Ford would consider putting the Fusion, known here as Mondeo, as a raised Active in U.S. showrooms. The farewell model would then immediately be the first estate car variant to be offered in America.
Ford promised in 2018 that it would focus exclusively on SUVs and pick-up trucks in the US. Initially, the Focus Active was also included in the future line-up, but since that car should come from China and Chinese products are currently somewhat difficult to sell in the US, that compact model has also been removed from the list. This leaves only the Fusion and the Mustang as non-long-legged.
The Mustang remains, but the Fusion is the American brother of our Mondeo and is therefore on its last legs. According to Car and Driver, Ford is planning a special farewell for the model. For the last years of life, a Fusion Active is planned, a Wagon that is slightly raised according to the Focus Active’s recipe. Wheel arch extensions and cooler bumpers are of course also included.
If this Active comes, it will be the first Fusion-based station wagon to be seen by Americans. Station wagons tend to perform very poorly in the US, but with increased versions, the chances of success are greater. The Subaru Outback has been the best-selling station in the U.S. for years, so it’s no surprise that Ford wants to appropriate a piece of that pie. At the same time, the elevated Estate is no guarantee of success: the Buick Regal TourX, the brother of the Opel Insignia, is reportedly not too successful.
If Ford introduces a Fusion Active, chances are that the car has four-wheel drive. That is often a requirement for American buyers in snow-rich states, especially with a “cleaned-up” model. Moreover, it is not difficult to realize, because the Fusion sedan was also already in AWD trim.