Ford to parade strongest line up ever with all-new Fusion and ecoSport debuts at next week’s Dubai Motor Show

The wait is over.  Ford Middle East is debuting the highly-anticipated all-new Fusion mid-size sedan and India’s best-selling EcoSport compact SUV at next week’s Dubai International Motor Show kicking off November 5^th, bringing to life the next generation of more expressive vehicles from Ford expected to deliver top fuel economy and an engaging driving experience. 

This year’s line up is the strongest ever for Ford in the region, featuring models in all segments from the sub-compact Fiesta through Taurus, the EcoSport thru Expedition SUVs and F-Series pickup trucks. Visitors to the Ford stand located inside Hall 1 of the Dubai World Trade and Convention Center are also in for a big treat thanks to the massive and award-winning Ford Atlas truck concept which promises to wow everyone. 

THE NEW FORD FUSION

Featuring a sleek silhouette and fresh face, the all-new Fusion is the latest in a series of vehicles from Ford developed to satisfy customers everywhere who want leading fuel efficiency, helpful technologies and game-changing looks. 

Larry Prein, Ford Middle East’s managing director said: “Our vision for Fusion was clear – deliver the very best of what One Ford stands for. As Fusion debuts in the Middle East, we are proud to bring a groundbreaking design and jaw-dropping fuel economy sedan that is also packed with featured technologies to help make our customers safer and better drivers. 

Fusion looks out for you

The all-new Fusion offers an unprecedented portfolio of driver assistance and convenience technologies based on sensors, cameras and radar that enable the car to see and respond.

Fusion can help drivers maintain proper lane position, adjust vehicle speed to changing traffic conditions, identify suitable parking spaces and help park, even aiding drivers backing out of parking space where visibility is obstructed. Specific technologies include: 

Lane Keeping System: This class-exclusive technology consists of three elements to help a driver maintain proper lane position. Using a small, forward-facing camera behind the inside rearview mirror, the system “looks” down the road, monitoring lane lines to determine that the car is on course. The system will alert a driver if drowsiness or erratic lane-keeping is detected. The second element warns a driver with a steering wheel vibration if the Fusion drifts too close to lane markings. Finally, lane keeping aid will actually apply pressure on the steering to help bring the car back into proper lane position.

Adaptive cruise control: Using forward-looking radar, this system “looks” down the road when activated, slowing the Fusion when slower traffic is detected ahead. Adaptive cruise control enables collision warning with brake support to help slow the car if the potential of a crash is detected.

Active park assist: Employing sensors, this technology can identify a suitable parallel parking space, calculate the trajectory and steer the car to properly position it within the spot. All a driver need do is operate accelerator and brake pedals.

Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with cross-traffic alert: Sensors in both Fusion rear quarter-panels are able to detect traffic in a driver’s blind spot, providing both audible and visual warnings if traffic – unseen by the driver – is detected. BLIS technology enables cross-traffic alert, warning the driver of oncoming traffic when backing out of a parking space with obstructed views, such as between two large vans. 

“It is quite an exciting time for us to showcase the all-new Ford Fusion in response to a great demand from our customers – both existing and new, eagerly anticipating its regional debut.  Ford Fusion is a proven winner overseas, with leading technologies and smart features, further adding to its attractiveness,” said Paul Anderson, Ford Middle East’s marketing director. 

The power of voice

The all-new Fusion offers the latest iteration of Ford’s award-winningSYNC communications and entertainment system, which enables voice-activated communication through a driver’s mobile phone and interaction with the car’s audio system. 

Fusion also offers the latest version of MyFord Touch, allowing a driver to interact with vehicle systems through voice control, a touch screen tap or a conventional button. 

Both SYNC and MyFord Touch – powered by SYNC – help reduce the potential for driver distraction through voice-controlled functionality, allowing drivers to keep hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. 

Craftsmanship plus dynamics equals feel

Fusion design delivers on the promise of high visual quality, with improved materials, elevated levels of craftsmanship and attention to detail. 

