DEARBORN -- The car Vice President Ken Czubay calls Ford's "poster child of our efforts to offer the highest quality, most fuel-efficient products in the industry" has just added to its impressive list of third-party endorsements.

The 2010 Ford Fusion has been named MOTOR TREND's 2010 Car of the Year.  Angus MacKenzie, the magazine's editor-in-chief, made the announcement this afternoon in front employees who packed World Headquarters Auditorium.  The ceremony was also webcast live on @Ford Online and thefordstory.com

"It’s a credit to the team to deliver a car in one of the hottest-selling segments in North America that is absolutely competitive with the benchmarks," MacKenzie said.  

What makes Fusion's achievement so impressive is that the whole lineup – five different powertrains, including hybrid, and three series -- had to excel in six categories of rigorous testing.  That's double the number of categories in previous years.  Fusion bested 22 other competitors, including the BMW 7 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan and the Lexus HA 250h, to capture the award. 

MacKenzie complimented the entire range of Fusion models and the team's attention to detail.

"Every single part of the Fusion had been looked at, thought over, renewed, reimagined, reinvented.  And it felt like a completely different car on the road," said MacKenzie.

Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development, accepted the MOTOR TREND Car-of-the-Year trophy on behalf of Ford and invited representatives from the Fusion team on stage to join the celebration. 

"For us, it's especially gratifying because we've been working so hard and so diligently to improve our car lineup," said Kuzak.  "Our customers are starting to recognize our steps forward."

With two months remaining in 2009, Fusion sales stood at 151,137 units, the highest for any full year since the midsize car hit the market in 2006.  Robust sales have vaulted Fusion among America's Top 10 selling vehicles and to the best-selling domestic car. 

"There was a point in time during the program when I said, 'wow, the (cars are) really getting good.'  So, you are not surprised at the end.  But I am real proud of what the team delivered," said T.J. Cusumano, energy analysis engineer, Fusion Hybrid.

"Just as (this award) brings smiles to all of our faces, most importantly it's about bringing smiles to our customers.  So, thank you, thank you, thank you," said Mark Fields, president of The Americas, to the Fusion team. 

Click here to view video of the MOTOR TREND ceremony in its entirety.