Oh hey there, pretty young thang.

Ford has released official images of the new Fusion and stylewise, it’s a winner for sure. Part of the reason might be due to the fact that this is actually the new Mondeo for Europe too and the Europeans, well, they just plain have better taste than us with certain things not least of which is car designs. Ford’s new global car campaign is paying off for us North American’s as a result.

The new Fusion gets a low-slung sleek look that easily rivals that of the Hyundai Sonota. Europeans might see this design as more of an evolution of the Mondeo, but regardless, it’s safe to say that this new design is quite agreeable.

Now for the big news. Ford is ditching its V6 in favour of a 4 cylinder line up. Many criticized Hyundai for doing the same with the Sonata, but there seems to be no indication of backlash in their sales. It’s safe to say the all four lineup won’t hurt Fusion sales either. The base trim level will get a 2.5 litre four that generates 170 horsepower and 170 pound feet of torque. This unit gets paired to a six-speed automatic only. Next option available is actually a 1.6 litre Ecoboost engine that makes 179 horsepower and 172 pound foot torque. This is interesting because it will likely be more efficient and just as powerful as the 2.5. Makes you wonder what the point of the 2.5 litre is altogether, but I digress. The top of the line engine will come in the form of a 2.0 litre turbo which makes 237 horsepower and 250 pound foot of juice. Both the latter engines will get the automatic transmission but the 1.6 can be had with a six-speed manual which should help make the most of power from that unit.

What about the hybrid?

Well it’s sticking around but it will get a 2.0 litre four cylinder Atkinson unit which replaces the 2.5 in the outgoing Fusion Hybrid. The result is 180 horses and 130 pound foot torque estimated. The result? An estimated 5 L/100 kms in the city and 5 L/100 kms on the highway.

But wait, there’s actually another hybrid version of the new Fusion called the Energi. It uses the same engine set up from the regular hybrid, but it’s actually a plug in which helps the Fusion run on pure electric power alone.

No matter what your preference is, chances are there’s a variant of the new Fusion which is at least somewhat appealing to you. Click past the jump for a few more pics.

[Ford]

Remember when Ford and Chevrolet put a V6 in the engine bay of their respected muscle cars? The consensus of muscle car aficionados was akin to something like Tim Horton’s taking away Boston cream donuts. It apparently was just unthinkable.

Well now there might be something in development for the Mustang which would be akin to hell freezing over for pretty much any ‘Stang fan, or muscle car junkie in general.

Apparently Ford may be looking into making an all-electric Mustang. Impossible you say? Maybe not. Consider this:

1) All-electric vehicles are making a come back in a big way. There are currently at least ten automakers investing heavily in the technology, not least of which is Ford with the preparation of the launch of the all-electric Focus to bow very soon.

2) Automakers like Tesla with their Roadster, Audi’s E-Tron or BMW with their i8 (I know, the latter is not fully electric, but there’s a lot of electric technology in there) are proving that electric vehicles don’t have to be boring. In fact, performance electric vehicles is a new emerging segment. Therefore Ford could easily nab the “cheap” performance electric vehicle title with an all-electric Mustang.

3) This is probably the most important point of all. I have a source that has revealed exclusively to Car Driven that a prototype is already made, in fact it was witnessed in seclusion by said source. It’s possible this was just a regular electric car conversion, however considering the fuss made when a picture was trying to be taken, it’s clear this is something that Ford wants quiet for the time being.

While all of this remains speculation at the moment, you can be sure that Car Driven will do more digging to see what else is out there on the electric ‘Stang.

What do you think of the idea of an all-electric muscle car?

It’s not even 2012 and yet 2013 models are starting to show their faces. Case in point, Ford has released images and new details on the refreshed Ford Flex.

The Flex has always been a bit of a polarizing design with some saying the flat white roof is a rip-off of the Mini Cooper while others say it looks like some sort of stretched hearse. Well, Ford didn’t care to tone down the design, in fact they’ve probably made it even more polarizing. This could be a smart move on Ford’s part as unique designs that push the envelope usually end up being embraced in the end.

The front facia is really where the big changes are. A large brushed aluminum bar across the grille is probably the first thing you notice along with re-worked headlights. You’ll notice there’s no longer a blue oval to be seen anywhere up front as Ford decided to just put the Flex’s name front and centre.

Inside a refreshed dash and console can be found which now includes MyFord Touch (an updated version) along with push-start standard and rain sensing wipers.

There are powertrain updates as well. The base 3.5 litre V6 will get a power boost by 20 horses now making 285 horsepower, all while being 1.6 litres/100 kms more efficient. The V6 Ecoboost engine will cary over unchanged.

What do you think of the Flex’s new schauz? Hit or miss?

[Ford]

Remember during the superbowl when Chrysler paid millions of dollars to essentially relate their cars to Detroit? They said Detroit used to be a broke down city but hard work and determination prevailed to make Detroit the city it is today- not unlike Chrysler. Supposedly.

