Ford scoops awards

The Fusion Hybrid took the car trophy, while the truck one went to the Transit Connect.  The Fusion is now officially the US’s most fuel-efficient mid-size sedan at about 5.7l/100km in the city and 6.5l/100km on the highway – stealing the crown from the Toyota Camry’s 7.1l/100km in the city and 6.9l/100km on the highway.

The Fusion Hybrid beat competitors like the Volkswagen Golf/GTI to first place, and is the second hybrid to win Ford the Detroit trophy after the Ford Escape Hybrid took out North American Truck of the Year in 2005.

The Transit Connect that won the Truck award this year is a compact carrier aimed at small business owners. Ford says it offers the ability to slip through crowded urban areas -- while still having generous cargo capacity -- and offers twice the fuel economy of full-size vans

Other finalists in the category included the Subaru Outback, but Ford made it a back-to-back – and their sixth truck winner -- after last year’s prize went to the 209 Ford F-150.  A jury of 49 automotive journalists in the US and Canada vote for the vehicles.