· Compared to previous Fusion, low-speed rear-impact repair costs for the 2013 model Fusion are projected to be up to 13 percent lower
· 19 percent of all collisions are rear-end collisions, marking significance of affordable replacement design and parts on vehicle rear ends
When can a beautiful rear end help drivers save money? When that rear end is part of the 2013 Ford Fusion that happens to be involved in a rear-end collision, Ford says.
Compared to the outgoing 2012 Ford Fusion, the new Fusion saves $267 in repair costs to replace the rear bumper cover and panel assembly on its rear decklid.
Ford anticipates 2013 Fusion low-speed rear-end repair costs to be 3 percent lower than Toyota Camry and 27 percent cheaper than Nissan Maxima; rear-end costs are more significant than other body parts for replacement because they are most likely to need to be replaced. Statistically, rear-end collisions are among the most frequent accidents.
“Our analysis shows approximately 19 percent of Fusion collisions involve a rear impact,” said Larry Coan, Ford Customer Service Damageability Engineer. “The new decklid integration panel should reduce repair costs in low-speed rear-end collisions by about 13 percent compared to the 2012 Fusion. This should deliver real savings to drivers in densely populated markets where parking can be a challenge.”
The 2013 Ford Fusion won Autoweek’s Best in Show award at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in part because of its futuristic, premium design. Part of that design was an unconventional rear end devoid of the traditional horizontal “shelf” where the bumper meets the rear fascia.
“On most sedans, you will find a shelf between the rear bumper fascia and decklid,” said Ford Design Director Joel Piaskowski. “Fusion integration panel visually eliminates that flat surface to holistically complete the pure design form. It’s another design element that adds to the visual premium-ness, helping to differentiate Fusion from competitive midsize sedans.”
The Ford product development team found a way to honor Fusion innovative design while lowering the cost that results from low-speed rear-impact repairs. Lower repair costs can positively impact insurance rates.
An integration panel is mounted to the rear face of the Fusion decklid. In the event of a low-speed impact, this panel is designed to absorb the brunt of low-speed damage that might occur in an urban parking situation.
Ford first used this design on the European-market 2007 Mondeo and it’s now available globally, including North America.
More information regarding the 2013 Fusion, on sale now, can be found at //www.ford.com/cars/fusion/2013/.
