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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

WHEELS

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid will get 41 city miles per gallon and 36 mpg on highways.  (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

The Ford Fusion hybrid will be the most fuel-efficient mid-size sedan on the market when it arrives this spring, clocking in at 41 miles per gallon, according to data given to Ford Motor by the Environmental Protection Agency.

That will make it the second-most fuel efficient vehicle on the road, according to a ranking published on the EPA’s Web site, behind the smaller Toyota Prius and ahead of the smaller Honda Civic hybrid.

It’s a huge marketing gain for Ford as it attempts to green up its image and improve fuel efficiency across the board. The Fusion hybrid will cost about $27,000 versus roughly $24,000 for the conventional Fusion model.

“Our overall strategy is to ensure that with every new vehicle we introduce, we’re either the best or among the best in fuel economy,” said Derrick Kuzak, vice president of global product development for Ford. ”Clearly fuel economy … is at the top of the list of customer wants.”

Even with gas prices hitting an average of $1.66 a gallon nationally, down from the high of $4.11 earlier this summer, fuel economy continues to be a big concern for consumers, said Stephen Berkov, executive director of client strategy at consumer Web site Edmunds.com. That’s because few are convinced low gas prices are here to stay, he said.

“Consumers are completely reconsidering everything about buying a car, in terms of what attributes they’re looking for,” Berkov said.

The Fusion will get 41 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. Hybrids tend to be more efficient in city driving because the electric engines kick in at low speeds.

One of the biggest fuel savers is the air conditioners. On the Ford Escape hybrid, the air conditioner is powered by the gas engine, so once it’s on, fuel savings are minimal. But in the Fusion, the air conditioner is electric-powered.

The car’s battery is also 50 pounds lighter than the Escape hybrid’s battery, and there are many small tweaks that improve its aerodynamics.

USA Today