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ford fusion

A couple of weeks ago we had the opportunity to test out the Ford Fusion EcoBoost for a week. Please excuse my iPhone pictures as they truly don’t do this amazing vehicle justice, however, I was working all week shooting an event and the few days that I got to drive the car (yes it was a fight in our house on who got to drive it each day) my proper camera was already packed away.  Don’t despair though as we will be testing out the Ford Fusion Hybrid next week and we will have lots more opportunities to capture the beauty of these vehicles.

I realized after Hubby had the opportunity to drive it that we enjoy very different aspects of the vehicle.  For me, comfort and efficiency on the highway were much more important and forefront in my mind. I love, love, love the comfort of the seats.  As I mentioned above, I was shooting for a full week which means I was on my feet carrying many pounds of gear for long hours during the day and sometimes into the evening. Sliding into the comfort of the seats was not missed.  I love how the drivers seat contours to my neck and back and that I could adjust the lumbar to relieve pressure on my back.  We drive a lot with our trips to Delaware and quite often we take different vehicles and none of them have compared to the seats in the Fusion.  Add to that the fact that I could turn on the seat warmers with a slight touch of my finger on the console meant I was in heaven.  I know you are asking why I would need that in the summer?  Well it just happened that the week we had the Fusion we also had some cool evenings and I would rather ride with the windows down and the sunroof open using the seat warmers to keep me toasty rather than not feel the summer breezes.  That and I had to test them out for efficiency in the winter.

I loved how the car rode on the highway. I call it efficiency but truly it is the ability to pass a semi and know that I could do it without losing any power.  I felt like I had total control over the vehicle and it handles very smoothly on the highway as well as on country roads. Some of the other fancy features I truly enjoy and now miss (not going to lie here, I do miss it… a lot) is the SYNC system by Microsoft.  I could set my destination before I left or in the case where you are lost in Richmond looking for a farm, you can use the voice controls while driving and find your destination with very little interruption to your actual drive. Using Bluetooth I was able to listen to my favorite music or call up a phone number with just a touch of a button.  I know that if I had this car longer, I would have learned just a wee bit more about all that SYNC has to offer but it was very easy to just get in and drive and use the maps, phone, or radio.  This is my awesome ride for the next week! Thank you #fordottawa for the #Fusion #Ecoboost !! It's pretty sweet!

I have to make note of the EcoBoost engine. From the  Ford website, “Better fuel efficiency and reduced CO2 emissions. All without sacrificing power and performance. That’s what you get with the state-of-the-art technology behind EcoBoost™. I couldn’t agree more. Between the two of us we made multiple trips back and forth across Ottawa and I went out to Richmond and Russell all on one tank of gas, with plenty to spare.  A full tank started by telling us we had 745km before empty and although we didn’t actually finish driving all of that before I had to fill up the car and return it, I came pretty close.  There is a graph on the side of the dash that tells you your fuel efficiency for each 30 minute interval (this can be changed to different intervals if you like, but most of our trips were of that length).  Hubby was quick to point out that I am not as efficient with my gas usage as he was, and it is true, I am heavier on the foot than he is. I have tried to change over the years, but it just doesn’t seem to happen. I am not saying that I am a speed demon, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t putt around going 5km under the speed limit. I enjoy a car with kick and the Fusion gave me exactly what I love in a car.

Hubby’s experience was a bit different. From the start he was concerned that the console was too big in between the drivers seat and the passengers. It took him only one day to turn that around and say that he understood why it was a bit higher, for better comfort in his drive.  While I loved the seats, he loved the side mirrors.  Yes, you read that right, the side mirrors!  They have the regular mirror and then an extra one up in the corner that provides a better view of what is around you. He felt that he could see more and had less of a blind spot so he could see motorcycles in the lane next to him that were riding in what would be a normal blind spot.

The other thing he truly loved about the Fusion was the quiet ride. He couldn’t believe how quiet the car is. He felt like that made his ride smoother and much more enjoyable as he didn’t have any interference to his concentration or discussion with our son in the back seat.  We often have trouble hearing the kids and we just thought it was them, but perhaps it is our car?! And the truth behind it is Ford spent a lot of research using thermal imaging technology to get that ride quieter. This quote from William Dedecker, noise, vibration and harshness engineering supervisor, Ford Motor Company “We are using thermal imaging to further improve quietness so customers can enjoy the other features our vehicles offer, such as audio systems…and even the sounds of silence.” says it all. Hubby loves to drive in silence and he was able to in the Fusion.

My review wouldn’t be complete without some input from the smaller people in the family. Our son, J, who is almost 5’3″ loved the leg room in the back seat. I think out of all of us he was the most disappointed that the car had to be returned.  He was able to stretch out behind Hubby or I which is not entirely common as we are long legged people and take up more room than most when we adjust our seat to drive. Sweet Apple loved that she was able to roll down the window and feel the air blowing on her face, most rear windows only roll down halfway which when you are five doesn’t seem all that fair.

