DEARBORN -- The New 2010 Fusion has driven positive public opinion of both the Fusion nameplate, which is the highest ever, and the Ford brand up significantly.  With the news that the 2010 Fusion has been named MOTOR TREND's 2010 Car of the Year^®, Ford is adding this news to their advertising and marketing to further reinforce that the Fusion is the most fuel-efficient midsize sedan in America. 

Ford employees heard the news firsthand Tuesday afternoon from MOTOR TREND Editor-in-Chief Angus MacKenzie who made the announcement in a packed World Headquarters Auditorium. 

Ford continues the successful Fusion launch campaign with the addition of MOTOR TREND'S prestigious honor.  

"Fusion has been very impactful in giving customers another reason to visit the showroom and drive one.  It's a statement about the company's ability to produce world-class cars for the U.S. market," said Lew Echlin, manager, Ford Car Marketing Communications. 

"Winning Motor Trend's Car of the Year award will help further energize the Fusion advertising launch momentum and complements our Drive one campaign.  Again, it's not Ford giving ourselves kudos, it’s the customers and the sources they consult and trust."

Over the next several weeks, it will be hard for consumers not to know that the 2010 Ford Fusion is MOTOR TREND'S 2010 Car of the Year.

Print and prime-time television ads begin Nov. 18.  Many of the print ads will appear over the next week in such publications as The N.Y. Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and Business Week. 

The Fusion MOTOR TREND digital campaign will feature an animated banner with Fusion and Fusion Hybrid, along with text touting the cars' latest accomplishment.

"The majority of our online blitz in December will focus on non-Ford customers.  We plan to place Fusion banners on selected shopping sites, so when visitors look up a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord, for example, they just might see the Fusion driving in on the side," said Echlin. 

Ford dealers will be offered free materials to help publicize the award in their stores, and the MOTOR TREND honor will be the subject of the next round of dealer advertorials later this month.  Year-end advertising will include two TV spots featuring Ford spokesman and television host Mike Rowe. 

If that's not enough, Fusion's latest accolade will be communicated at the Los Angeles Auto Show Dec. 4 -13 (Dec. 2-3 for the media during Press Days) and subsequent auto shows.
 
"We have integrated Motor Trend Car of the Year award in auto shows, where people are in info-seeking mode" said Echlin.  "In Los Angeles, we are planning to engage show goers with Fusion and the Motor Trend Car of the Year honors from the lobby through the Ford display."