The slogan ‘Imported from Detroit’ resinated quite well with everyone as a catchy play on the positive reputation that most imported car companies hold. Turns out, Chrysler really should’ve went with ‘Imported from Canada’.

A U.S consumer group has filed several complaints against Chrysler for using the imported from Detroit tagline in a Chrysler 300 commercial. Why? Well because the 300 is actually built in Brampton, Ontario alongside the Charger and Challenger.

Made in the USA chairman Joel Joeseph said, “the Chrysler 300 is assembled in Brampton, Ontario, Canada and often includes a Mexican-made engine. Last time I checked, Detroit is not in Canada. Chrysler is flat wrong to imply the Chrysler 300 is made in the United States and we have asked the FTC to order corrective advertising.”

Good point.

Chrysler responded by saying that the complaints are “completely without merit” and that they will continue using the tagline on all their products.

Ford was also named in complaints for an ad that claimed the Fusion was American, however it’s built in Mexico. They also take issue with the Edge, Flex and Lincoln MKT which are all built in Oakville.

Ford’s response is that the ad specific to the Fusion was developed by a dealer and that most dealers crate their own content.

What do you think? Is it harmless patriotism or should Chrysler and Ford pull or even correct the ads?

[CTV]

Have you ever wondered what would happen if someone pitted a drag race between a BMW 1-Series M, a Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca, a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, a Chevy Corvette Z06, a Ferrari 458 Italia, a Nissan GT-R, an Audi R8 GT, a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, a Lexus LFA, a Porsche Cayman R, and a Lotus Evora S? Of course you have. And so apparently has Motor Trend because they actually had the pull to make it happen.

All 11 vehicles are definitely among the best of the best in terms of performance vehicles that are currently made. With that said, they all excel at different things. For instance, there’s no question that the 1-series M is going to lose to the 458 Italia. So, why bother doing it? Because each one of us has a 5 year old boy in us that’s why. Without giving too much away, it’s clear that Motor Trend arranged the obvious front runners to be in the middle of the starting line and then worked backwards. The result is a spectacular flying ‘V’ made up of American, Japanese and European brilliance. The symphonic notes coming from each of the exhausts comes together exquisitely.

Click the above video to see it all unfold.

[Youtube]

Volkswagen has the GTI, Mazda has the Mazdaspeed3, Volvo has the C30 T5 and now another hot hatch will be available for us to choose from.

Finally, after what seems like decades of waiting, Ford has decided to let us Canadians in on one of its best kept secrets: the Focus ST. Considering how good the ‘ordinary’ Focus has gotten, it’s safe to say that this new Focus ST will not disappoint in the performance department.

This hot hatch will get a 247 horsepower eco-boost 2.0 litre four cylinder which can divvy up a healthy 265 pound feet of torque. Right now a six-speed manual has been confirmed and also tuned to help reinforce a symphonic engine and exhaust note. No word on if an automatic will be available, but it likely will down the line if not from launch.

The Focus ST will be front-drive only. That means that torque steer was Ford’s worst enemy and to combat it, Ford has developed a torque steer compensation system mated with electronic power steering. When both are working in harmony, Ford says torque steer is virtually non-existent.

The lucky dogs in Europe actually get a wagon version of the Focus ST, but no such luck for us Canucks. I suppose beggers can’t be choosers. Expect the Focus ST to bow next year.

So, if it were your hard earned cash, which hot hatch would you plunk money down for? The GTI, the Mazdaspeed3, the C30 T5, or the Focus ST?

[Ford]

By Kevin Harrison

This past weekend I met up with a friend that I hadn’t seen in a while to catch up. I suggested a local pub that he had never been to. Once we arrived, I wasted no time in telling him what to get.

“The steak is unreal here,” I said, salivating at the thought. “The ribs are great too. In fact, everything is pretty good, the only thing I wouldn’t recommend is -“

“I think I’ll give the liver and onions a try,” interrupted Andrew, choosing the one item I tried to warn him about. Now, while I realize liver and onions are an acquired taste, I was not suggesting he avoid them due to some sort of personal disgust. It was more the fact that I had tried them before and nearly vomited on the spot. This joint could not make good liver and onions, no matter how hard they tried.

Stupidly, Andrew brushed off my warnings and went with the liver and onions. Not wishing to concede that his decision was a bad one, Andrew managed to put on a forced smile once it arrived and an “mmm” with every second bite knowing full well he was feeling the exact opposite.

Later that night I sent him a text about an unrelated matter and Andrew replied, “can’t talk now, really not feeling well”. The next day I later found out that Andrew’s stomach had smartly rejected what Andrew was forcing down.

Needless to say, being the good friend that I am, I promptly called him up repeating ‘I told you so’ in between laughs.

I also used to do that with friends that bought a car without first consulting me. Usually they’d come home with everything from a Ford Focus, to a 15 year old Mercedes-Benz S-class because they were cheap. The latter is particularly well known for its reliability (or lack thereof) while the former was best known as the best buy for rental companies only. It wasn’t particularly good at anything other than saving you money in initial cost.

