[Futura06]

...and not in Detroit.

The Fusion is coming the Virginia International Auto Show in Richmond, the closest Auto Show to where I live.

Read more here: http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/richmond/features.html

Of course, these things are always *SUBJECT TO CHANGE*. But I'll be there with digital camera in hand.

The Richmond show is not the biggest, but one of the best. They have a brand new, well laid out facility, and the crowds are manageable. If you live in VA, MD, or NC I highly reccomend it. It runs this Friday trhough Sunday

 

[Futura06]

Just letting you know I did see it. However, I cannot upload the photos yet due a snafu in the system here.

The display car was red SEL. I did not know what engine it had, but it had dual exhausts both on one side, unlike the photo V6 car which has one pipe on each side.

It looks great in person, from some angles I noticed a hint of Volvo S60 in the roofline. The "Squircle" headlights are more conventional than the ones displayed on the 427 concept. They are just regular halogen bulbs hidden inside square optics. The chromed tailight surrounds look very subtle and tatseful and work well with the red color.

The guy who was there to talk about the car said that the CVT would be offered. I corrected him and said I had heard only about 5 and 6 speed automatics. He said that Ford had given him a sheet claiming there would be a CVT. Ford really needs to get thier act together on this.

Lincoln Zephyr was also there, looking almost as good as the Fusion. It shares the Fusion's stance but with smoother sheetmetal, more chrome, and those huge tailights. The overall effect is a lot like the Lincoln LS.

 

[Futura06]

I got some of the pictures up in my gallery.

http://mazda3forums.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=82

Apparently I exceeded my disk quota with just six files (of reasonable size I thought). So I'll have to do more resizing and cropping and get the rest up later.