2023 Ford Fusion crossover

Aug 16, 2022 at 3:08am ET

Ford has made it crystal clear the Evos launched in China won't be sold elsewhere, but a high-riding rugged wagon with similar design cues has been spotted in North America and Europe. It's currently known as the Fusion Active, although the name has yet to be confirmed by the Blue Oval. We can see the prototype here, still wearing full camouflage attire. However, there's more than meets the eye as we're dealing with two different vehicles.

Seemingly larger, the other SUV has different mirrors mounted lower on the doors and its beltline rises near the C-pillar. Where have we seen that recently? On the 2023 Edge outed in China by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology as part of the vehicle's homologation process. The test vehicle has an extra layer around that area to conceal the C- and D-pillars united through a strangely shaped beltline.

New Ford Fusion Active and China's 2023 Edge Spy Shots

It is believed China's Edge won't be sold in North America as the current-generation model will be the last. As previously reported, the CN-spec Edge is considerably larger and has three-row seating, although that not the first since the seven-seat Edge Plus has been around in the People's Republic since 2019.

The two prototypes caught hot-weather testing in Spain reinforce Ford has pretty much given up on cars to focus on SUVs. However, this statement is only partially true as the company recently updated the Fusion in China where it's sold as a Mondeo. Long gone in the United States, the global Focus will go out of production in 2025. At least, a new Mustang is on the horizon.

2023 Ford Edge (China)

Ford has been quite active in China in recent times as aside from the Evos and refreshed Mondeo midsize sedan, the company also launched the 2023 Equator and Equator Sport. It's also making the Mustang Mach-E there, along with the Territory compact crossover and the Focus compact sedan.

Source: CarPix

Ford first introduced the Fusion in 2006, a midsize sedan competing against the likes of the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord. While the car could hold its own in terms of features and sales numbers, it didn’t take long before Ford started to pivot away from sedans. The Fusion had a lot of success after The Great Recession, but as the economy recovered, so did America’s appetite for bigger cars.

SUVs and pickup trucks were becoming more popular every year. The only small cars that did well were either EVs or sports cars. This was good news for Ford, as the Detroit-based automaker had several popular options in those segments, such as the F-150 or the Mustang. However, this was bad news for practical, family-oriented sedans like the Fusion—sales began to drop. 

In 2018, Ford decided to kill off the Fusion, officially ending with the 2020 model year. In its last days, the Fusion continued to be a competent family sedan that never was able to justify itself compared to the Camry or the Accord. But, while the Fusion may be dead, Ford has decided to take a risk and revive it as something new.

The 2023 Ford Fusion Active is a risk that Ford is willing to take

According to Car and Driver, leaked photos show that Ford has been testing a station wagon called the Fusion Active. Not many details are known about it, but it seems to be a lifted version of the Fusion. This can be risky for Ford as the Fusion Active is a station wagon aiming for practicality more than anything else. 

While station wagons are rare, a handful of station wagon options are on the market now. This could make it easy for Ford to break into the segment as there’s less competition to worry about. Plus, while the Fusion Active may be a station wagon, some folks may think that it looks like an SUV and thus, like it more. Additionally, fans of the original Fusion may think that the Fusion Active is a worthy successor, which can help with sales.

Here’s a look at the future of Ford

Asides from the Fusion Active, Ford’s more well-known models have a bright future ahead of them. For example, the Mustang is closing in on its 60th anniversary, and Ford will probably do something special for the legendary pony car. The Mustang should also get some updates, including its engine and interior design. A hybrid option may even be coming, according to Car and Driver.

The Ford Ranger’s next generation is also coming soon, with some new designs both on the outside and inside. Most notably, there’s now a larger portrait-style touch screen on the inside. That said, the Ranger is still expected to have the same 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine as it does now.

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