Well now there’s a new version out and Ford promises it won’t disappoint and won’t be anything like Focuses (Foci?) of the past. I tried one out to see if it was true.

‘European styling’ is a term every automaker’s PR department gushes about even when it’s not true. With Ford’s new Focus, however, they managed to pull it off. This is mostly because this is the Focus that Europe has enjoyed for the past few years and continues to do so today. The front end is particularly pleasant to look at as it is quite aggressive with large air intakes near the bottom, a stylish grille, fog lights integrated into the body and non-assuming headlights. The side profile of the hatch is sleek and enhanced by my tester’s large five-spoke 18 inch wheels. Side skirts help it from looking like a crossover. In the rear, the European style tail lights and roof mounted spoiler complete the look. Simply put, this is a hot looking hatch.

Inside, fit and finish is the name of the game. The leather feels rich, as does the dash and other materials. Headroom and legroom are a bit wanting, but it’s not as if you’ll ever feel cramped back there. You’ll do just fine, even on longer trips. The seats are comfortable and offer good support with large side bolsters to hug you in the corners. The front driver and passenger seats have five settings for the heated seats. Yes, five. Since it was a steady 24 degrees each day I spent with the Focus, I had no urge to try them out, but I can only surmise that five setting for seated seats is a bit overkill. One, maybe two would do. The dash layout design is clear and sort of futuristic looking. The center screen where most everything is controlled such as audio is still a bit confusing if you’re not used to it, but I got the hang of it after a while. It’s a touch screen that sometimes requires two or three touches before it responds to your command. One thing that pleased me was the lack of annoying cartoon sounds when pushing the screen or a button. That seems to be reserved for the Edge.

When out and about in the Focus the first thing you’ll notice is the steering. It’s heavier than most vehicles in the segment, and believe me, that’s a good thing. Especially considering the focus has a fully independent rear suspension, a wider track and a lowered stance: a great recipe for enhanced handling. Add on those large 18 inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport rubber the the Titanium-only sport suspension and you’ve got yourself one hell of a great handling car. Dodge, Toyota and yes, even Honda could learn a lesson or two from this package. The only competitors that feel just as compliant in the handling department is the Mazda3 and Volkswagen Golf. It may be a three-way tie here. But considering throwing the old Focus in a corner was akin to throwing away your dignity, that’s quite the large step Ford has taken. It’s poised, precise, sharp and nimble. As you’d expect, body lean is quite minimal as is under steer – the latter is mostly thanks to electronic stability control.

Power comes from a 2.0 litre four cylinder unit which makes 160 horsepower which bests most of its rivals, not least of which is its predecessor which only had 140 horses, but is outdone in the torque department with 142 pound feet. This is obvious at lower RPM’s where the torque kicks in mostly at higher RPM’s. This makes the Focus quite the screamer at higher RPM’s but mid-range power is lacking, especially for passing duties on the highway.

Speaking of the highway, the Focus is calm and smooth. The six-speed automatic transmission, even though geared for fuel efficiency in mind, shifts smoothly and is responsive when power is needed. I’m not a fan of the push button to change gears manually, but I suppose that’s just more of a preference than a fault. When in regular automatic mode, there does seem to be a bit of hesitation off the line when switching from 1st to 2nd gear.

The Focus’ fuel efficiency is very impressive. Rated at 7.3 L/100 kms city and 5.2 L/100 kms highway, it beats its competitors hands down. I averaged 6.6 L/100 kms of combined highway and city driving. Not bad at all.

Faults? Well the turning circle is pretty large for its size, you’ll be doing lots of frustrating three point turns. When the Focus is sitting at idle, say at a red light, you can feel vibrations through the steering wheel and, well, everywhere else. The privacy cover over the hatch is quite cheap and the string holding it in place actually broke when I opened the hatch once. Oh, and the button for locking the car on the fob is oddly placed in the middle. That makes it harder to know which button is the lock button if you’re just locking the car from your pocket. Yeah, that’s about it. Seriously.

This Focus has made incredible leaps and bounds in terms of pretty much everything. It may not be the fastest, it may not be the most powerful, it may not be the roomiest and it may not be the cheapest but it offers a very complete package that should leave its competitors worried.

The Focus is no longer the liver and onions to be avoided, it’s upgraded itself to the fillet minion. Now when I laugh at my friends for buying the wrong car because they didn’t consult me first, I can now say, “you should’ve bought a Focus”. I used to say you were stupid for even considering a Focus, now I have to say you’re stupid if you don’t.

Price: $25,099

Pros:

• True European styling
• Quality interior materials
• Excellent handling set-up
• Best in-class fuel efficiency
• Solid feeling road manners
• Comfortable seats

Cons:

• Could use more interior room
• Touch screen can be glitchy
• Odd shaking at idle
• Large turning radius

Overall: 9/10

By Kevin Harrison

When I was in university I befriended a guy named Matt who was such a political junkie he could have made Rex Murphy sweat. His political enthusiasm wasn’t limited to Canadian politics either, he could have eaten Bill O’Reilly or Keith Olbermann alive on their own shows. Politics is what Matt lived and breathed, and he wanted to be a politician very badly despite the horrible reputation they hold. A recent survey showed that politicians are the second least trusted professions in Canada just beating out used car salesmen.

