rprobst Posted January 14, 2013 at 06:09 AM Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 at 06:09 AM (edited) The San Jose Auto Show is now called the Silicon Valley Auto Show, and while this show is one of the smaller ones, Silicon Valley is known to love electrified cars, so all the cars I wanted to see were there. Including a Fusion Energi with the trunk open (at last!). Right side: Left side: The space behind the battery is about 36 inches wide, 18 inches high, and 14 inches deep. It will hold about 5 or 6 full grocery bags. Under the trunk floor is the portable charging cable and tire repair kit. The floor is about 5 inches below the lip. Yes, there is a pass-through, but it's pretty small. Look closely and you can see the navigation screen: The rear seats do fold down. In this picture, you can see how the tight the pass-through really is: The seats fold 60/40, as rumored (and here you see 40% of the pass-through): The back of the folded-down seats is carpeted and lies flat. I think of this car as having 2 storage areas. The trunk is small but out of sight, good for valuables. The rear seat area is as large as any trunk, but of course visible (and makes the car a 2-seater). The 2 areas do not connect. The pass-though is good for skis or 2x4s. The Energi on display was a Titanium, but not badged as one. It had only 1 exhaust pipe. Couldn't sit in the Energi, but they had 2 others there. I have seen comments about the passenger foot room feeling crowded, so I tried it out. Yes, the passenger's right foot is forced inward. The driver gets a deadman's pedal; the passenger needs one too. Other than that, the car is extremely comfortable. Over in the Lincoln zone, they had an MKZ hybrid, badged as a "2.0H". The trunk was open, and the battery has the same death-of-a-salesman-stage shape as the Fusion Hybrid. Oh, and the passenger's right foot is just as crowded in the Lincoln. Also at the show was a Honda Accord Plug-in. This is the car I'd buy if I didn't buy a Fusion Energi. And it goes on sale next Tuesday (!), while the Fusion Energi is still on the launchpad, not due until March or April... (so hard to wait). The Accord Plug-in is not as ugly in person as it is in pictures. Mind you, it is still far less attractive than the Fusion, but the front end has a certain grotesque dignity: I predict this styling will get less extreme in the mid-life upgrade (and maybe even before, as with the Civic). The Accord was locked, so I couldn't see the trunk. A product specialist told me it was a little larger than the trunk of the natural gas Civic. That is the same height and depth as the Fusion Energi trunk area behind the battery, but a little wider. But the Honda rear seats do not fold down, and there's no pass-through. So the Fusion has more usable space. Also sat in a Volt and remembered why I didn't want it. And tried out the Prius Plug-in, and confirmed I wouldn't want that one either. Plus they had an electric Spark, an electric Fit and more hybrids than I could count. A great auto show for anyone who likes batteries. <Edit to fix pictures> Edited January 14, 2013 at 07:09 AM by rprobst pluggedin, DelS and jsamp 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Energized Posted January 14, 2013 at 01:02 PM Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 at 01:02 PM Thanks for posting photos, these are the first that I've seen. I'm glad they kept the pass through and fold down seats, even if the pass thru is not huge, it's still good enough for items like you mentioned. If production does start next week like we've heard, I think we'll see Fusion Energis on the lots by the end of February hopefully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff_h Posted January 14, 2013 at 01:08 PM Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 at 01:08 PM +1 -- thanks much for the detailed pics! And the front end end on that Honda is strange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DelS Posted January 14, 2013 at 03:57 PM Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 at 03:57 PM Hmmm. I think I could fit my surfboard thru there with the passenger front folded down. Though it may be a tad long. Skis may fit as long as the bindings don't need to squeeze thru that pass thru. Thanks for these pics!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rprobst Posted January 14, 2013 at 04:47 PM Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 at 04:47 PM Hmmm. I think I could fit my surfboard thru there with the passenger front folded down. Though it may be a tad long. Skis may fit as long as the bindings don't need to squeeze thru that pass thru. Thanks for these pics!!! Get the moonroof so your surfboard can stick up through the roof. :) I have a pass-through in my A4 which is the size of the fold-down armrest between the rear seats. That is, when you fold down the arm rest, you can open a hole into the trunk. This was designed for skis, and works pretty well, although you do have to be careful with the bindings. But on the Fusion Energi, I will have to see if the angle of the skis works out. Anything that goes through the pass-through has to clear the battery stack. So short skis (or short 2x4s) should fit but not long ones. DelS 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsamp Posted January 14, 2013 at 05:40 PM Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 at 05:40 PM thanks rprobst. Great info. At 36x18x14, that is a puny trunk! I'll have to go measure my luggage to see what would even fit in there. As for the "pass through" (a liberal term at best) it appears the only thing you could pass through there is a can of coke to the guy riding in the trunk! (Kidding folks) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rprobst Posted January 14, 2013 at 07:33 PM Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 at 07:33 PM Yes, the trunk is really small. I believe that the 8.2 cubic feet is literally true, but I think it's more like 6 cu-ft between the battery and the bumper, and 2 cu-ft above the battery (except the speakers poke down into that space, so you have to fit around them carefully). But in the "second trunk" that you get when you fold down the rear seats, it's something like 24 cu-ft! (Need to actually measure this when I can touch the car; at the show the Energi was up on a stand). So if I