Ever since it was revealed in 2012, the second-generation Ford Fusion has been praised for its best-in-class styling, impressive available tech, and lively driving dynamics. That said, the vehicle is rarely cross-shopped with sports sedans from Germany, but Ford’s latest version is looking to change that.
The 2017 Fusion Sport will arrive in dealerships toward the end of summer with foreign competition in its sights. It won’t go head to head with BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz in terms of interior amenities or ride quality, but it’ll punch them right in the gut with performance and value. For just $33,425, the Fusion will equip a twin-turbo, 2.7-liter V6 with 325 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque (on 93 octane). All-wheel drive comes standard.
To get this type of power abroad, you’ll have to dig quite a bit deeper into the ol’ pocketbook. The 2016 Audi S4, for instance, produces a hair-raising 333hp from its supercharged V6, but it starts at $49,200 and doesn’t offer nearly as much torque. Mercedes’ E400 4Matic boasts a stout 329hp, but falls short in low-end power and costs more than $65,000. As for BMW, the only 3 Series you can get for less than $34,000 is the 320i, which squeezes a lowly 18hp from its turbo four-pot. In terms of performance alone, the Fusion Sport is an incredible bargain.
“It’s not just Fusion buyers who want something hotter,” said Wade Jackson, Ford Fusion marketing manager. “Owners of other midsize sedans, along with our own dealers, ask repeatedly. Cross-shoppers will be shocked by the bang for the buck our new Fusion Sport delivers.”
Read more: Race the Ford GT in ‘Forza Motorsport 6’ before it races for real at Le Mans
As far as aesthetics go, the Fusion Sport isn’t all that different from the standard model, only adding a rear spoiler, dual exhaust outlets, and a sleek black mesh grille. It’s a bit of a sleeper then, much like the 350hp Taurus SHO. Acceleration and top speed figures have not been released yet, but 0 to 60 times should hover around the 5-second mark, and fuel economy ratings have been reported at 17 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.