Dont Get Domestic Fusion Confusion with Euro Version

When Lincoln unveiled its new Zephyr midsize sedan at the New York International Auto Show in April, automotive media attending the debut could be overheard chuckling about whether the luxury marque had secured the rights to the name. Why? As it seems Lincolns parent, Ford Motor Co., embarrassingly forgot to get naming rights for the upcoming Futura sedan, the Taurus replacement expected to be released late 2005 as a 2006 model.

Ford announced the Futura name in March of 2003 during the New York International Auto Show, but in April a federal court ruled that Philadelphia-based automotive parts store chain Pep

Ford learned from the mistakes made when launching the Futura (now Fusion) sedan and made sure it had the naming rights to the Lincoln Zephyr before they debuted it. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

But the error would have been more easily forgivable if it was the automakers first time to fudge up the naming of a new model. Fords pivotal halo vehicle, the GT, was to be named the GT40 before the trademark owner put up his price to an unreasonable

Dropping the disputed Futura name, the Taurus replacement will be dubbed Fusion when it arrives in 2005. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

So far Lincoln hasnt announced a change in the upcoming Zephyr name, but recently Ford has released the future name for its Taurus replacement. The new model will be dubbed Fusion when it arrives in 2005, according to The Detroit News. The daily newspaper says Ford has been informing dealers of the name change before making a public announcement this week.

Just the same Fusion is an odd choice as the name connotes a "merging of

By the dictionary definition of the term Fusion, the name better suits a crossover like the current Ford of Europe Fiesta-based subcompact minivan than a conventional 4-door sedan. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

Still, Ford may have chosen the Fusion name to signify that the model will offer an impressive sound system capable of reproducing the superior dynamics needed to appreciate the complexities of fusion jazz - Herbie Hancock Ford has your ride.

Or possibly the upcoming Fusion

Will there be consumer Fusion confusion with two very different cars sharing the same name? (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

That is until considering that a hybrid-electric Fusion will reportedly follow close behind the release of the conventionally powered model, fusing an electric motor with an internal combustion gasoline engine to increase fuel efficiency, reduce emissions and most likely improve acceleration.

But what about Fusion confusion? Using the same name for two entirely different models could be confusing to consumers, as North Americans hearing about the new sedan in a radio ad, for instance, and then using an internet search engine such as AOL.ca, Google.ca or Yahoo.ca to research it, may end up finding European information without

The domestic 4-door Fusions architecture will be based on the current Mazda6 platform, and be used for up to 10 new models being developed by Ford. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

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