Interior surfaces are softer to the touch and interior and exterior gaps are minimized, while extra care has been taken to upholster or cover each edge and every surface a customer can touch. When the trunk lid is opened, for example, a spring-loaded cover automatically conceals the trunk latch hardware.  

Key contributors to how the Fusion feels are the ride and handling components that maximize vehicle dynamics. 

Careful tuning by Ford’s vehicle handling and ride team has yielded a Fusion with a dynamic character that will please a well-seasoned enthusiast while increasing the confidence level of less-experienced drivers. 

Fusion interior quiet reaches a new level with acoustic underbody shields and weight-saving sound-absorption material; both minimize road and powertrain noise while boosting aerodynamic efficiency to help save fuel. The all-new model adds content such as a full-perimeter hood seal to be among the midsize sedan segment leaders in giving drivers a quiet ride. 

Fusion is also equipped with active noise control. This feature uses the audio system to mitigate extraneous road noise while enhancing powertrain sounds. 

Strength and safety

Fusion is designed with customer safety in mind. Engineers increased its body strength by 10 percent, using more high-strength steels such as boron, and added dual first-row knee airbags and adaptive front airbags that vent and tether to conform to a specific occupant’s size, position and seatbelt usage. 

The Fusion safety team targeted top-of-the-line ratings in each public domain safety benchmark, including National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ratings, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick and top ratings in world markets where the car will be sold. 

The most prominent example is Fusion’s front-end architecture, as the same car must face simultaneous – and seemingly conflictive – standards across regions. The car’s front end is equipped to meet head-on and offset barrier standards for North America while still conforming to European standards for pedestrian protection – thanks to hours of computer modeling and 180 validating crash tests. 

FORD ECOSPORT

The all-new Ford EcoSport, arrives in the Middle East as a strong contender in the compact SUV segment. The all-new model keeps up to Ford’s commitment to deliver a stunning-looking product that packs in outstanding value and raises the bar in the region’s fast-growing compact utility segment with its compelling value-for-money proposition and features. 

Ford EcoSport comes with an attractive price and consumers will have the power of choice with a selection of three trim levels (Ambiente, Trend and the high end Titanium), as well as the option of a manual or automatic transmission paired with a fuel efficient 1.5L engine. 

Anderson continued: “EcoSport sets new standards in the compact SUV segment through its design, development and sensible value proposition. With the launch of the EcoSport we stand true to our commitment to offer the best of Ford. EcoSport’s competitive pricing and market positioning underscores our commitment to offer world-class models with outstanding value.” 

The stunning urban SUV is the successful outcome of the US$142 million investment that Ford committed to enhance its capability at its manufacturing facility in Chennai, India. With the launch of the EcoSport, Ford has aggressively positioned itself in the compact utility segment, which is expected to grow five-fold by 2020. 

 “Stylish, robust and dynamic, the fun-to-drive Ford EcoSport fuses ample versatility and a ‘can do’ attitude to appeal to a newer range of customers. The EcoSport’s substantial package underscores both desirability and versatility and brings a new sense of value and ingenuity to the Ford brand,” Anderson added. 

“We are thrilled to bring the exciting new Ford EcoSport in the Middle East market,” said Prein. “The Ford EcoSport speaks to the young generation expressing style, sense and boldness. It has fantastic looks true to the Ford SUV heritage, while displaying outstanding handling and featuring a great interior space as well as features that will surprise and delight its owner. Here’s another irresistible product offering from Ford to our customers.” 

Compact, contemporary and capable, the all-new EcoSport epitomizes urban life and urbane aspirations such as practicality, efficiency, drivability, reliability and attractiveness in a compelling package. 

Clever capability with several firsts

The all-new Ford EcoSport makes driving addictive and intuitive with an array of smart segment-first features. The urban SUV offers Ford SYNC^®, the voice-activated in-car connectivity system. The award-winning system enables drivers to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel while choosing their favourite music and making phone calls using voice commands, without compromising on safety. 

