The Future of Ford: A Fusion Coupe?

[YSSMAN]

I want to know who is selling drugs to the people at Ford, as this may be one of the dumbest ideas I've herd from them in a while...

Ford is considering offering a two-door version of its popular Fusion sedan, according to the latest issue of Motor Trend. Specific details of the program were not given, but the magazine reckons a Lincoln equivalent in the form of an MKZ coupe is also in the pipeline. The Leftlane Perspective: Just because a car sells well as a sedan does not mean it will sell well as a coupe. After all, the demographics of each target market is generally quite different.

God that is just stupid. Watch them call it the Probe, make it for two years, and then cancel it...

 

[Tornado]

I'm not so sure. The Fusion is basically the best car Ford sells (and possibly the only good car excluding the Mustang), and it would be better to base a coupe on that than, say, the Five Hundred.

 

[GM]

(and possibly the only good car excluding the Mustang)

Ford GT?



I doubt a Fusion Coupe would sell very/as well as the original.

 

[Eric.]

Ford GT?



I doubt a Fusion Coupe would sell very/as well as the original.

Out of production.

 

[FoolKiller]

Maybe they decided that since it worked on the Mazda6 it could work for the Fusion too.

I just can't picture a two-door Fusion, though.

 

[Danny]

It would probably work better with the US Fusion than the European Fusion.

 

[JCE]

A coupe Fusion? I'd have to see what it would look like. If they offer the Mazdaspeed6 drivetrain (2.3L Turbo) it would be quite good and quite fast. I don't see a problem here with offering a coupe that's not a Mustang. The Accord coupe would be it's primary competition probably. Oh and as long as it's got some sporty creditials I don't think it will be as bad as you guys think.

 

[Poverty]

isnt the us fusion based on the eu mondeo, because if it is a aston martin stylee sedan is being already built.

 

[JCE]

isnt the us fusion based on the eu mondeo, because if it is a aston martin stylee sedan is being already built.

Don't think so. The US Ford Fusion is based on a Mazda6 platform that's been stretched 4 inches. Which means it's got tons more interior room compared to the Mazda6. Unless the UK Mondeo is based on the Mazda6 platform I don't see a connection.

P.S. I'd LOVE it if the Mondeo made it's return to the US. I miss the Contour...it was a great little car...especially in SVT trim. A friend of mine had an SVT and it was a blast to drive.

 

[xXSilencerXx]

^^^^^^^ needs a spoiler.

 

[Sakiale]

Might be good.

What Im concerned with is this part-- '' popular '' Fusion sedan. Popular? Ive seen what, like 4 of them?

Anyway if they do some styling changes and a good powerplant and chassis it should be ok.

 

[a6m5]

No, they are not popular enough to be called "popular". I thought they would move better than they actually are right now. Fusion's really nice. I think those stupid chrome accents scare people off.

Fusion coupe does sound really stupid, but I don't know....... I've always liked Probes(2 generations of them). If people buy cars like Eclipses and Preludes(when they were still around), why not. It would be interesting. Could be a real looker.

 

[YSSMAN]

ATTN Europeans:

This is the American Ford Fusion:

...Not a bad car, and to some extent I like it better than the Mazda. But given I'm technically not supposed to drive Fords (long story, family history, etc.) I'd end up with the Mazda instead.

 

[Sakiale]

If they took out 4 of those chrome strips (not fussy about which ones) and thinned out the remaining one it would be a good looking car.

 

[YSSMAN]

Yeah, but with one soild chrome strip across the front, it would look like a Chevy, not a Gillette... I mean Ford.

It isn't a bad look, as I think it looks quite nice. The "Gillette" grille is going to be going on more products in the near future, including the Focus, Fivehundred, Freestyle and Edge.

 

[Sakiale]

No I mean one thin strip like on the Jaguar XK, and a Ford emblem in the middle.

 

[1X83Z]

I think the Fusion is gorgeous. By the way, coupes this size can sell in large numbers - consider the Toyota Solara. The Fusion we get here is in no way based on the European Mondeo, though the vehicles look strangely similar. And the SVT Contour doesn't need or want a wing - it's what we call a sleeper, the only problem being that it's not very quick.

 

[YSSMAN]

Well, you do bring up a good point with mid-size coupes still being a decent market. The Chevrolet Monte Carlo still sells quite well, and it isn't just because of NASCAR. A Fusion coupe would make more sense for NASCAR competition as well, so I guess the car wouldn't look horrible.

Makes you wonder though. If Ford was to do a "Probe," would Mazda do a MX-6?

 

[a6m5]

And the SVT Contour doesn't need or want a wing - it's what we call a sleeper

Barely. That thing got the full aero kit treatment. In those pics, it does look like it could use a wing to balance things out.

Makes you wonder though. If Ford was to do a "Probe," would Mazda do a MX-6?

Good point. Probe was great, but I really liked the MX-6s too. Especially the first one.

 

[1X83Z]

Barely. That thing got the full aero kit treatment. In those pics, it does look like it could use a wing to balance things out.

Yeah, but the full aero kit treatment consisted of side, front, and rear skirts. And that was it. The only other way you could tell it was an SVT was the wheels (which were only marginally different from stock wheels) and the badges, which were easily missed. Of course, the color didn't help, since pretty much every SVT Contour was silver or red.

At the end of the day it didn't matter much because as I said it wasn't fast enough to be a sleeper. It could handle, but I put one down easily in my 850 Turbo this winter.

