With the 2013 Ford Fusion the days of sacrificing design to drive a hybrid or plug-in are over. Not only is the new Fusion remarkably advanced, but also remarkably sleek and modern. With gas, hybrid and plug-in hybrid engine options, every Fusion is designed to deliver impressive power, efficiency and innovative technologies - such as its available Automatic Start-Stop System. Altogether, you end up with a no-compromise combination of power, performance and pure style.

The all-new 2013 Ford Fusion, will arrive at Dorian Ford later this year. We can sum up the next-generation Fusion in a word: fuel efficiency. Wait, that’s two words! Therein lies a problem – we can’t really talk about this car in a single word, given all the exciting new technologies and innovations.

The new Ford Fusion is the first sedan to be available in gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid variations. The 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter EcoBoost™ four-cylinder engines, an all-new normally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder, an automatic start-stop system, front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, and automatic or manual six-speed transmissions will be in the mix to lend support to fuel efficiency.

The Ford Fusion Hybrid, equipped with the new 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle engine, is anticipated to deliver 47 mpg city and 44 mpg highway. Meanwhile, the plug-in Fusion Energi is anticipated to deliver more than 100 MPGe (the equivalent of miles per gallon when talking electricity, not fuel). This is 8 MPGe more than the Chevrolet Volt and 13 MPGe more than the projected efficiency of the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid model.

The next-generation Ford Fusion 1.6-liter is the first automatic-transmission Ford product that will be offered in North America with an automatic start-stop system. It shuts off engine power smoothly when the car is stopped and seamlessly restarts as the driver releases the brake pedal, helping to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by approximately 3.5 percent.

Driver assistance and convenience technologies will also be available. Among them? Lane Keeping System, to help the driver maintain proper lane position, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®), which helps to detect traffic in the driver’s blind spot and send an alert, Active Park Assist, to aid in parallel parking, and Adaptive Cruise Control, which utilizes radar to slow the vehicle when it detects slower traffic ahead.

Other notables in the safety department are increases in body strength by 10 percent, with engineers using more high-strength steels such as boron, and adding dual first-row knee airbags and adaptive front airbags that vent and tether to conform to a specific occupant’s size, position and seatbelt usage.

The Ford Fusion will also have available the newest versions of SYNC®, the communication and entertainment system, and MyFord® Touch, so the driver can keep hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, by way of interacting with vehicle systems through voice control, a touch screen tap or a conventional button.

Fuel economy, safety, convenience…but how’s the new Fusion look? You likely immediately spotted its new face, character lines, and refined surface. “The previous Fusion was an easy purchase for a customer to rationalize,” said Chris Hamilton, Chief Exterior Designer of the next-generation model. “Our design goal for the new car was to give the mainstream sedan buyer a top-drawer visual experience, adding some emotional appeal to an already sensible choice.” Inside, things are sporty and more open, including new seating with more functionality, a higher center console and additional passenger space.

Overall performance of the Ford Fusion has been improved too, with careful tuning by the Ford Vehicle Handling and Ride team, combined with a MacPherson strut front suspension and all-new premium-level multilink rear suspension, contributing to the vehicle being fun to drive.

Come to think of it, we have come up with a single word capable of describing the all-new 2013 Ford Fusion: awesome!