2017 Ford Fusion Sport, Platinum Price, Specs and Reviews: More Power, Speed & Class; Major Redesign Revealed

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The 2017 Ford Fusion, which is one of the top three most popular vehicles from the Michigan-based automaker, was launched during the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).

And, with the lofty goal of overtaking segment leaders Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, and creating game-changers in the mid-size sedan market, Ford is making an upgrade with the Fusion by introducing the new Sport and Platinum trim levels.

"Fusion offers people a lot more car - including helpful technology, beautiful design and a more rewarding driving experience than other midsize sedans," Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president and chief technical officer, global product development, said in a statement, according to the Detroit News.

The Ford Fusion V6 Sport is equipped with a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine that can deliver a projected 325 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque. And, its all-wheel-drive variant boasts of approximately 100 lb.-ft. of additional torque and nearly 50 more horsepower compared to the 3.5-liter V6 engines in Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, according to Ford.

The Fusion Platinum, meanwhile, comes with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine and all-wheel drive specs. This trim version aims to satisfy the most discriminating taste when it comes to the interior design. It comes with instrument and door trim panels wrapped in antiqued Cocoa leather, hand-wrapped steering wheel with premium Venetian leather finish, a unique grille finished in magnetic paint and a 19-inch polished wheels.

The new Fusion will be available at dealerships this coming summer, with the Fusion V6 Sport to be released a few weeks later. The Fusion V6 Sport will come at a starting price of $34,350, while the Platinum models will be priced at $37,495, according to a review from Business Finance News. 

According to Michelle Krebs, senior analyst with Autotrader.com, automakers must be able to develop ways to attract car buyers from choosing a vehicle in the midsize sedan market, which has been one segment that has somehow lost its appeal to many buyers who would rather go for a truck or an SUV. This is one way these automakers can increase their profits and with the upcoming launch of the 2017 Ford Fusion, the American automaker could be taking the right steps.

"It's not about a pure sales volume race, it's about how much profit automakers can generate from each sale they make," Krebs said. "Fusion is so important to Ford's lineup. The interesting thing, when it was introduced it was selling at very high transaction prices. People seem to want it loaded up. Adding, even more, is a step in the right direction."