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Ford underscores its love of electric cars, spends $135 million to make them happen
Ford really, really wants you to know that it's big on electric cars. Really. To that end, it's putting $135 million where its mouth is as part of the design and production for the electrified vehicles rolling out to dealer lots this year, such as the Focus Electric. A new research building in Dearborn is also being renamed as the Advanced Electrification Center to emphasize the uniform dedication to EVs and hybrids among the 1,000 researchers that call the Center their home away from home. We already know that the company plans to triple its manufacturing capacity to make 100,000 of the cars a year by 2013, but many of the supporting aspects are getting their own lift, Ford adds: it's hiring more engineers and doubling its battery testing capacity. The checklist of improvements you'll find after the break reflects some braggadocio on Ford's part, especially while it tries to stretch its jobs claims, but it's good news all the same. If the expansion keeps the likes of GM and Tesla on their toes, drivers hopefully win as a whole.
Ford unveils Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid, alongside gas and regular hybrid variants
It might not be a full EV like last year's Focus Electric, but that doesn't mean you should count the 2013 Fusion out. All-new and packed to the gills with gadgetry like lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control, it's notable for being offered in gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants. Efficiency for the mid-sized sedan ranges from 26MPG city and 37MPG highway in the gasoline burner all the way to 47MPG city and 44MPG highway for the lithium-ion toting hybrids. And for the Fusion Energi plug-in, it'll rock an estimated 100MPGe -- 7MPGe better than the Volt and 13MPGe better than the Prius plug-in, despite being larger than either. It'll also roam electrically for 20 miles before firing up its engine, and like the Prius equivalent it'll accelerate all the way up to 62MPH on battery power alone. On the infotainment side you're looking at the latest, more-simple version of MyFord Touch, naturally paired with SYNC. And just like the Focus Electric or C-MAX Energi, charging, heating and cooling can all be controlled remotely with MyFord Mobile. No word on price, but Ford says it'll show up in stateside showrooms, later this year. As for curious Europeans in the crowd, Ford says much of the design carries over to next year's Mondeo. We'll get our drive-on hands-on shortly, but PR and a gallery await after the break.
