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2022 Ford
Fusion Active
WHAT IT IS Definitely not a wagon. Nope.
Uh-uh. This Subarized long-roof version
of the Ford Fusion mid-sizer will come
complete with all-wheel drive, a slightly
raised suspension, and a name that says,
“I’m outdoorsy.” WHY IT MATTERS After Ford
kills the Fusion sedan this year, the Active
will be as close as Americans will come to
finding a new family car on Ford dealer
lots. PLATFORM Adapting Europe’s Mondeo
wagon with a slight lift makes for
relatively straightforward engineering.
POWERTRAIN Ford’s turbocharged 2.0-liter
inline-four mated to an eight-speed
automatic is likely; a plug-in-hybrid
variant is all but inevitable. COMPETITION In
this segment, you either beat the Subaru
Outback or you’re in last place. WHAT MIGHT
GO WRONG If buyers think of the Active as a
station wagon rather than a crossover,
they’ll avoid it like week-old sushi.
ESTIMATED ARRIVAL AND PRICE Late next year,
likely priced from about $30,000 to
nearly $40,000.2024 Aston
Martin Vanquish
WHAT IT IS A mid-engine
supercar targeting the
defining dream machines
of the moment.
WHY IT MATTERS
The company’s future
is dependent on some
serious diversification.
Aston barely survived a
cash crunch at the start
of this year and sees
the Vanquish as a way
to broaden the brand’s
appeal as demand for
its traditional front-engine mod-
els falters. The Vanquish takes
inspiration from the Valkyrie and
Valhalla, which are being co-
engineered with Red Bull Racing,
but Aston is developing the
Vanquish alone.
PLATFORM A bonded-aluminum
spaceframe similar to what’s
under the brand’s existing mod-
els but with the order of passen-
gers and engine reversed.
POWERTRAIN Insiders say the
Vanquish uses a version of the
new hybrid engine that Aston is
developing internally, combining
a turbocharged V-6 with a gen-
erous level of electric assistance.
A hybrid six in this sector is
risky, so don’t expect the com-
pany to take any chances with
output, which will exceed 700
horsepower.
COMPETITION Ferrari F8 Tributo,
Lamborghini’s Huracán replace-
ment, McLaren 720S/765LT.
WHAT MIGHT GO WRONG Plenty,
given the precarious state of
Aston Martin’s finances. The DBX
SUV will have to be an immediate
success for the Vanquish’s devel-
opment to go much further, and
the mid-engine triumvirate of
Valhalla, Valkyrie, and Vanquish
is sure to generate some confu-
sion. Which of those costs less
than a million again? This one.
ESTIMATED ARRIVAL AND PRICE
The Vanquish should start just
north of $300,000 when it
arrives in 2023.