Ford Pumps Up The Fusion’s Performance For 2017

2017 Ford Fusion Sport (Credit: Ford)

When Ford says it’s refreshing the Fusion for 2017, for most enthusiasts that’s no big deal. After all, the Fusion is exciting and all when compared to an Altima and that’s about it. That’s until everyone learns that the Fusion Sport is coming back and will pack a 325-horsepower punch.

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That’s right, the Sport will have a twin-turbo 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 under the hood. Ford expects output to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 325 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque. Oh, and all-wheel drive is also included, making the car something you can hoon in the snow.

As some have pointed out, Ford is basically teasing everyone with the possibility of a Fusion ST, without actually giving us one. Perhaps this is a test.

Ford really wants everyone to know that the Fusion Sport can pretty much take all other mainstream midsize sedans’ lunch money. The Blue Oval is driving home the point that the EcoBoost V-6 cranks out about 100 lb.-ft. of torque and 50 horsepower beyond what the V-6 versions of the puny Honda Accord and Toyota Camry can squeeze out.

Sweetening the deal even more, the Fusion Sport also has continuously controlled damping, which means real-time adjustments. The technology can even detect potholes, hopefully eliminating spine-jarring impacts – at least that’s the theory, but we’ll see how well it works in reality.

Topping off the uniqueness of the 2017 Ford Fusion Sport are some nice 19-inch wheels, a mesh grille with a gloss black finish, deeper air intakes, twin exhaust pipes and a rear spoiler. Look for the car to hit dealers in the summer of 2016.

In May, Ford will unleash the other refreshed 2017 Fusions. They include a swanky Platinum model that uses a 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine and two types of leather in the cabin. There are also 19-inch polished wheels and the grille has a different style plus Magnetic paint to make it stand out. Two hybrid models are also coming: the Fusion Hybrid and Fusion Energi (which is a plug-in). Both have improved electric motors that translate into better fuel economy.