But there were a lot of people that bet against Matt ever becoming a politician. Despite his obvious passion for the sport, Matt wasn’t exactly the most approachable individual and sometimes having a conversation with him would  be like talking to a gnat. His appearance was a bit menacing for some reason, mostly because he was about 6 foot 5 and weighed about 250 pounds. His resting face was the same face you’d make if you found out your significant other was cheating on you. And on top of it all, his past wasn’t exactly squeaky clean. Let’s just say that Matt was known to the police.

But despite all that, I was one of the few people that believed he would achieve his dream of becoming a politician. That much passion doesn’t just go away because of road blocks. Ford knows this all too well.

While Ford’s reputation may not have quite overcome the days of Explorers rolling over, Windstars blowing their transmissions or Escorts rusting to the frame, Ford recently kept its head high and decided to move forward without the bail out money that was begged from its rivals. The idea was so simple it’s a wonder why they didn’t think of it before: just make better product.

One of the recent models to come of this new found mantra is the Edge. Does it have what it takes to put Ford back in the game?

The Edge’s appearance is fairly unique to any other SUV on the road. The only one that looks similar is its cousin, the Lincoln MKX. I’ve always sort of wondered why anyone would take an MKX over an Edge since the Edge can be equipped with 20 inch chrome wheels, leather, touch screen navigation and a host of other luxurious goodies. From a strictly subjective point of view, the Edge’s exterior looks good if not prestigious. While I’m no fan of chrome, it’s something that I’ve come to expect of domestic automakers so the amount of chrome used on the Edge isn’t exactly shocking. The side profile exudes a unique sport like appearance, while dual exhausts tips seen from the rear along with, what seems like standard tinted windows (seriously, I haven’t seen an Edge that doesn’t have tinted windows), gives the Edge a very sporty appearance. The Limited Sport model ups the performance touches even more with sport 22 inch wheels (yes, 22!) and blackened out grille – not to mention a power boost to boot. The Edge sport uses the same 3.7 litre V6, which produces 305 horses, that the Mustang uses. The overall design is quite eye-catching.

The good news continues inside as high quality materials are in abundance. There is a decent amount of rear leg room, likewise for cargo room. The Edge can swallow 69 cubic feet with the seats down, although they don’t fold quite flat. There’s a respectable 32 cubic feet with the rear seats up. Most of the Edge’s controls are used from a touch screen which I found difficult to get used to. The layout, while large and clear, isn’t logically thought out in my opinion and sometimes it takes two or three touches to get the system to respond. The goal of having everything in one touchscreen spot is likely to reduce clutter and confusion, however the latter seemed very prevalent anyway. I found it especially difficult to manage the satellite radio.

The Edge uses a 3.5 litre V6 which makes a class leading 285 horsepower and 253 pound feet of torque. Despite those impressive numbers, the Edge takes about 9 seconds to get from 0-100 and that’s because the Edge is a bit porky weighing in at about 1935 kilograms. The Edge feels heavy too when you first put your foot down, as if there’s some lag until it gets up to higher RPM’s. Once it’s there though, the Edge will happily blast away from the guy in the lane next to you.

As for handling, well the Edge’s weight can be felt here too. There is some body roll, however that is quite common of SUV’s in general, especially in this class. Still, with some care, the Edge will take a corner without too much fuss as long as it’s not pushed too hard. The weight is not an issue in emergency braking however, as the Edge feels solid and will brake from 100-0 in about 40 meters.

Highway cruising is where the Edge really shines. It is quite comfortable, stable and controlled. The engine sounds very much relaxed at as it stays in the lower RPM range, which is great for fuel efficiency. Ford is also going to introduce an Eco-boost model which promises to be 10% more efficient than the 3.5 litre V6. The Edge is rated at 11.8 L/100 kms city and 8.0 L/100 kms highway. I actually returned 13.6 L/100 kms of mostly city driving.

The Edge has a 6-speed automatic which shifts fairly smoothly, however I found it worked even better in manual mode. That said, the small toggle like button used to shift gears yourself is a bit unconventional and does take time to get used to.

Around town, the Edge is fairly easy to drive. Despite large 20 inch wheels, the Edge is comfortable over potholes, mostly thanks to the fully independent suspension. While rear visibility is a bit impaired thanks to the third row rear head rest, the excellent rear view camera makes parallel parking and backing out of a parking space very easy. This back up camera is one of the best I’ve experienced.

