Yesterday, I told you how electric vehicles were all the rage at this year’s North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Michigan going on now through January 24th. Well, Ford’s Fusion hybrid is the toast of the town (and, really, the toast of the entire automotive world) as it has picked up the coveted Car of the Year award.
The Detroit Free Press has details:
Jurors stressed that the Fusion hybrid drove more like a “normal car” than many hybrids, but still had strong fuel efficiency.
Michelle Krebs, senior analyst at Edmunds’ Auto Observer, was part of the jury and voted for both Ford vehicles.
“The Fusion completely raises the bar on hybrids,” said Krebs, noting the smooth transition from running on gas to electric power. The Fusion hybrid, already a strong Camry competitor, won drivers over with its 41 m.p.g. in city driving. The Fusion beat out the other finalists, the Volkswagen Golf and the Buick LaCrosse.
While the Fusion hybrid is winning the hearts of critics, it’s also winning over ordinary consumers. Ford Fusion sales … both gasoline and hybrids … were up more than 22 percent last year, with about one-fifth of those sales being hybrids.