2010 Ford Fusion & Mercury Milan sedans

The new Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans have been fully revealed at the 2008 Los Angeles auto show. Highlights include a revised engine and transmission lineup, as well as hybrid versions of the Ford and Mercury twins.

The Fusion receives a more aggressive front end, with fenders that bulge out at the corners and a larger chrome grille with “eyebrows” that stretch above the restyled headlights. Trapezoidal openings in the lower front fascia are reminiscent of Ford’s European Kuga crossover and U.S.-bound Fiesta small car. Changes to the rear include new taillights that replace the clear units on the current model and a new trunk lid with more visual interest.

Mirroring changes made for the 2009 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner, Ford will replace the Fusion and Milan’s 2.3-liter four-cylinder with a bored and stroked version that displaces 2.5 liters, as well as drop in a reworked version of the 3.0-liter V-6. The four-cylinder option now delivers 175 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque, up from 160 and 156, respectively. Ford is also claiming that the four-banger will achieve 33 mpg on the highway when mated to an automatic transmission, which bests the four-cylinder versions of the Toyota Camry (31 mpg) and Honda Accord (30 mpg). Ford says to expect a 0-to-60-mph time of 9.5 seconds for 2.5-liter Fusions equipped with the six-speed auto.

The 3.0-liter V-6 now makes 240 hp and 228 lb-ft of torque, increases of 19 hp and 23 lb-ft over the current version. It will also be E85-capable, and using the ethanol-heavy fuel will yield an additional 10 horses—and fewer mpg.

Ford’s 3.5-liter V-6 will finally see duty in a Fusion as the standard powerplant for Sport models, helping to differentiate a trim that is currently little more than an appearance package. The big V-6 is rated at 263 hp and 249 lb-ft of torque, and Ford says 7.0-second 0–60 sprints will be possible. Unlike the other engines, the 3.5-liter will not be shared with the Milan.

The 2010 Fusion and Milan will go on sale in the spring of 2009.

© Source: caranddriver
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2009 Mercury Milan Review

Predictably, the Milan and Fusion share similar strengths and weaknesses. Like its blue-oval brother, the Milan is based on a stretched version of the outgoing Mazda 6 platform, which enables the midsize Mercury to combine the 6's athleticism with appreciably more passenger room. Unlike many of its competitors, the Milan also offers all-wheel drive on V6-powered models, a significant selling point for shoppers residing in colder climes. And we can no longer criticize Mercury for skimping on stability control -- it's available on every 2009 Milan. The optional Sync multimedia interface, a Ford family exclusive, is another feather in the Milan's cap.

There's only one area where the Milan could really use some improvement, and that's under the hood. Neither the base four-cylinder engine nor the optional V6 make the refined noises we expect to hear in modern family sedans, and they're down on power, too. This would be easier to swallow if there were a payoff in efficiency, but there's not -- the Milan's fuel-economy numbers are middling at best. Otherwise, though, the Milan is quite enjoyable from behind the wheel, featuring above-average handling along with a commendably cushioned ride.

There's no doubt that the 2009 Mercury Milan is a solid all-around midsize sedan. Trouble is, perennial favorites like the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima offer superior four- and six-cylinder engines while matching the Milan in all other respects, save for the Milan's available AWD. However, the Milan is more affordable than those models, and it is fully competitive with similarly priced competitors like the Chevy Malibu, Hyundai Sonata and Saturn Aura. If you don't want to pay top dollar for your next family sedan, the Milan is certainly worth a look.

The 2009 Mercury Milan's base 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine is rated at 160 horsepower and receives Partial-Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) certification in California and other California-emissions states. It's paired with a standard five-speed manual transmission in the base four-cylinder Milan, while a five-speed automatic is optional on the base model and standard on the Premier.

A 3.0-liter 221-hp V6 is optional on both the base and Premier trims. All V6-equipped Milans receive a six-speed automatic transmission, which is notable for limiting drivers to just two forward-gear gates ("D" and "L"), though many drivers probably won't miss the additional manual control. Four-cylinder Milans are front-wheel drive, while AWD is optional on V6 models.

© Source: edmunds
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