align="left">Ford just revamped its Fusion sedan for the 2017 model year and isn't wasting time to keep it fresh, rolling out an updated appearance for the 2019 model year. Due out this summer, the 2019 Ford Fusion will bow at the New York Auto Show and showcases the company's Co-Pilot360 driver-assist package. align="left">Corey Holter, Ford's car group marketing manager called the Fusion the “most technically advanced sedan ever.” Standard throughout the 2019 Fusion lineup, Co-Pilot360 includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot information system, lane keeping system, a backup camera and auto high-beam lighting. “We heard from customers: help me feel safe, help me feel confident, help me feel aware,” Holter said. He added that Ford is doubling down on Fusion in the era of SUVs. The car is its fourth best-selling nameplate at about 209,000 sales a year. align="left">New face align="left">A new, dressier grille anchors the Fusion's new front styling. It's finished in chrome on the S, SE and SEL models, in chrome mesh on the Titanium model and in black on the Sport. The front design also features new fog lamps. Ford also is debuting two new wheel designs for 2019, plus new color choices. align="left">In the rear, Fusion has a new fascia with a reshaped trunk lid panel and LED tail lamps. Ford also is altering its trim lineup for the 2019 Fusion, getting rid of the range-topping Platinum to focus on higher volume models. Fusion will be available as S, SE, SEL, Titanium, Sport, Hybrid and Energi plug-in hybrid models. align="left">Ford is also making it easier to order a Fusion by reducing the number of ordering combinations from 2,000 to about 36 (absent color choices). Holter said the changes add value, features and content. “For our customer, it's easier to find on the dealer lot,” Holter said. “For a customer or a dealer, it's easier to order and quicker to get.” align="left">In the past, if SE buyers wanted an 8-inch touchscreen and Sync infotainment they would have had to pay extra for a technology package. In the 2019 model, it will be standard on SE and higher trims. And on the Titanium, buyers used to pay extra for a moonroof, an item more than 50 percent of buyers opted for. Now, Ford is making it standard equipment as well as such tech features as adaptive cruise control with stop and go, enhanced voice-activated navigation (part of the Co-Pilot360 Assist group). That additional tech package above the standard Co-Pilot360 offering will also be standard on the hybrids, but optional on other models in the lineup. align="left">Four engine choices align="left">The 2019 Fusion offers a choice of four gasoline engines, including three EcoBoost units. A 1.5-liter 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine will be standard on the SE and higher trim levels beginning with the 2019 model. The base Fusion S retains its 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder, while a 2.0-liter EcoBoost is standard on the Titanium trim. The all-wheel drive Sport has a 2.7-liter V6 engine generating 325 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque. Meanwhile, all-wheel drive will be offered as an option on other trims. align="left">Also new for 2019, the Energi plug-in hybrid's all-electric range has been enhanced with an expected pure electric rating of 25 miles from the EPA, up from the current 21, thanks to a new 9-kilowatt hour lithium-ion battery. The increased electric range also gives customers the possibility to qualify for up to a $4,600 federal income tax credit. align="left">Ford gave no prices for the 2019 Fusion and a spokesman would not say if the new standard safety tech will mean higher prices. The 2018 Fusion starts at about $23,000.
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