There are a few little things about the Edge that annoyed me however. When you push the stop/start button to turn the engine off the driver’s seat automatically moves back about a half a foot for easy egress and entry, however when waiting to pick up a friend and not wishing to idle, I turned the engine off and the seat moved backwards which made accessing the touch screen more difficult. I had to really reach to change the radio station or lean forward altogether. And then there’s all the sounds the Edge makes. Every time you push a button or use your indicators, it makes very goofy noises as if it’s in a Bugs Bunny cartoon or something. Push the power button for the radio? “BOING!” It even got to the point where I pondered not signaling at all when waiting in a queue at a red light until the light turned green because of the silly noise it makes. For the record, I did signal well ahead of time and dealt with the noise by turning up the radio. And while I’m on about the indicators, the indicator stalk is angled more upward than what is considered conventional which also takes some getting used to.

But I’m nitpicking at this point because the Edge really is a great vehicle – easily one of the best in its class and definitely worth a look. It exudes value, prestige and style – something a typical Ford owner of the past may not expect. Hell, this is something that any owner may not expect.

In the end, Matt was elected by his constituency in the provincial government. Although he has currently moved on in another field, he proved that he could do it. His passion and drive helped him achieve his goal. And judging my Ford’s product portfolio of late, their passion and drive also helped them to achieve their goal as well because you’d be hard pressed to find a ‘bad’ model in Ford’s current line up. The Edge is an excellent example, which is why it was nominated for Car Driven’s car of the year this year.

Welcome back to the game, Ford. The bar has been risen.

Starting price: $34,661

Pros:

• Attractive exterior
• High quality interior
• Comfortable ride
• Excellent rear back-up camera, easy maneuverability
• Good cargo space
• Prestigious, solid feel
• Strong power engine at high RPM’s
• Excellent highway cruiser
• Impressive safety equipment

Cons:

• Touch screen confusing/glitchy
• Could use a diet
• A bit bogged down at lower RPM’s
• Annoying noises from buttons/ turn indicators

Overall: 9/10

We’re half way through 2011 so it’s a good time to check in and see which models are most appealing to Canadians so far. Honda’s Civic is holding strong as the number one selling car in Canada, while Ford’s F-150 takes best selling truck and best selling vehicle overall.

Here’s the complete list:

1) Ford F-150 – 46,825 units

2) Ram Pickup – 30,459 units

3) Dodge Caravan – 29,986 units

4) Honda Civic – 26,371 units

5) Hyundai Elantra – 24,283 units

6) Ford Escape – 23,183 units

7) GMC Sierra – 22,225 units

8 ) Chevrolet Silverado – 19,233 units

9) Toyota Corolla -18,853 units

10) Chevrolet Cruze – 18,769 units

No big shockers here. I’m a little surprised that the Ford Focus didn’t make the list considering it’s now a credible contender. But Canadians obviously love their pick-up trucks and compact vehicles. Stay tooned to see where each vehicle places at the end of the year and if there will be any new additions to the list.

[Auto 123]

Honda must be happy about this.

After experiencing a sales slump and some tough criticism on new products it must be comforting to know that their most recognizable model, the Civic, is still quite popular with Canadians. It was the best selling car in Canada last month.

It must also be even more comforting to know that, despite being a five year old design, it is beating the newly redesigned Hyundai elantra (which was the best selling car in Canada for the month of January and February) and Mazda3. In fact another stablemate in the compact segment is starting to regain in sales – the Toyota Corolla. It was the second best selling car while Chevrolet’s new Cruze took third place with the Elantra and Mazda3 taking 4th and 5th spots respectively.

Despite all those being compact cars, don’t think for a second that Canadians are off huge pick-ups. The Ford F-150 is still the best selling vehicle in Canada overall. The GMC Sierra is 6th overall and the Chevy Silverado is 9th overall.

[Auto North]

What a mess this is.

Ford has recently filed a lawsuit against Ferrari after it found out that the Italian brand was planning on naming its upcoming Formula One racer the “F150″. As you probably know, Ford calls its half ton pick-up (which happens to be the best selling pick-up in the world) the F-150. Ford is claiming copywrite infringement since it has patented the name back in 1975.

Ferrari, on the other hand, was planning on using the name to pay homage of  150 years of Italian unity.

So, what was Ferrari’s response? Find out after the jump.

[AutoWeek]

Ferrari has released a press release regarding the lawsuit:

“The name of the new Ferrari Formula 1 car
2.10.2011

Maranello, 10th February – On the subject of the name of the new Ferrari Formula 1 car, the Maranello company wishes to point out that it has sent a letter of reply to Ford, underlining the fact that the F150 designation (used as the abbreviated version of the complete name, which is Ferrari F150th Italia) never has, nor ever will be used as the name of a commercially available product – indeed there will definitely not be a production run of single-seaters. In fact, it has always been the case in the history of Scuderia names, that they represent the nomenclature of a racing car project and are linked to a chronological order with a technical basis, or in exceptional cases, to special occasions. This year, the decision was taken to dedicate the car name to a particularly significant event, the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy, an event of such great importance that the Italian government has declared, for this year only, a national holiday.

