other thousands of Fusions on the road. I found it with this car. I have other people (even Fusion drivers) here at the dealership, gas stations, malls, restaurants, coming up to me and asking me what I did to the car, and all that sort of stuff. When the car catches their eye and they want to talk about it - that is the whole point of having something different - to draw attention to it.

So, keep hating just for the sake of arguing with everyone else. Also,if posting online makes you feel like you know everything about the car because you have read an article....more power to you, but I can tell you first hand that this is a great car, it's different, and people like it.

Good on you, JMC... congrats on having the guts to stand up to these trolls, and for putting your money where your mouth is. I really like the new Ford Fusion, and the Sport Appearance package is really worth the money for what you get. Sure, they could do without the spoiler perhaps, but how often do you get a better looking and handling car for $895 (under factory warranty, to boot!)?

Some people have such a knee-jerk reaction to the "F" word in the auto world, that they criticize anything Ford (oops, I said it again) does without actually taking the time to look closer. Ford gets crucified in the press for a recall related to the gas cap retaining strap discoloring, but a 2007 Toyota Camry defective airbag recall that could result in injury and death gets nary a mention. Hypocrites!

Bottom line is that Ford makes great products at a fair price, and their quality has been increasing every year, while the imports remain flat or even go down in quality. Toyota and Honda now have to work, even Consumer Reports sees it, they no longer automatically reccomend their cars. Take a look, take a test drive. Stop choosing to be blind and ignorant!

Spot on!! JMC and Rob. I recently just order me a 2008 Fusion SEL, white suede with black leather interior and I can't stop starring at the picture of it. I have read every online report I can get my hands on and it seems that everyone who owns this car LOVES IT! I test drove one at our concession dealer and I was hooked. This is from someone living in the land of BMW's and Benz. Who needs those gas guzzling overly priced debt traps?? That's right. You see, I am employed on a military installation in Germany, and with the dollar bottoming out against the Euro and gas prices reaching for the stratosphere, the Fusion gave me something to look forward to. OK I'm no expert but for the money I was like oh yeah??? Way to come back America!!! Now if we can just start making them at home:)

Spot on!! JMC and Rob. I recently just order me a 2008 Fusion SEL, white suede with black leather interior and I can't stop starring at the picture of it. I have read every online report I can get my hands on and it seems that everyone who owns this car LOVES IT! I test drove one at our concession dealer and I was hooked. This is from someone living in the land of BMW's and Benz. Who needs those gas guzzling overly priced debt traps?? That's right. You see, I am employed on a military installation in Germany, and with the dollar bottoming out against the Euro and gas prices reaching for the stratosphere, the Fusion gave me something to look forward to. OK I'm no expert but for the money I was like oh yeah??? Way to come back America!!! Now if we can just start making them at home:)

I bought a 2008 Fusion SE in early April. it is the 4cyl/5M with the moon and tune pkg. I tested the Accord before i looked at the Fusion. Compare the stickers for one. The Fusion had a $10K advantage. ($17,000 Fusion sticker after rebates, $27,690 Accord no rebates) For 30HP what are you all whinning about this car rocks. 32mpg Hwy for my best, worst so far is 26mpg mixed driving so far after 4000miles. Yeah the Accord might out run it but ill keep my $10K and put a 1/4 of it into the motor and run away from the Accord. And actually the Fusion pulls from 35mph in 5th with out even a whimper. The Accord bucked and wouldnt even consider it. (so torque isnt an issue in the Fusion)
It is a solid car, rides awsome and handles what i throw at it. As for the interior. it is all soft touch materials. Yeah the guages could use a little different look but they look nice. the seats are supportive and comfortable. Wish i had known about the sport pkg. That would have made the handling a bit better. but better tires should solve my problem.
I dunno ill take my $10K and be happy. The Accord may have more power but Ford has got it right with this car. As for reliability look back a ways in history. The 2.3L DOHC is bullet proof. I am planning at least 200K miles out of it.
Oh and did i mention 60mph in second gear?? And about 95mph in third mabey a little more with the limiter kicking in at 114mph and it gets there in a time that is fast enough to make it fun. Not to bad for a "groccery getter" huh??