need to carry something big, I can, as long as I don't also need to carry 4 people. Agree, it's a pass-through in name only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckJ Posted January 15, 2013 at 11:46 PM Report Share Posted January 15, 2013 at 11:46 PM Great Job with the pictures!!! I think my concern is eased. You still won't be able to fit 5 people with all their luggage, but that's plenty for a couple. ChuckJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertlane Posted January 16, 2013 at 03:37 AM Report Share Posted January 16, 2013 at 03:37 AM There are from the Detroit Auto Show - sorry I couldn't get them posted sooner jsamp and pluggedin 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Energized Posted January 16, 2013 at 04:00 AM Report Share Posted January 16, 2013 at 04:00 AM Thanks, those pictures are nice and clear. Looks bigger than I thought. I know the regular Fusion has a really deep trunk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckJ Posted January 16, 2013 at 08:37 PM Report Share Posted January 16, 2013 at 08:37 PM Great job robertlane. ChuckJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Fusion Posted January 23, 2013 at 10:21 PM Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 at 10:21 PM Just got back from De-troit. Some pics that might not have been covered yet... Lifted up the cargo cover. It has the cut-out for the charging cable on the right. I wonder if the tire inflation kit goes in the compartment on the left??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rprobst Posted January 23, 2013 at 10:40 PM Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2013 at 10:40 PM Lifted up the cargo cover. It has the cut-out for the charging cable on the right. I wonder if the tire inflation kit goes in the compartment on the left??? Yes, I lifted up the trunk floor of the Energi at the Silicon Valley Auto Show and can confirm: tire kit was in the left-side cut-out, charging cable in the right-side one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaggy314 Posted January 30, 2013 at 07:55 PM Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 at 07:55 PM (edited) I think I'd happily trade some of the height near the seat for floor space and in radical twist, maybe 2 gallons of gas tank space for some more truck room. I mean, 14 gallons? Surely 12 would be fine and we get some of the battery in that space and less in the truck. I will be sad in 2-3 years when they redesign this to give newer Energi's more truck. Maybe after 10 or so years and you get a battery swap they'll fix that.The only better lighted shots I'd like are 2 shots with the 60/40 seats down view from inside the truck and inside the cabin. The darker initial photos are harder to see.P.S. Love the all photos, well done. Edited January 31, 2013 at 05:26 AM by shaggy314 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsamp Posted January 30, 2013 at 08:45 PM Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 at 08:45 PM I think I'd happily trade some of the height near the seat for floor space and in radical twist, maybe 2 gallons of gas tank space for some more truck room. I mean, 14 gallons? Surely 12 would be fine and we get some of the battery in that space and less in the truck. I will be sad in 2-3 years when they redesign this to give newer Energi's more truck. Maybe after 10 or so years and you get a battery swap they'll fix that. I agree. Less gas tank for more trunk space would be fine with me... I don't need 620 miles range. One drawback to trading some of the "hump" for a higher floor is that it changes the weight distribution of the car. Not sure how much that would affect handling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rprobst Posted January 30, 2013 at 09:35 PM Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 at 09:35 PM Agreed! The Volt only has a 9.3 gallon gas tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Fusion Posted January 30, 2013 at 10:06 PM Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 at 10:06 PM Now you're re-engeneering the floor pan just to accommodate the Energi. It'll never happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckJ Posted January 31, 2013 at 01:30 AM Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 at 01:30 AM For those with big bladders, there's a rather large average MPH increase associated with having a large range also. ChuckJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaggy314 Posted January 31, 2013 at 05:31 AM Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 at 05:31 AM (edited) Now you're re-engineering the floor pan just to accommodate the Energi. It'll never happen. Didn't they re-engineer gas tank and battery from the hybrid which itself was a re-engineer from the gas Fusion? I saw the video, they just jammed a cardboard 'battery' box into the truck, high five'd, and went to lunch. Now that is a horrible over simplification, but I think they gave the Energi a bigger tank to get the 620 number they can advertize. The Energi's tank isn't the same size as the other Fusions... But then, I'm not a Ford designer, so who know what prompted the decisions. From what I can tell I should be able to get 6-8 grocery bags in there and I'm keeping my gas hatchback so I'll be fine. Edited January 31, 2013 at 04:47 PM by shaggy314 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Fusion Posted January 31, 2013 at 11:00 AM Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 at 11:00 AM Didn't they re-engineer it from the hybrid which itself was a re-engineer from the gas Fusion? I saw the video, they just jammed a cardboard box into the truck, high five'd, and went to lunch. Now the is a horrible over simplification, but I think they gave the Energi a bigger tank to get the 620 number they can advertize. The Energi's tank isn't the same size as the other Fusions... But then, I'm not a Ford designer, so who know what prompted the decisions. From what I can tell I should be able to get 6-8 grocery bags in there and I'm keeping my gas hatchback so I'll be fine. My Escape Hybrid has a slightly smaller tank too, but I don't think structurally it's any different than the gas version. Maybe for weight? Who knows, I'm just guessing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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