The Ford EcoSport’s cabin also has 20 practical storage spaces, including a glove box that can keep up to six beverage cans cool. Its cargo space at the back is just as versatile. The rear seats can be reclined in select models for greater comfort or easily folded down for additional cargo space. With the rear seats tumbled against the front seats, the boot space increases to 705 litres, big enough to fit a washing machine. On the Trend series and above, the rear seats can be split 60:40 to transport long objects such as flat-pack furniture while still carrying passengers at the back. 

With Smart Keyless Entry (available on Titanium), customers no longer need their key to unlock the SUV or to start the engine. They can unlock the doors automatically by pulling the door handle; push the Ford Power Start button and go. 

The Ford EcoSport is available with the fuel-economical 1.5-litre petrol engine with twin independent variable camshaft timing. It also comes with a choice of manual or automatic transmission. 

To further improve fuel economy, the aerodynamic Ford EcoSport boasts of an outstanding drag coefficient of 0.371. 

Quality that speaks to all five senses

With a signature Ford face, dramatic rising beltline and a ready-to-pounce stance, the all-new Ford EcoSport conveys a dynamic spirit of energy in action. The spare tyre, with an exclusively designed wheel, is mounted on the tailgate as a classic SUV cue. 

The cabin is also extremely quiet at high speeds, thanks to meticulous efforts to reduce noise, vibration and harshness. Add to this a very effective climate control system, and the customer is very comfortable in the Ford EcoSport. 

The Ford EcoSport’s compact sub-four metre dimensions and the electric power-assisted steering with Pull-Drift Compensation help drivers tackle the stress of city driving, be it parking in small spaces, manoeuvring in heavy traffic, or making tight U-turns. 

The Ford EcoSport’s high ground clearance of 200 millimetres also means customers won’t have to worry about driving over speed bumps and potholes. And with its exceptional ability to wade through 550 millimetres of water, drivers can confidently drive through large pools of water. 

Safety and driver assistance

The all-new Ford EcoSport has been designed to provide high levels of protection and driver support through a range of advanced features. About half of the urban SUV’s body structure is made up of high-strength steel and ultra-high-strength steel, such as boron steel, making the Ford EcoSport’s frame especially strong yet lightweight too. 

The SUV’s array of airbags provides additional peace of mind. The Ford EcoSport offers airbags for the driver and front passenger, as well as side airbags and curtain airbags. 

To take the stress out of driving, the Ford EcoSport comes with an array of driver-assist systems. Hill Launch Assist, which is offered in the petrol automatic variant helps drivers make a perfect hill start whether it’s uphill or downhill, by holding the SUV for up to three seconds. This prevents the vehicle from rolling backwards or forwards while moving off from the slope, increasing driver confidence. 

Advanced safety technologies such as Electronic Stability Program (ESP), which is available on models with the automatic transmission, also help customers remain in control of the Ford EcoSport at all times, especially on slippery roads. When it detects that the car is losing control, it automatically reduces engine power and selectively brakes individual wheels to stabilise the vehicle and keep it travelling on track. The Ford EcoSport’s ESP system includes the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) which prevents the wheels from locking up and helps the vehicle to stop quickly on slippery road surfaces. 

“The launch of all-new Ford Fusion and Ford EcoSport is another chapter in Ford’s product-led transformation. These products underscore Ford’s continuing commitment to raise the bar on quality, fuel efficiency and reduced cost of ownership to offer consumers peace of mind,” concluded Prein. 

Apart from Ford Fusion and EcoSport, visitors at the Dubai International Motor Show will also enjoy some of the adrenalin-pumping activities lined up including human versus truck challenge, innovative photo booths, crowd control steering, F-150 Raptor race simulator and many more. 

Available at the stand are 2014 Ford vehicle line up including Ford Taurus, Fiesta, Focus, Focus ST, Taurus, Taurus SHO, Mustang GT, Mustang Shelby GT 500, Escape, Edge, Explorer, Expedition and Ranger.