In the market: Ford seeking more MPG

When the restyled 2010 Ford Fusion goes on sale early next year, Ford Motor Co. product developers expect the mid-sized sedan to lead its segment in fuel economy.

The restyled Fusion gets a new powertrain combination: Ford’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder combined with a six-speed automatic transmission. Ford is adjusting other elements in new product programs, such as aerodynamics and rolling resistance, to drive fuel economy higher.

It’s all part of a mandate by Ford product chief Derrick Kuzak: When the company significantly changes a vehicle and updates its powertrain, fuel economy must be best in class.

“When we have new powertrains in a new vehicle, why would we have an expectation of anything less than being equal to or better than anything the competition is offering?” Kuzak told Automotive News.

Ford used the same approach developing the 2009 Ford Escape. The updated Escape has a fuel economy rating of 20 mpg city and 28 mpg highway for its four-cylinder, automatic transmission version. Kuzak called that class-leading among small crossovers.

The 2009 Escape was the first Ford to get the 2.5-liter/six-speed automatic combo. The Fusion will add it when the 2010 model debuts in December. Kuzak declined to share expected mpg for the 2010 Fusion.

Fuel economy on the 2009 Fusion is 20/29 mpg with a 2.3-liter/five-speed manual and 20/28 mpg with a 2.3-liter/five-speed automatic. That puts the current Fusion behind several mid-sized competitors, including the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

Mazda6 pricing is announced

Mazda North American Operations says the four-cylinder version of the 2009 Mazda6 is priced at $19,220. A V-6 version starts at $24,800. Both prices include shipping. The car began reaching dealerships this month. The Mazda6 is the only car the automaker manufactures in the United States. The sedan is made at a plant in Flat Rock, Mich., a joint venture between Mazda and Ford Motor Co.

Lease or buy decision toughens

The decision-making process on whether to lease or buy a car has been altered by automakers’ scaling back their leasing operations under pressure from high gas prices, making leases less available and much more expensive in many cases. See story, N3.