For these reasons, Ferrari believes that its own contender in the forthcoming F1 championship cannot be confused with other types of commercially available vehicle of any sort whatsoever, nor can it give the impression that there is a link to another brand of road-going vehicle. Therefore it is very difficult to understand Ford’s viewpoint on the matter.

Despite this and to further prove it is acting in good faith and that it operates in a completely correct manner, Ferrari has decided to ensure that in all areas of operation, the abbreviated version will be replaced at all times with the full version, Ferrari F150 th Italia.”

And there you have it. Who do you think is in the right?

For the first time in 25 years, the Chevrolet Camaro will outsell the Ford Mustang in the States this year. Ford has even conceded that its stallion will end up in the number 2 spot. In a bit of an odd trend, however, us Canadians apparently prefer the Mustang to the Camaro.

According to the New York Times, the Mustang’s sales is currently sitting at 4,935 units compared to the Camaro’s 3,974 sales.

This is especially odd since the Camaro is home grown, it’s built in Oshawa while the Mustang is built in Michigan.

Ford says it’s because the Mustang is “an icon” and many Canadians consider it to be their “dream car” (I must be in the minority if that’s the case). But really, the Camaro is fairly iconic as well.

GM says it’s because there is a lack of incentives on the Camaro and the convertible model is very limited at the moment.

Whatever the reason, it’s good to hear that Canadians aren’t so wrapped up in buying a product simply because it was made in our own backyard. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for supporting our workers and stimulating our economy, but the fact of the matter is, a car is the second biggest purchase someone will ever make. The decision on what to buy better go to the best car, and not simply because of where it was made.

I’m not suggesting that the Mustang is the better vehicle, however. I’m just saying that I’m glad Canadians are buying with their hearts and not what political figures tell them to do with their hard earned cash.

In any event, congrats to the Mustang. I think a test of both these vehicles are in order, wouldn’t you agree? I’ll get on it. I promise.

[New York Times photo credit: Autoblog]

For the first time ever, Car Driven will be announcing its Car of the Year (COTY). Mostly because this is the first year for this blog, but also because unfortunately I don’t have the means to test every new vehicle myself this year. But that never stopped me from making my own pics for AJAC’s COTY awards last year, so why not?

So with much thought and deliberation I’ve narrowed down the nominees to five cars overall. Every new 2011 vehicle, no matter what the segment, is considered. However to keep things simple, I’ve opted to not separate them by categories this year. That means the new Honda Odyssey was technically considered alongside the Ferrari 458 Italia. Since both are obviously very different vehicles made for very different purposes, I decided to choose all nominees based on how well each vehicle is suited for Canadians. That means everything from performance, price, quality, safety, fit & finish were considered. However to keep it fair, each of those criterion are relative to the vehicle segment. So for example the Ferrari 458 Italia is compared against other supercars. And the Honda Odyssey against other minivans. The vehicle that presents a clear, absolute best case for itself wins.

I’ll probably do categories next year, but for now we’ll go with this. And I’m working a lot harder to try to test all the new vehicles for next year to make a more informed decision, press vehicles are pretty hard to get your hands on (in the meantime, check out all the vehicles I’ve tested so far). And to keep it simple, I’ve narrowed it down to 5 vehicles.

Find out what they are after the jump.

Here are Car Driven’s nominees for 2011 Car of the Year (in alphabetical order):

1) Cadillac CTS-V Coupe: There isn’t much to explain other than 555 horsepower, rear wheel drive, a six speed manual all for just over $70K. That’s tremendous value. But the big reason is Cadillac’s dedication to true performance with its V-series and now with a coupe in the line-up, the CTS can now finally look the part. And boy is it ever a looker. Love it or hate it, it definitely turns heads. But more importantly, Cadillac has proved that it has the balls to hang with the big boys from BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

2) Ford Edge: Ford has been steadily adding credibility back to its lineup and the Edge is an excellent example of their hard work. Don’t let the ridiculous name fool you, the Edge is a very capable vehicle in its segment. Jam packed with loads of cool tech such as Ford’s sync technology, the Edge definitely, um, edges out its competition for being more driver friendly and more advanced. On top of that, the Edge improves immensely on overall looks, gets high safety scores, has a decent ride for a CUV and the capabilities to carry all your stuff.

3) Mazda2: The Mazda2 may be beat by its non-identical twin, the Ford Fiesta, in the looks department, but it can certainly hold its own in almost every area. The Mazda3 is currently Canada’s top selling vehicle because it provides a “zoom zoom” experience without breaking the bank. The Mazda2 promises to deliver the same “zoom zoom” experience except for even cheaper in a smaller more nimble and efficient package. And if there’s one thing Canadians love, it’s small efficient cars that can haul lots of stuff and are fun to drive. The Mazda2 delivers on all front and it even does it without that stupid grinning face design language that seems to have affected it’s big brothers, the Mazda3 and Mazda5.

