$27,270 buys you a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. All upgrades and enhancements granted to the Ford Fusion are intact on the hybrid, and it comes with the foundation of fuel savings, improved tuning standards and even the new SmartGauge LCD screen for vehicular information. Along with the Mercury Milan Hybrid and Ford Escape Hybrid, the Ford Fusion Hybrid rounds out Ford's contribution to the ever-growing hybrid market.

The Ford Fusion Hybrid features a combination of power entities including a 2.5L 155hp 136 lb-ft 4-cylinder engine with variable intake cam timing standards and an integrated electric motor. The electric motor is housed along with the CVT transmission and mated to the Atkinson engine. A nickel hydride battery is mounted in the trunk and is cooled with cabin air as opposed to a dedicated AC unit. This battery is charged and recharged by a generator as well as a braking system that is regenerative in nature. This means that energy created from applying your brakes is harnessed and redirected to recharge the nickel hydride battery. Further, the vehicle also replaces a traditional belt-driven AC compressor with an electrical unit.

While several of the features on the Ford Fusion Hybrid are fairly ordinary, the Ford Company has a new claim to fame. The Fusion Hybrid does something that none of its competitors do: it has the ability to travel up to 47 mph on electrical charge alone - no gasoline engine required. Besides saving loads of fuel, this operational mode is extremely quiet. Optimally using a conjunction of these two power sources can allow travel for over 700 miles on a single fuel fill up.

If you opt to have a navigational system installed in your new Fusion Hybrid, the Energy Flow Display function will also be included. This system provides you real time information on your navigational screen concerning each of the four operational modes for the vehicle.

These include: Hybrid Drive, Electric Drive, Idle Charging and Gas Engine as well as overall fuel efficiency reports.

The Ford AdvanceTrac ESC is an electronic stability control system that automatically engages the braking system and modifies engine torque when any degree of wheel slip is detected. As a result, all instances of fish-tailing and/or skidding are significantly reduced. Terrain conditions involving gravel, rain and ice among others are met with increased confidence and control.

Of course, the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid also comes with as many optional features for safety, luxury and show as you will find desire for. Explore the new Ford hybrid technologies today and rediscover what makes Ford a world leader in automotive innovation. The future looks very exciting - especially through the eyes of Ford.

The Mercury Milan is a midsize vehicle that has been around since the 2006 model year, but the 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid is all new. The Milan, as a line, has a new look for 2010 and the hybrid is based on that new body style. And for what it's worth, it a nice style.

There are several hybrids out now and more than a few are in direct competition with the Milan Hybrid in the midsize class. These include both foreign and domestic makes such as the Nissan Altima Hybrid, Honda Civic Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, Ford Fusion Hybrid and Saturn Aura Hybrid.

The gasoline engine for the Milan Hybrid is a 2.5 liter, 155 horsepower I4. Like many hybrids, the engine is matched with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). It comes only as a sedan.

Unlike some other hybrids, the Milan has only one electric motor, but it can run the car up to 47 miles per hour for up to 8 minutes without use of the gasoline engine. It can also run the air conditioner without the gasoline engine. The electric motor is smaller than on previous Ford products and can be cooled without use of the air conditioner.

Like most hybrids, the Milan gets better mileage in town, where the electric motor is used more frequently due to slower speeds and stop and go traffic, than on the highway. In city driving the Milan gets 41 miles per gallon, while on the highway it gets 36. That's actually better than class average for hybrids.

The Milan also has better front legroom than class average but headroom and torque lag behind. It is worth noting that when matched against the general midsize car population instead of the hybrid population, the headroom is about average.

There are no NHTSA or IIHS numbers for the Milan Hybrid, but there are IIHS numbers for the 2010 Milan line in general. It gets a G, Good (the best rating) in all categories but two. It gets an A, Acceptable (the second best rating out of four possible) for the likelihood of head and neck or right leg and foot injuries.

The Milan Hybrid has a number of the more common safety features including child safety locks, antilock brakes with traction control and vehicle stabilization system, remote keyless ignition and start, electronic parking aid and inside trunk release. However, some common safety features are missing, such as electronic braking assistance and a first aid kit.

Whether considered as a midsize or a hybrid, the 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid beats class average on price, starting at $27,500. Sooner or later they're going to make these things pay, and the Milan Hybrid may be a step in the right direction.

new 2010 Volvo XC60

The 2010 Volvo XC60 continues and advances the company's stellar reputation for safety. Everyone knows that Volvo has been making granite-solid cars for public consumption since 1927. What many fail to consider is that, after all that time, it becomes very difficult to continue to outdo your own set standards of performance - each and every year. Volvo has done it again. In fact, many agree that the new XC60 is the safest car that has ever been designed and manufactured.

Adaptive cruise control and the revolutionary in-city brake assist system, City Safety, are the two main features that are rocking the automotive world today. The 2010 XC60 is a luxury compact crossover that includes the comprehensive set of all Volvo safety features. People are thoroughly impressed with the City Safety feature. It's standard from Volvo and is designed to prevent rear-end collisions. Radar guided detectors sense the traffic ahead at speeds of 19 mph or less. If the driver is not responding in time, the XC60 actually applies its own brakes. This Volvo-first safety feature will soon be duplicated from various other prominent automakers.

The Volvo XC60 is also quite the looker. Its good looks are topped by its spacious interior and superior comfort offerings. It's also a very powerful vehicle easily capable of making you feel like you are driving something far less safe. It is offered is a singular trim: the T6 AWD. Leather upholstery, 2-zoned climate control systems, front seating that power adjusts 8 different directions, driver seat position memory, heated outside mirrors, remote keyless entry, USB port, auxiliary input jack and both frontal and rear skid plates are all standard features. Nice.

The XC60's engine is a "twin-scroll turbocharged" 3.0L 281hp 295 lb-ft I6 that is mated to the Volvo Geartronic 6-speed automatic transmission. (Whew!) It will deliver 22/15 mpg highway/city for you in optimal style. The XC60 is an All-Wheel Drive vehicle that can handle almost any terrain situation with efficient ease and confidence-instilling dependability. The Volvo Instant Traction electronic traction control system is front biased - meaning that under normal conditions, all power goes to the front wheels. In adverse or unexpected conditions, your XC60 automatically optimizes the power distribution between the front and rear wheels to maximize your safety.

The 2010 Volvo XC60 crossover SUV has a starting MSRP of $37,200. Not bad at all for what is probably the safest car in the world. Performance, handling, comfort, dependability and excellent resale values are all other great reasons to put the XC60 above competitors like the Lexus RX350 on your shopping list. Experience the differences that decades of leadership and trend-setting can make in your next vehicle. You will feel an awesome sense of wellbeing knowing that you have done the best that you could to ensure the safety of your loved ones.