New Ford Fusion Earns the 2012 Gene Ritvo Award for Design and Elegance

 

DEARBORN, Mich., May 11, 2012 – The 2013 Ford Fusion has earned the Gene Ritvo Award for Design and Elegance from the New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA) in conjunction with Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts and the Larz Anderson Auto Museum.

 

The Ritvo honors the best in design in the automotive world, whether it’s a concept car, production vehicle, a marketing campaign or a particular element of a vehicle that defines elegance in design.

 

“It is an honor to accept this award on behalf of the team behind the all-new Ford Fusion,” said Chris Hamilton, Fusion chief designer. “The 2013 Fusion has a revolutionary design that puts an accent on elegance: It has a sophisticated feel and a sleek profile setting it apart from traditional midsize sedans.”

 

“When reviewing all the entries for the Design and Elegance Award,” said Meghan Melvin of the MFA, “we appreciated the simplicity of line of the Fusion’s detailing, the subtle shaping of the hood and the distinctive front composition of the vehicle.”

 

The design of the all-new Fusion, on sale later this year, was built upon five key elements:

 

Hamilton is accepting the award tonight.

 

“Gene would have been pleased to see a car like the Ford Fusion win this award,” said Keith Griffin, NEMPA president. “It’s an elegant vehicle that is a true head turner. At the same time, it’s practical transportation. I was happy to see the Museum of Fine Arts and Larz Anderson – who partnered with NEMPA for the first time this year in judging the entries – select this as the winner.”

 

The award is named for the late Gene Ritvo, a devoted NEMPA member and veteran concours photographer who had an unusually keen eye. The first Ritvo Award was presented in May 2011 to Infiniti for its marketing campaign that focused on design and elegance.

 

The 2013 Ford Fusion debuted at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in January.

 

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