The trend-setting Ford Fusion range has been confirmed as one of the finalists in the 2016 WesBank Car of the Year competition, held annually by the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ).
The Car of the Year (COTY) competition is considered the premier event in the South African automotive industry, and is aimed at rewarding automotive excellence.
“The Fusion is one of the most technologically advanced Fords yet introduced in South Africa,” says Tracey Delate, General Marketing Manager, Ford Motor Company Sub-Saharan Africa. “It’s fitting that it has been selected as a Car of the Year finalist, as it embodies Ford’s latest design language and its most sophisticated technologies, many of which set new benchmarks in its class.
“From convenience technologies such as SYNC®2 and Active Park Assist, to safety technologies including Pre-Collision Alert with Head-Up Display, Fusion boasts an outstanding array of safety, security, convenience and comfort features typically associated with luxury cars competing in the premium segment.”
The Fusion range boasts Ford’s award-winning EcoBoost engine technology in the 1.5 and 2.0 models, delivering unrivalled power and performance, allied to exceptional fuel efficiency and low emissions. There’s also the option of the outstanding 2.0 Duratorq TDCi diesel engine that delivers superb torque and fuel economy.
The Ford Fusion will be competing against 11 other contenders for the 2016 WesBank Car of the Year title, each of which are scored and measured against class competitors, according to the SAGMJ.
The COTY jury will put the finalists through an extensive testing programme in February 2016, focusing on aspects such as value for money, safety and technology, performance, design and practicality, handling and dynamics, as well as efficiency. The winner will be announced in March 2016.