Ford announced this week (Jan. 24) that the 2013 Ford Fusion and 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid have received a top vehicle safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The Fusion and Fusion Hybrid received a five-star Overall Vehicle Score in NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) testing, which combines vehicle performance in frontal and side-impact crash tests and resistance to rollover.
This new five-star safety award from NHTSA is in addition to the 2013 Fusion being named a Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) last month.
The Ford Fusion is one of just 13 vehicles given this new top rating from IIHS for 2013.
The IIHS developed the Top Safety Pick+ designation (now their highest designation) following their addition earlier this year of an additional crash test to their range of tests to evaluate the crash safety level of various vehicles.
The new IIHS crash test measures the subject vehicle's crash safety performance in what they call a small overlap frontal crash test. In this test, IIHS measures the results of a frontal crash that involves the front corner of the vehicle colliding with another car, tree, utility pole or similar object.
The small overlap frontal crash test procedure involves 25 percent of the vehicle's front end on the driver side hitting a 5-foot rigid barrier at 40 mph.
Ford, with the 2013 Ford Fusion, is one of the few manufacturers so far that have engineered their vehicles for this type of crash which accounts for nearly a quarter of the frontal crashes that occur today resulting in serious or fatal injury to a driver or front seat passenger.
“The Fusion and Fusion Hybrid exemplify the new face of Ford vehicles and demonstrate Ford’s commitment to safety in all its vehicles across the globe,” said Steve Kenner, Global Director of the Ford Automotive Safety Office (ASO).
The all-new Fusion features what Ford calls the Personal Safety System with new safety belt technologies and front impact airbags to accomplish the enhanced safety environment in a small overlap frontal crash.
The Personal Safety System is a network of components that work together to tailor the deployment of the front airbags during frontal collisions. The restraint control module (RCM) translates information collected by the front crash sensors, front outboard safety belt buckle switches, driver-seat track position and passenger seat weight sensor.
Using this information, the RCM activates the safety belt pretensioners and determines how the dual-stage front airbags will deploy. This tailored airbag deployment is based upon system inputs received about the size, seat track position and safety belt usage of the front seat occupants.
The redesigned seat-mounted side airbags deploy lower in the pelvis area and incorporate new venting technology. The side airbag’s venting technology takes into account the size of the occupant, and varies the pressure so smaller occupants receive a lower pressure.
The tunnel vent is lined up with the shoulder area of the occupant. On larger passengers, the shoulder engages the vent and keeps it from venting so the gas stays inside the airbag. On smaller passengers, the effect is just the opposite: Because the occupant’s shoulder is below the vent, the gas vents out of the airbag.
The driver’s airbag uses a reconfigured curve-shaped tether system that pulls in the lower section to create a pocket that help to lessen the impact of the airbag on the driver’s chest and ribs in frontal crashes. A driver's knee airbag also deploys at the same time.
The Fusion and Fusion Hybrid engineering and design also boast leading fuel economy and numerous technologies that help enhance the driving experience, reduce stress and assist the driver in operating the vehicle safely.
Fusion brings the broadest selection of fuel-efficient power trains in the midsize car segment. Consumers have the choice of a pair of EcoBoost four-cylinder engines, a normally aspirated four-cylinder engine, an automatic start stop system to shut off the engine at stationary idle, front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive applications, and a choice between automatic and manually shifted six-speed transmissions.
Maneuvering parking lots and traveling open roadways becomes less stressful with Fusion’s available sensor-based BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert. The system uses radar to identify and alert the driver if a vehicle is detected in the vehicle’s blind spot. Cross-traffic alert provides audible and visual alerts if traffic is detected approaching from the sides, such as when backing out of a parking space.
Available Active Park Assist makes parallel parking virtually stress-free. With the press of a button, the system detects an available parallel parking space and automatically steers the vehicle into the space. Drivers control only the gas and brake pedals and transmission gear position.
Other driver assist technologies available on the Fusion include: Lane Keeping Assist, , Adaptive Cruise Control, Rearview Camera, Hill Start Assist and Electronic Parking Brake.
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