After 15 years and two generations of the Ford Fusion Sport, the American auto giant finally laid it to rest. 2018 saw Ford begin discontinuation plans for the Ford Fusion Sport and the brand’s other sedans in North America.

Perhaps this shift was due to a strategic move by the company to focus more on vehicles the North American market was after. By September, the company had ceased all promotional and sales advertising for their sedan cars.

Fusion continued in production; however, the more performance-oriented variant (Sport) was eventually discontinued after its 2019 model.

Read on to find out exactly why the Ford Fusion Sport was discontinued.

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The Four-Door Midsize Sedan That Is The Smartly Styled Ford Fusion

2020 Ford Fusion Seats
Via: Ford

Production for the first Ford Fusion began in August 2005, and the first model year was in 2006. The Ford Fusion started as a four-door midsize sedan car that carried five passengers.

Ford built this new, smartly-styled sedan on its CD3 platform, which Mazda designed as the Mazda G. With the 2006 model year, the Ford Fusion became the first production car to feature the brand's three-bar grille - the new face of Ford.

Buyers could get the Ford Fusion in trims as varied as SEL, SE, and S models, and the base engine was 2.3L Duratec 23 14 capable of 160 horsepower. This engine could be paired with either a 5-speed automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual transmission.

Despite being a brand new model, some interior parts like the seats and console of Fusion bore similarities with the also discontinued Ford Mondeo. Although specifically, the Ford Fusion Sport looked like a Ford Titanium.

The 2019 Model Year Will Be The Nail In The Coffin For The Performance-based Fusion Sport

2020 Ford Fusion
Via: Ford

The 2019 Ford Fusion Sport comes with an MSRP of 41,010. This price is at least $3,600 more than you get for a Ford Titanium($37,335) that comes with AWD.

Just like the Ford Titanium trim, the Fusion Sport offers similar features but with some slight adjustments. Dark-colored 19-inch wheels, carbon trim, and black mesh details highlight the styling add-ons that tilts Ford Fusion Sport more to the Sport side.

Although once inside, you'll find that the part suede, part-leather seats are a shared feature with the subcompact SUV, Ford Titanium. However, being a performance-based sedan means it goes 0 to 60 mph in only 5.3 seconds.

This performance-oriented output owes its credit to a 2.7L twin-turbocharged V6 engine that the Ford Fusion Sport comes with. This engine is also capable of 325 hp along with 380 lbs/ft of maximum torque to the ground.

As mentioned, all-wheel drive is standard for the Sport. The performance-oriented midsize sedan also did not let up when it came to driver assistance features.

What’s more, Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment technology made the inside of the cabin an even better place to be.

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Here’s the Reason Ford Discontinued the Ford Fusion Sport Series

2020 Ford Fusion Interior
Via: Ford

Ford discontinued the Ford Fusion Sport for the same reason they did the whole Ford Fusion sedan model.

A spokesperson for the brand described the move as one that will allow Ford to focus on more popular styles and simplify the lineup.

The brand also seeks to turn attention to vehicles like SUVs and trucks for their North American market. Lots of their more sporty models are leaning toward the more popular market of SUV cars.

Smaller models like Focus RS and Focus ST all got discontinued in 2018. Asides from this, Ford Fusion sales figures have been steadily abysmal in the last couple of years.

After having peaked at 306,860 units sold in 2014, sales dropped to 166,045 units in 2019. By mid-2020, in the midst of the pandemic, Ford sold 61,421 Fusion sedans.

Also, despite being the top choice for buyers looking for the sporty appeal and performance, the Fusion Sport's price made it hard to sell. For the 2019 model, the midsize sedan's price starts at a pricey $41,655.

There Is Chance The Ford Fusion Sport Model May Come Back As An Outback Wagon

2020 Ford Fusion
Via: Ford

One thing the guys at Ford will be banking on is how solid the North American market’s love for outback wagons remains. This is because the Ford Fusion Sport and its sibling models may return as crossover-like, Subaru-Esque outback wagons.

This makes sense because the Ford Mondeo in Europe has a wagon variant. Besides, there has been reported sighting of a Fusion wagon around Dearborn, Michigan.

Ford Motor Company may be well and truly done with sedan cars, with the focus more likely now shifted to SUVs and trucks. Nonetheless, we may get to see the Ford Fusion Sport make a comeback seeing that trends and lifestyles are bound to change.

But for now, Ford’s rivals in the midsize sedan class are continuing to sell their midsize sedans. Honda’s Accord, Subaru Legacy, Kia, Optima, and Toyota Camry are still great sedan choices, some even less pricey than the Sport.

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