Speaking of racing, today I kicked some guy's ass. He was driving an A4 1.8T, the wimpy 97-00 150hp version, granted, but a manual one. Every light, we'd pull off hard and dead even for about four seconds, then just as my turbo was kicking in he'd upshift. And of course, by the time he was in the next gear I was two car lengths ahead, further proving that automatics are way better. I also raced a 2007 WRX manual this evening, a race which was surprisingly close (though admittedly I got a better start and we have identical power ratings so if the race was anything other than "surprisingly close" it would be upsetting).

Good point. Probe was great, but I really liked the MX-6s too. Especially the first one.

I don't remember the last time I saw an MX-6 - particularly the high-end ES model. The real question is, did you just say "Probe was great"? Would you next like to praise the Dodge Avenger? Or B9 Tribeca? Or Hitler?!

 

[a6m5]

I don't remember the last time I saw an MX-6 - particularly the high-end ES model. The real question is, did you just say "Probe was great"? Would you next like to praise the Dodge Avenger? Or B9 Tribeca? Or Hitler?!

Other than the fact that they cost more than BMWs to repair, I thought they were great. Yes, I also liked Avengers(first one). B9, I think it's OK. Hitler, ......... I'll just leave this one alone.

 

[Tornado]

I think the Fusion is gorgeous. By the way, coupes this size can sell in large numbers - consider the Toyota Solara..

Toyota doesn't seem to think so (must seem to sporty for the rest of the range). They are dumping the Solara and replacing it with a crossover thing for the new Camry. So if Ford were to produce this than all they would have to worry about is the products from GM, which means the G6 Coupe GTP (the Monte Carlo doesn't count, as it sucks too much) and Honda Accord coupe.
​

 

[niky]

I'm still trying to get my head around it. The Mazda 6 looks like it could take the coupe treatment, but the Fusion? It seems designed from the start to be a four door box.

But the looks are starting to grow on me... sadly...

By the way, the Fusion is relatively popular. Sales of the Fusion "family" (including Zephyr and Milan... blech), are nearing 20k per month... (near 15k for the Fusion alone), nowhere close to the Accord's near 30k mark, but it's pretty neat, nonetheless, for a car that many of us wouldn't give a rat's behind about.

I guess Ford's found the "Toyota" formula...

 

[a6m5]

Fusion's pretty affordable too. I don't know. I think Fusion could be a nice looking coupe. One thing I would like to change on it would be the ridiculous looking taillights with chrome trim, but I would like to change that on the sedans, too.

 

[1X83Z]

Toyota doesn't seem to think so (must seem to sporty for the rest of the range). They are dumping the Solara and replacing it with a crossover thing for the new Camry. So if Ford were to produce this than all they would have to worry about is the products from GM, which means the G6 Coupe GTP (the Monte Carlo doesn't count, as it sucks too much) and Honda Accord coupe.
​

I was wondering if someone was going to mention the fact that the Solara isn't really all that popular. I didn't know it was getting cancelled - but it's quite new, so I'd be surprised if that happened too soon.

Someone should've really taken issue with my whole post though - that segment has never been profitable, nor will it ever be, and just about everything entered in to it fails miserably, since it tends to be not sporty enough for a coupe buyer, and too cramped for a sedan buyer.

It's amazing GM is even still in this segment, given all these failed products over time. And I even cut myself off; I could've gone on for days.

B9, I think it's OK.

You won't be saying that when it eats your face off!

 

[JCE]

No, they are not popular enough to be called "popular". I thought they would move better than they actually are right now. Fusion's really nice. I think those stupid chrome accents scare people off.

Fusion coupe does sound really stupid, but I don't know....... I've always liked Probes(2 generations of them). If people buy cars like Eclipses and Preludes(when they were still around), why not. It would be interesting. Could be a real looker.

Actually since I'm basically working for a Ford dealer and doing dealer trades for several others I can tell you here in the D/FW metroplex, Austin, Houston, and some parts of Oklahoma can't get them in fast enough to sell them.

Oh and you know what's great about the Fusion on the 2008 model? Ford's new 3.5L V6 that produces an estimated 268bhp...can you imagine good looks and the speed to go along with it? The chrome trim in the lights can be easily be solved...there's how-to's floating around the internet on how to open up headlight/taillight lenses for painting...but instead of painting you could just either remove it or sand it down.

Oh and here's my ghetto MSPAINT rendition of what the chrome upper and lower grilles would look like if they weren't actually there. Gotta love MSPAINT. 👍

 

[Danny]

^

Hmmm....

 

[YSSMAN]

@ M5Power: The Monte Carlo still sells well enough for GM to stay in the large coupe business, but yes, they did abandon ship with the last generation swap a few years back. Started with the ElDorado, then the Grand Am, Grand Prix, etc.

...Someone mentioned the Avenger. You do realise Dodge is bringing it back, right? There hasn't been any word on a coupe model, but apparently Dodge wants to bring excitement back to the brand with Avenger as opposed to Stratus.

 

[JCE]

If Dodge brings back the Avenger and make it look half as good as the previous model it will be a great car. The Avenger is one great looking car:

Too bad this one's got foggy headlights.

The only problems with the Avenger are the lack of a good engine and it's FWD. Otherwise it's probably the only thing Dodge has produced in the last 30 years that I liked other than the 1st gen GTS Viper.

 

[Jim Prower]

the Avenger wasn't a bad car in GT2. Sure, it didn't have the racing mod, but it was a good Super Touring car anyway.