Probably the coolest feature of the soon to be released 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid is the inclusion of the SmartGauge with "EcoGuide." The SmartGauge is an all digital LCD screen that "guilts" you for bad driving habits and rewards you when you drive responsibly.

The display is an instrument cluster that tells you real-time information about your driving and gas mileage.

I can’t wait to see it in action.

Ford is now the "world’s first automaker to set a land speed record for a production-based fuel cell powered car."

The Place: Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover UT
The Date: August 15 2007
The Skinny: retired Ford employee Rick Byrnes cranked that Hydrogen Fusion 999 to a speed of 207.297 mph which now becomes the benchmark for fuel cell powered vehicles.

Not only is it reasonably priced at $395, but the notice all those devices pictured? Yes, indeed, it looks like Ford, unlike some auto manufacturers, realize that there really is a DAP world out there beyond the iPod. Look for it later this year in the Focus, Edge, and Lincoln MKX, and then in a slew of other Ford vehicles in 2008.

Ford announced that it could be on the verge of producing hydrogen cars into the market within the next 5 years if things go right.  They’ve been using 12 passenger shuttle buses powered by internal combustion hydrogen engines and it’s been the closet they’ve been to a mass production.

We really believe this technology is ready to be evaluated at the consumer level

They’ve been monitoring the buses across the United States, harping on the zero emissions and the greater fuel economy.  Go green earth!

Read more.

Talk about a proof of concept. Ford hopes to break the land speed record for hydrogen-powered fuel cell autos with its Fusion 999. It’s not a practical model, being cooled with what I’m guessing is rather impractical technology, but Ford’s hoping this baby will hit 200MPH. Makes me a lot more willing to consider giving up my gas-powered sports sedan.