4) Suzuki Kizashi: Suzuki claims the Kizashi will outperform an Audi A4, a Mercedes-Benz C-Class and a Volvo S40. While I’m not convinced of that, I am convinced it can outperform its more immediate competition: the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Subaru Legacy, Chevrolet Malibu etc. Suzuki is obviously trying very hard to make itself a real player in the car world and they’re using the perfect recipe. And my goodness, does it ever look good. Easily the best looking car in the mid-sedan segment. And it’s also among the safest. That means it’s big and safe enough to drop the kids off at school, and then on the way to work you can satisfy that performance itch with a tight suspension, available AWD and a six-speed manual coming in the near future. All that for under $30 grand and you’re wondering why you never considered Suzuki before.

5) Volvo S60: Volvo has come an extremely long way in the past two decades and a good example is the redesigned S60. Now with cleaner, more eye catching styling, Volvo is proving that safe doesn’t have to come at the expense of style. But more importantly, Volvo is also proving that safe doesn’t have to come at the expense of performance either. With 300 horses and 330 pound feet of torque, Volvo’s new T6 engine is even more powerful than the BMW 335i’s and according to most critics, it actually rival’s BMW’s N55 engine for performance and smoothness. It even picked up an award for engine of the year this year. Combine that with torque vectoring, available AWD and a tuned suspension, you’ve got quite the attractive package in an attractive car. And it’s a Volvo. Who would’ve thought.

Congrats to all the nominees! Check back on New Year’s day to find out the winner!

This year’s engine of the year award winners are full of repeat winners and a few surprises.

The first big surprise is the Nissan LEAF winning this award. Mostly because it doesn’t even have an engine, it’s has an electric motor only. What was Ward’s reasoning? Apparently since the LEAF feels like a regular car (i.e four doors, five seats, an accelerator and brake) it deserves this award. That’s like saying since Stephen Harper has arms, legs and a face he should win a beauty contest.

Another big surprise is the engine/electric motor set up in the Chevy Volt. With the electric motor primarily propelling the car, it’s a wonder why it’s on the list. Ward’s sites reasons similar to the LEAF for its choice.

But despite those odd choices, the one that shocked me the most was Chrysler’s 3.6 litre Pentastar V6 making the list. This has been a traditionally awful engine. Just terrible. However since Fiat has taken the reigns, it appears they have put some work into this engine making it much better. It can be found in the 2011 Dodge Avenger and Chrysler 200.

Volvo also picked up an award for the 3.0 litre inline six that it uses in the redesigned S60. Ward’s says this engine almost rivals BMW’s 3.0 I-6 as it is buttery smooth, has great mid-range pick up and has virtually no turbo lag. Quite the statement, I’ll have to try it out to see if it stacks up.

Speaking of BMW, they unsurpsingly won once again for their N55 3.0 litre twin scrolled turbo engine for the 5th year in a row. I can wholeheartedly agree with this decision after experiencing the 135i (read my test drive in the post below).

BMW also won a second award for the 1.6 litre turbocharged inline 4 that it uses in the Mini Cooper S. With more power, more efficiency and little turbo lag, it helps make the Cooper S quite the little performance machine.

Volkswagen picked up two awards as well. One for the supercharged V6 found in the Audi S4 and one for new Clean Diesel 2.0 litre TDI found in the Golf, Jetta and Audi A3. The former delivers all encompassing performance while the latter does exceptionally well at combining efficiency with performance.

Rounding up the list is the Ford and Hyundai. After reintroducing the 5.0 litre V8 found in the Mustang they were actually able to make a car that could keep up with the BMW M3. Enough said.

Hyundai on the other hand won for its 5.0 V8 as well found in the base Genesis sedan and the upcoming Equus flagship sedan. It won for keeping power plentiful while being even more efficient than the previous engine.

Congrats to all the winners!

[Ward's]

By Kevin Harrison

The problem with being good at something is that you likely won’t be good at it forever. And even if you are, there’s always someone who will surpass your greatness. If they’re at the bottom and you’re on top, they’ve got nothing to lose so they’ll take more risks to get to that number one spot. If you’re on top you likely won’t change your game up – just keep doing what you’re doing.

Take the car world for instance. Ford was the number two automaker for a good decade, but I never understood why. Their products were cheap, but you got what you paid for. If it wasn’t Explorers rolling over, it was Windstars stalling on the highway. If it wasn’t the sheer blandness and lack of effort put into the Taurus, it was, well, pretty much the same for the Focus. Yet people readily handed over their cash to Ford for sub-par product, much in the same way people hand over cash to McDonald’s for sub-par food. So Ford really didn’t have to do anything – they were still on top.

Toyota, meanwhile, wasn’t exactly on the bottom, but they were aiming for that top spot. Dedication, quality, fuel efficiency, reliability was Toyota’s plan to lure away loyal Ford customers and it worked. Ford got too comfortable on top and Toyota went in for the kill.

Now Toyota is the number one automaker. But it seems Toyota is now the one feeling a bit too comfy being the number one automaker with recalls on almost every single one of their product and and unwillingness to shake things up.

