To compete in today's midsize sedan arena a car needs to stand out, in both style and performance. The 2009 Ford Fusion is just such a car – a 180-degree turnabout from the lackluster midsize Ford products of the past and a major homerun for Ford. Although designed here in the U.S., the Fusion borrows much of its chassis and drivetrain from its Japanese cousin, the previous generation Mazda MAZDA6. The merging of American styling and Japanese hardware makes the Fusion a terrific value, offering superior handling, good fuel economy and low emissions (rated as a Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle, or PZEV, in California). Almost certainly due to an anticipated lack of much market demand, however, Ford didn't see fit to place a manual transmission in the V6-powered models, essentially cutting short the Fusion's potential as a bona fide driving enthusiast's car.