CTA reduces oil pump flow requirements by approximately 25 percent, producing a fuel economy benefit up to 0.4 percent. In addition, the CTA-based system responds more quickly than a traditional hydraulic oil actuated VCT system, improving tip-in performance feel and contributing to horsepower gains.
The 3.0-liter is also flex-fuel capable and can run on E85, helping Ford deliver on a pledge made to double annual production of vehicles capable of running on renewable fuels by 2010.
The 3.5-liter V6
The award-winning Duratec 3.5-liter V6 joins the Fusion lineup for 2010, powering the Sport model with a beefy 263 horsepower and 249 lb-ft of torque.
The 3.5-liter uses a compact, lightweight dual-overhead cam valvetrain for peak power and smooth operation at high RPMs. This engine also incorporates intake variable cam timing to optimize valve timing for a smooth idle and an impressive broad torque curve with good power. A high 10.3:1 compression ratio and aluminum cylinder heads designed for high airflow and optimized combustion help complete the package, supporting the engine's ability to deliver great performance and fuel economy, along with low emissions.
The Six-Speed Trans
The new pairing of Fusion's engines with the 6F35-Mid automatic transmission further drives the mid-size sedan's competitive advantage, especially when compared to the outgoing five-speed gearbox that was offered with Fusion's I4 models. A five-speed is still the gearbox-of-choice for the 2.0-liter varieties offered on segment contenders Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.
When the six-speed is paired with the 2.5-liter engine, for example, the Fusion powerpack delivers a 10 percent improvement in fuel efficiency along with increased power. The 3.0-liter configurations gain a 4- to 6-percent efficiency.
The Ford transmission team made several specific modifications to the 6F35-Mid to optimize its performance for Fusion, including using unique final drive ratios for the 2.5-liter and 3.0-liter, developing an improved converter lock-up for lower operating temperatures and efficiency, recalibrating the converter clutch to accommodate a fuel-saving aggressive deceleration fuel shut-off system as well as other tweaks to diminish parasitic losses.
A SelectShift function on the 3.0-liter applications was also added to give customers the option of a fun-to-shift manual experience.
Tags: 4-cylinder, 6-speed, Ford, fuel economy, Fusion, Mercury, midsize, Milan, sedan, V6