Ford is vying for the top spot yet again, so they’re taking more risks. And you really gotta take a risk if you’re willing to take on the mid-size sedan market where the Camry is sitting quite comfortably on top of most people’s car shopping lists.

Has Ford built a Camry killer, and is it enough to unseat Toyota’s reign at the top?

This is the Fusion’s second generation. The first was a bit of a styling departure for Ford and Ford has managed to make this second generation quite eye pleasant to the eye. Aside from the three bar grille and a single bar on the rear deck lid, chrome is thankfully kept to a minimum. A big departure for an American brand. The overall shape is evolutionary from the first generation with more angular headlights, less flashy tail lights and and more aggressive stance. The only indication of this Fusion being the hybrid model are exclusive wheels (which also look decent) to hybrid models and hybrid badging. Otherwise, there isn’t much difference. The Camry Hybrid takes on more styling changes to differentiate itself from its regular gas powered siblings.

But the Camry Hybrid isn’t the Fusion Hybrid’s only competition. There’s also the Nissan Altima Hybrid and rumours of a return of the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid and Honda Accord Hybrids afloat. Of all those cars the Fusion Hybrid has the best efficiency score at 5.7 L/100 kms city and 6.5 L/100 kms highway. In fact, the Fusion Hybrid is the second most efficient hybrid available in our market, only being bested by the Toyota Prius. Not bad for such a large vehicle. This is thanks to the full hybrid system found under the hood where the Fusion can actually run solely on battery power up to 75 km/h. Ford claims a range of 1127 kilometres. But that may be modest as a team of professional drivers were able to get 2326 kms back in April on one tank of gas averaging 2.8 L/100 kms. Now that’s impressive!

Ford’s new hybrid system is much improved over the one found is the previous generation Escape Hybrid. The 2.5 litre 4 cylinder is 20% more powerful, yet it creates less emissions and is more efficient thanks to its 275 volt nickel battery pack. Like most hybrids, the Fusion Hybrid uses a very boring CVT transmission. Don’t expect much in terms of excitement here, but this is a hybrid after all. The electric motor combined with the gas engine makes 16 more horses than the standard 2.5 litre in a regular Fusion which is good enough for 191 horsepower. One disadvantage over the regular Fusion, however, is that the rear seats don’t fold flat thanks to that large battery pack. This makes the Fusion Hybrid a little less versatile, but the trunk size is still adequate and the front passenger seat actually folds flat.

The rest of the interior is much improved over the old Fusion with higher quality materials and a more user friendly centre stack. The gauges are definitely eye catching, but the blue combined with green and white font for the information system which let’s you know what the electric motor is doing is hard on the eyes and is way too busy. The Fusion has a plant vine which grows leaves on it the more efficiently you drive. It’s almost like a game challenging yourself to see how many leaves you can get on a single vine, which in turn trains you on how to drive efficiently, but that’s also distracting too. I found myself with my eyes off the road way too often doing this. It’s also worth noting that you lose leaves if you start driving like a jack-ass.

The Fusion Hybrid also comes with a 12 speaker Sony audio system which is superb. Combined with six free months of Sirius radio and you’ve got yourself quite a neat and technologically advanced cabin.

Like all hybrids, the Fusion Hybrid automatically shuts itself off when you come to a stop so you don’t idle. It automatically restarts itself once you take your foot off the brake – very seamlessly. The CVT is noisy at high RPM’s, but if you’re at high RPM’s most of the time, then chances are a hybrid isn’t for you in the first place since that uses lots of gas. There is actually good low speed torque of the line, but you won’t be winning any drag races either. If you hop in the car, turn the key and the battery is fully charged, you can run on the electric motor right away. If you turn on the air conditioning or heat while driving, unfortunately, you’re going to be using the gas engine more.

All this added technology means added weight, so handling isn’t the Fusion’s strong point – but again, if you want good handling, a Hybrid isn’t for you.

Who exactly is it for then? Well, obviously for people who want to save on gas, but also for people who are willing to pay for it, which kind of defeats the purpose in the first place. Still, the Fusion Hybrid offers lots of benefits to the environment too.

But I can say without a doubt that the Fusion Hybrid is probably one of the best balanced hybrids on the market in terms of performance and efficiency. You won’t get much of the former, but it’s more than what you’d get in, say, a Camry Hybrid.

Which answers my original question. Has Ford actually beat the Camry with this new Fusion. In terms of hybrid models, absolutely. And it’s a good sign of things to come from the once dominant brand. Which Toyota is playing the game of not changing a good thing, Ford is taking more risks, developing products properly and offering good value in the process.

Watch out, Toyota. Ford wants that top spot back.

Base Price: $31,999

Pros:

• Good blend of power and efficiency
• Lots of cool tech inside
• Decent interior room

Cons:

• Six grand more over a regular gasoline Fusion
• Rear seats don’t fold flat
• Noisy engine at high RPM’s
• Colour scheme for gauges is distracting

Score: 7.5/10