(November 18, 2009) Last month the Ford Fusion earned praise from Consumer Reports magazine, which traditionally rates American cars lower than the Japanese brands, and now Motor Trend magazine announces that the 2010 Fusion has beaten out dozens of all-new vehicles to win the 2010 Motor Trend Car of the Year.

The decision is sure to give the Ford more momentum providing a serious challenge to import mainstays like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

The Fusion beat out a field of several dozen strong contenders, noted the magazine’s editor, Angus MacKenzie, including the new Chevrolet Camaro, which many expected to take the coveted annual award.

The 2010 Fusion, said Ford President Mark Fields, during a ceremony at the company’s suburban Detroit headquarters, has “really done a lot for our image, and it’s done a lot for our sales and market share.”

In the Consumer Reports testing the Fusion beat out both the Camry and Accord in the non-profit publication’s annual study of vehicle quality and reliability.

The Fusion underwent relatively minor updating with the exception of the new Fusion Hybrid, a gasoline-electric vehicle that shocked industry observers by delivering four miles per gallon better fuel economy than the competing Camry Hybrid.

Other finalists in Motor Trend's annual competition included the Volkswagen GTI, the Buick LaCrosse, the Hyunda Genesis coupe, the Ford Mustang and the Toyota Prius.