Renewable Gossip

Ford Motor Co. unveiled plans today for higher fuel efficiency across its 2010 lineup. The company said the new vehicle lineup will improve fuel economy by about 20 percent compared to 2005 levels.

Approximately 54 percent of Fusion Hybrid buyers did not previously own Fords.

“We are making fuel economy a reason to buy a Ford,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development. The 2010 Ford lineup includes four hybrids—Ford Fusion Hybrid, Mercury Milan Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid, and Mercury Mariner Hybrid.

The push for fuel efficiency appears to be working as a strategy to earn new customers. According to Ford, approximately 54 percent of Fusion Hybrid buyers did not previously own Fords, and 66 percent of Fusion Hybrid owners are coming out of foreign vehicles. The Fusion and Milan hybrids, full-size sedans, have an EPA mileage rating of 41 mpg in the city.

Ford’s momentum is also based on improved quality ratings. A new survey on vehicle quality by RDA Group shows Ford with the fewest problems of any carmaker, including Toyota and Honda which usually rank on top for quality. “We’ve been tied with Toyota before, but it sure feels better to be on the top!” wrote Bennie Fowler, Ford’s global head of quality, in a memo to employees Friday.

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