Readers of motortrend.com have been begging for importation of the Ford Mondeo for about a year. That car wasn't protected for U.S. standards and, anyway, the Mondeo sells for about 50 percent more in the European market than it would sell for here in the United States. Nevertheless, the Mondeo EUCD platform and the Fusion CD1 platform converge in time for an all-new 2012 U.S. Fusion.
The convergence will result in a variable-size platform, making the Fusion-Mondeo relationship similar to the American Honda Accord-European Accord (Acura TSX), or the new U.S. Mazda6 versus the smaller, European version. Meanwhile, the Fusion gets a facelift for 2010 (which is pictured here in this spy shot).
Ford goes big on dual clutch
Paddleshift manuals to save fuel and boost performance
Strong whisper out of Dearborn is that, in addition to turbochargers, FoMoCo is investing heavily in dual-clutch transmissions. First seen in the small FWD VW Golf and Audi A3, dual-clutch transmissions are now starting to appear hooked up to bigger engines (Audi's 3.2-liter V-6), and in RWD (BMW M3) and AWD (Nissan GT-R) configurations. Our sources say Ford is planning to go dual clutch across the board, including a transmission designed for the forthcoming global rear-drive platform.
Hmmm...A rear-drive 2013 Mustang with a 415-horse EcoBoost twin-turbo V-6, independent rear suspension, and a six- or seven-speed dual-clutch paddleshift transmission. Where do we sign?