We are talking Ford Fusion and we are talking style, the first thought in my mind is the Aston Martin-eque front. Latest speculation leads us to to believe that its here to stay. The current Ford fusion model has been around since 2012. Two plus years is a long time in the automotive world and Ford competitors have been diligent at providing latest designs and technology in their mid-size sedans. So the 2016 Ford Fusion is getting a sort of midterm update.
These spy shots are of heavily camouflaged test vehicles, hinting that appearance is to be a focus of this upgrade. The interior sports a slightly more modern look with a straight top flat dash. Look a bit further and you’ll notice the shift lever has been replaced by a rotary shift knob/dial. Furthermore, this cosmetic change may be a clue for a transmission upgrade. Ford has recently been working on a new nine-speed transmission with its North American competitor GM. Since its very unlikely that a manual transmission would be an option, this new fuel-saving automatic would be a pleasant choice.
When looking for a mate to whatever gearbox Ford decides, the usual suspects are up. Ford has a broad range of engines from naturally aspirated fours and sixes, turbocharged fours and even hybrid options all of which rollover from the previous model. As per platform and class standard the Fusion will continue to be in a front-wheel-drive format, with all-wheel options. The new Fusion has no aspirations to tread into performance car territory, but its refreshed design and powertrain upgrades will keep it fun, economical and practical.
Source: Car and Driver