We are looking forward to our week with the Fusion Hybrid and I must be honest here, there has been lots of discussion the past two weeks on how much we loved the Ford Fusion and if we need to change things up here. This week will be a great adventure.

Thank you to Thornley Fallis for making it possible for us to test out the Ford Vehicles.

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Categories: Cars

My relationship with Ford truly started 25 years ago when my Dad brought home a 1978 Ford LTD II. It was, to put it mildly, a boat. And when you just get your license the last thing you want to do is steer a giant boat into the parking lot at school, but for the sake of laziness I did it. I could also pack it full with friends and head to the local burger joint for lunch. It had a great stereo and the back seat was huge! Not that I am implying anything, but when you are 5’10” you need the leg room. It also took a lot of gas, and even back when gas was $0.40/L it was expensive.  As we said good-bye to the old LTD, I hadn’t really driven a Ford since.

Last summer, while at BlogHer ’11 in San Diego, there was a lot of talk about Ford. Ford seemed to be making a comeback and I was interested to hear about it. When I was asked if I would like to test drive the new Ford Explorer last Fall on our road trip to She’s Connected in Toronto, I said, ‘sure’. We were originally five women heading to Toronto, but with the extra seat in the Explorer we were able to bring our total up to six. Six women with luggage and goodies, packed into the Explorer and I am pleased to say, it was very roomy! We managed to fit everyone in with a bit of room to spare. The seats were comfortable that the ride was smooth. I found a lot of the new safety features like the back-up camera with voice assistance and the blind spot lights very helpful. I am an avid believer and supporter of shoulder checks and safety, but driving a different vehicle out on the highway always leaves room for adjustment. The added features helped assure me that I was in the clear. One thing that I cannot abide by is a car that has no passing power. I need to know that when I am passing an 18 wheeler, in the left lane that I have the guts in the car to get past without taking half an hour, nothing turns me off of a car more than no guts. The Explorer passed in that regard with flying colours. I knew when I was passing that I would get past without worry. Nothing I hate more than sitting beside a huge truck.

Our Explorer in the rain last Fall

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When I was invited to a Ladies Night out with Ford Ottawa at the Ottawa Auto Show, I was excited to hear what new fun things they had in store. I was told we would get to see the All-New Ford Focus Electric, so I was excited to attend.  We were a room full of Bloggers, and Social Media personalities. We all love our cars and there was just the right mix of questions to keep Ford’s resident expert Steve Ross on his toes. He did a wonderful job telling us how Ford was doing in making changes to the way we drive, something I might have to consider in the future. Ford is now offering gasoline only vehicles, Hybrid vehicles and fully Electric Vehicles. A commitment to the future they are proud to withhold. In hearing about the new Ford Focus Electric, I have to admit that it will be a long time before I personally could commit to one. I drive way too much and at unplanned intervals, so I couldn’t be reliant solely on electric with a 160km range. However, Hubby could certainly make the switch for commuting to and from work. When the time comes to switch up his car, it is something we may consider for sure.  In the meantime, I would gladly drive one of the amazing Hybrids, like the Explorer Hybrid, which would give me the big car that I love and the added bonus of a better on the environment and gas usage.

@SteveRoss – Ford Canada, @CapitalMom @MissFish @Ammar_Ammar, @JenButson @ErinBlaskie
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A few iPhone shots of the event for Tweeting purposes
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Ahhh, now we get to see the All-New Focus* Electric, and I have to say it is pretty sharp! Ford has been designing the new cars so that they are the same whether they are gasoline powered or electric powered. They are on the same platform and have the same touches that you love in both, one just has a battery instead of a gas tank. As you can see the Ford Focus* is very nice. Gone are the days that I can play around with the engine though. But, we did all have a collective sigh when Steve opened up the hood. I was proud to be with such an awesome group of women who know their way around cars and could appreciate the work and technology behind it. Some of us are after the rumbling sound of the engine, and other appreciate the quiet that comes with fusion and electric vehicles. Some of us love having power behind the wheel while others just want to get to where they need to go. But all of us appreciate the look of the cars as well as the storage for hockey bags, groceries or suitcases.
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Of course for those of us that love a good muscle car there is the 2013 Ford Mustang. It has gorgeous new lines and looks just like you would want a Mustang to look, classy, but hot. I personally would take it in a Navy Blue, but I certainly wouldn’t mind going on my next road trip in this one, just saying.
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We got to see the Explorer and the Edge and the new kick bumper that allows you to open the back hatch with a tap on the bumper if you have your key in your pocket. Awesome for those of us carrying packages after shopping, or camera gear after a shoot.
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A huge thank you to Ford Canada for inviting me out to the Auto Show and get a sneak peek at all the new and wonderful things you are bringing out for 2013. It was a great Ladies Night and I look forward to doing it again with you. And a special thank you to Samantha Hartley of Thornley Fallis for putting it all together.

*Edited: Apologies, I had to edit this to correct that it was the Ford Focus Electric car, not the Fusion as I had previously accidentally typed.

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Categories: Driving, Road Trip, Travel